THE PROMISE THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST.

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Volume 3, Chapter 86 – The Promise That Shouldn't Exist

Vincent's chest felt tight. The room too small. The air too thin.

Zane's voice sliced through the tension. "Vincent?"

Vincent didn't answer.

Because Dominic was still watching. Still waiting.

And then—Dominic spoke.

"You remember now, don't you?"

Vincent's stomach twisted. He didn't want to.

But memories weren't kind.

Blood. Shouting. Hands gripping his shoulders.

A whisper against his ear: "Promise me."

And Vincent? He'd been stupid.

He'd said yes.

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Five years ago.

The rain had been cold. His hands shaking.

Dominic had been bleeding, so much blood.

"Promise me," Dominic had rasped. Desperate. Wild-eyed.

Vincent had tried to pull away, but Dominic's grip had been iron.

"If I disappear," Dominic had said, voice hoarse, "you find me."

Vincent had hesitated.

"You find me," Dominic repeated, shaking. "No matter what."

Vincent had swallowed hard. "Dominic, I—"

"Promise me, Vincent."

The way he'd said it—not a request. A demand.

And Vincent? Like an idiot?

He'd whispered: "I promise."

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Now.

Dominic's smirk cut through the silence like a blade.

"Yeah," he murmured. "You remember."

Vincent wanted to lie. Wanted to say it was a mistake, that he'd been young and stupid and scared.

But Dominic had come to collect.

Zane shifted beside him, cold-eyed. "Vincent doesn't owe you anything."

Dominic's gaze flicked to Zane. Unimpressed. "And you are?"

"The one keeping him from making another mistake."

A pause. Then Dominic grinned. "Cute."

Vincent couldn't do this. Not now. Not with Zane here.

But Dominic? He wasn't letting go.

"You made a promise, Vincent." Dominic's voice softened, turning dangerous. "And I'm here to see if you'll keep it."

Vincent clenched his fists. "I shouldn't have made it."

Dominic tilted his head. "But you did."

Vincent's breath hitched.

Because he had.

And now?

Dominic was going to make him pay for it.

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But Cain?

Cain was watching from the shadows.

Silent. Unmoving. Waiting.

Because Cain knew something Vincent didn't.

This wasn't just about a promise.

This was about control.

Cain had spent years pulling strings, twisting lives into something unrecognizable.

And Vincent?

Vincent had been his from the start.

Dominic thought he was here to claim Vincent? How foolish.

Cain had already won.

He just needed Vincent to realize it.

So, Cain watched. Smiled.

Because Vincent was already standing on the edge.

And Cain?

Cain was the one who would push him over.

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