Chapter Nine: The Promise He Couldn’t Break
1047 Words
The rain poured over New York City like the sky itself was mourning.
Isabella Laurent stood by the window of her bedroom inside the Cross mansion, watching the endless streams of water race down the glass. The city lights blurred into golden shadows, but she barely noticed them.
Her mind was somewhere else.
With him.
Adrian Cross.
The man who could make an entire room fall silent with just a glance.
The man who had built an empire from nothing but ambition and a heart made of stone.
The man who had kissed her like he hated himself for wanting her.
And then pushed her away like she meant nothing.
Isabella pressed her fingers against her lips, remembering the moment.
The anger in his eyes.
The conflict.
The way his voice had lowered when he whispered, “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”
She hated that she still cared.
She hated that every time he walked into a room, she noticed.
Every time he spoke, she listened.
Every time he looked at her, her heart forgot how to behave.
“He’s impossible,” she whispered.
But a small part of her wondered if Adrian Cross was not heartless.
Maybe he was just wounded.
A knock sounded on her door.
She turned.
“Come in.”
The door opened, revealing Adrian’s younger sister, Elena Cross.
Unlike Adrian, Elena was warm and gentle. She carried a cup of tea and a knowing smile.
“I thought you might need this.”
Isabella accepted the tea.
“Thank you.”
Elena sat beside her.
“You’re thinking about my brother.”
Isabella nearly choked.
“What? No.”
Elena laughed softly.
“You’re a terrible liar.”
Isabella looked away.
“He’s just… confusing.”
“That’s Adrian.”
“He acts like he hates me one moment, then protects me the next.”
Elena’s expression became serious.
“Adrian doesn’t hate you.”
“Then why does he treat me like I’m a problem?”
“Because you are.”
Isabella looked shocked.
Elena smiled.
“You are a problem for the walls he built around himself.”
The words stayed with Isabella.
“What happened to him?”
For a moment, Elena was silent.
“Adrian wasn’t always like this.”
She looked toward the window.
“When our parents died, Adrian was only twenty-two. Everyone expected him to fall apart. Instead, he became the person who held this family together.”
Isabella listened carefully.
“He sacrificed everything. His dreams. His happiness. Even love.”
“Why?”
“Because he made a promise.”
Isabella frowned.
“What promise?”
Elena sighed.
“He promised our father before he died that he would protect the Cross name at any cost.”
The room became quiet.
“And he believes loving someone is a weakness that could destroy everything.”
Isabella lowered her eyes.
“That’s why he pushes me away.”
“Yes.”
A strange sadness filled her chest.
She didn’t know why she wanted to be the person who proved him wrong.
The next morning, Adrian sat behind his desk at Cross Tower, staring at the documents in front of him.
He hadn’t slept.
Not after seeing Isabella’s hurt expression.
Not after realizing he was becoming exactly like the people who had hurt him.
His assistant, Marcus, entered.
“You have a problem.”
Adrian looked up.
“What now?”
Marcus placed a file on the desk.
“Someone leaked information about Isabella.”
Adrian’s expression changed instantly.
“What information?”
“Her connection to the Cross family. Someone is spreading rumors that she is only here to gain access to your fortune.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“Who?”
“We’re still investigating.”
Adrian stood.
“No one touches her.”
Marcus watched him carefully.
“You care about her.”
Adrian’s eyes hardened.
“Be careful.”
“That’s not a denial.”
Adrian said nothing.
Because the truth terrified him.
He cared.
More than he should.
That evening, Isabella returned home to find reporters outside the mansion gates.
Questions were thrown at her.
“Is it true you’re trying to marry into the Cross family?”
“Are you using Adrian Cross for money?”
“Did you plan this from the beginning?”
The accusations hit harder than she expected.
She froze.
Before she could respond, a black car stopped beside her.
The door opened.
Adrian stepped out.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The reporters became quiet.
Adrian walked toward Isabella and stood between her and the crowd.
“Anyone who has a question about Isabella Laurent can direct it to me.”
His voice was calm.
Dangerously calm.
One reporter stepped forward.
“Mr. Cross, are you confirming your relationship with her?”
Adrian looked at Isabella.
For a moment, she saw something she had never seen before.
Fear.
Not fear of the reporters.
Fear of losing control.
Then he turned back.
“She is under my protection.”
The cameras flashed.
The words spread instantly.
Isabella stared at him.
Protection.
Not love.
Not affection.
A wall.
But somehow, she knew he meant more.
Later that night, inside the mansion, she confronted him.
“Why did you do that?”
Adrian removed his jacket.
“Because they were attacking you.”
“You could have ignored it.”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Isabella stepped closer.
“Why?”
Adrian looked at her.
Because you matter.
The words almost escaped.
But he swallowed them.
“Because I made a promise.”
Her heart sank.
“A promise?”
“Yes.”
“To your father?”
His eyes darkened.
“To myself.”
Silence filled the room.
“What promise?”
Adrian walked closer, his voice low.
“That no matter what happens… I will never let anyone destroy you.”
Isabella’s breath caught.
For the first time, she saw the man behind the billionaire.
Not the CEO.
Not the cold businessman.
Just Adrian.
A man afraid of loving her.
And a man who had already broken his own rules.
Because protecting her was no longer a duty.
It was becoming a need.
And that scared him more than anything.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD