Chapter 192: The promise

Words : 1201 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

Chapter 192: The promise Augustine gripped Anne’s waist and pulled her into his lap. The water splashed around them as their bodies collided in a heated tangle of longing. His hands roamed her back, fingers digging into her soft skin as if trying to fuse their bodies into one. Anne gasped, clutching his shoulders as she wrapped her legs around him. There was no hesitation, no holding back. She moved against him, instinctively finding a rhythm, and he responded with a growl. Their mouths met again, messy, hungry, devouring. Every kiss was more demanding, more intense. Anne’s moans echoed in the air, mixing with the sound of splashing water and his ragged breaths. Augustine thrust up into her, rougher now, every movement full of need. Her head fell back, lips parted, overwhelmed by the pressure building inside her. He held her hips in a bruising grip, guiding her pace, his own control slipping as the rhythm grew faster, more erratic. "Anne..." He breathed. "I am close." Anne looked down at him, her eyes heavy, glossy with emotion, and what she saw in his gaze shattered her—he wasn’t just taking her body. He was claiming her soul. Their bodies collided again and again, slick with water, the heat between them turning the bath into a storm. Her cries grew louder with each movement, matched by the low, guttural sounds he made. Anne clawed at his skin, chasing the high that was moments away. Augustine rose to meet her, lifting her with each thrust, water cascading over the edges as their passion spilled beyond the confines of the tub. She crashed forward, kissing him hard, biting, gasping, letting him feel just how much she belonged to him. They finally shattered together and collapsed into each other, still joined, breathless and soaked, hearts pounding wildly in sync. Anne buried her face in the crook of his neck, her body still trembling. Augustine held her tightly, kissing the top of her head. "I didn’t mean for it to get that intense," she murmured finally. He smiled, eyes closed. "I needed it. I needed you like that." He drew back slightly, just enough to see her face. Wet strands of hair clung to her cheeks, her lips swollen from his kisses, her body still trembling softly in his arms. She looked utterly wrecked—and heartbreakingly beautiful. His thumb brushed across her cheek. "Did I hurt you?" "No," she whispered. "You just made me wild." She leaned into him, her arms tightening. The water had long cooled by the time they finally stirred. Augustine reached over and unplugged the drain, then wrapped Anne in a thick towel, lifting her effortlessly into his arms. She nestled her face into the crook of his neck as he carried her to the bed. He laid her down gently, covering her with the blanket. Then he slipped in beside her, pulling her close. Anne lay on her side, facing him, eyes half-lidded with exhaustion and contentment. His hand moved slowly over her back. "I don’t know what you have been through before me," Anne said quietly, his voice low, "but I want you to know... You never have to be strong alone again. You don’t have to fight the world on your own." Augustine looked at her, startled by the sudden claim. "Why are you saying this now?" "Because I’m your wife—your partner for life," she said softly, her fingers resting on the curve of his shoulder. "I promise to stand by you through every high and low, to share your burdens, and to be your pillar of strength. I want to be the place you can breathe freely, the one you lean on." Augustine felt a lump in his throat, his chest tightening with emotion. "You already are... You are everything to me," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead, then her nose, and finally her lips. "I love you, Anne. I love you so deeply that just the thought of losing you drives me mad. Promise me you’ll never leave me—even if I mess up." "I never will," she whispered, returning his kiss with warmth. Those words played over and over in Augustine’s mind like a lullaby, comforting and terrifying all at once. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling her scent, as though trying to brand her into his soul. But even as her warmth soothed him, a shadow stirred in the back of his mind. The thought of losing her, of her slipping away, of her heart turning cold, sent a tremor through him. What if Denis still had a place in her heart? What if, despite everything they had shared, she turned to Denis, who had been in her heart for so many years? The fear was irrational, maybe even unfair. Anne had chosen him, given herself to him completely. But love had made Augustine vulnerable. He was a man used to control, power, and certainty. But with Anne, he could only hope. Hope that the love she gave him now wouldn’t wither tomorrow. He felt her stir in his embrace. He looked down, only to find her drifting into sleep. His grip tightened around her a bit. If he had to fight every fear, every lingering trace of Denis, he would. "I won’t let anyone come between us," he vowed. "You are a part of my very soul. And now, it’s time for you to truly know everything about me." The next morning... Lorie burst into her mother’s modest old house. "Mom," she called out, her voice echoing with urgency, her face pinching with frustration. Patricia turned, startled by the early visit. The worry in her eyes deepened, already anticipating trouble. "Lorie, why are you here so early? Did something happen again with Mr. Robert?" Lorie’s expression twisted further. "Something happened? He beats me almost every day," she snapped. With trembling hands, she yanked up her sleeves, exposing the bruises blotching her skin. "Take a look. This is what he does. He is a monster. If I stay any longer, he is going to kill me." Patricia’s face fell as she looked at her daughter’s injuries, her heart clenching with guilt and helplessness. She bit her lip, wringing her hands. "It’s my fault," she whispered, ashamed. "I never should have taken his money." But fear crept into her voice, the memory of Robert’s threats tightening her chest. "Lorie, listen to me." She stepped closer, placing her hands on Lorie’s shoulders. "Don’t defy him. He is dangerous. You need to be clever—win him over. Use your charm, make him love you. That way you’ll be safe." Lorie’s eyes widened with disbelief. She shoved her mother’s hands away. "Mom, are you serious?" she exclaimed. "That man is destroying me, and you are telling me to charm him?" Revulsion twisted her features as she pictured Robert—his greasy bald head, the way his bloated belly jiggled when he moved. The thought alone made her skin crawl. "I don’t love him. I never could. I want to get out of this marriage." Her voice shook with a mix of rage and desperation. "I’m young, beautiful—I should be with someone like Augustine, or Denis. Not some monster like Robert."

Chapter 192: The promise

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