Bound To The Cold Tycoon

12 : A Vow In The Dark

The night after Alexander’s confession, Amelia couldn’t sleep. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the image of that silver frame etched into her mind.

His words echoed inside her. Love isn’t a gift. It’s a weapon.

For the first time, she understood his coldness. It wasn’t cruelty for cruelty’s sake—it was armor. He wasn’t incapable of love. He was terrified of it.

And somehow, that truth only strengthened her resolve.

The next morning, Amelia rose early. Instead of retreating into the shadows of the penthouse, she joined Alexander in the dining room. He was already seated, newspaper in hand, coffee steaming in front of him.

His eyes flicked up as she entered. “You’re awake early.”

She poured herself tea, ignoring the tension between them. “I thought I’d try something different today.”

One dark brow arched. “And what’s that?”

“Not running.”

The words hung in the air. His paper lowered, revealing the sharp curiosity in his gaze. “You think I’ve asked you to run?”

“No,” she said firmly. “But you’ve been waiting for me to. Since the day we married, you’ve been testing me—pushing me to break, to leave. But I won’t.” She leaned forward, her voice steady. “You can build all the walls you want, Alexander. I’m not going anywhere.”

For a moment, silence filled the room. His jaw worked, his expression unreadable. Then he folded the paper slowly and set it aside.

“Careful, Amelia,” he said softly, his voice threaded with warning. “Promises like that come with consequences.”

She met his gaze without flinching. “So does silence.”

A flicker of something unreadable crossed his face—respect, perhaps, or annoyance. Maybe both.

Before either could speak again, the butler entered with a phone in hand. “Mr. Stone, a call for you. From the Daily Ledger.”

Alexander’s eyes darkened as he took the phone. He listened in silence, his expression hardening with each passing second. Finally, he ended the call, his grip on the phone tight.

“What is it?” Amelia asked.

He looked at her, his jaw clenched. “Clara. She’s feeding the press stories again. This time, about you. She won’t stop until she ruins everything.”

Amelia’s pulse quickened, but instead of fear, determination surged within her. “Then let her come. She doesn’t know who she’s dealing with.”

Alexander’s eyes locked on hers, a storm brewing behind them. And for the first time, Amelia thought she saw the faintest trace of a smile tug at his lips.