FORBIDDEN LOVE

5. HE WAS STUCK

When Dominic finally wrapped up the errands Chris had sent him on, all he wanted to do was head straight back to his apartment, collapse on his couch, and enjoy a rare moment of peace. He had spent the entire day running around, handling things that had nothing to do with him, and the last thing he wanted was to spend another minute entangled in Chris’s endless list of demands.

But, of course, nothing was ever that simple when it came to Chris. His friend had been very clear—crystal clear, in fact—about what needed to happen next. After finishing the errands, Dominic was expected to help out with the wedding preparations, just as Stephanie had requested. There was no room for negotiation, no chance of slipping away unnoticed, and no way in hell that Chris would let him off the hook.

For a brief second, Dom considered pretending he hadn't heard that particular part of Chris’s instructions. He could just disappear, head home, and conveniently forget that he had any responsibilities related to the wedding. It wasn’t like he was dying to be involved in picking out flowers or making sure the decorations were just right. But as tempting as the idea was, he knew better. Chris wasn’t the kind of guy to let things slide, especially when it came to his sister.

If Dom tried to dodge this, he had no doubt that Chris would show up at his apartment, pounding on his door until he answered. And knowing Chris, he wouldn’t come alone—he’d probably drag a few of his other friends along just to make sure Dom couldn’t come up with an excuse. It would be more trouble than it was worth, and Dom wasn’t in the mood for a fight.

Besides, there was no way Chris would allow anything to go wrong with Stephanie’s wedding. It wasn’t just about making sure things were perfect; it was about proving something. Chris might have his own issues—his reckless behavior, his constant defiance, his inability to stay out of trouble—but when it came to Stephanie, he was unwavering.

He wanted her to have the best, to be happy, to have a wedding so flawless that no one, not even their parents, could find a reason to criticize it. And if making that happen meant dragging Dom into it, then that’s exactly what Chris was going to do. So, with a heavy sigh and an irritated shake of his head, Dom accepted his fate. There was no escaping this. He was stuck.

As Dominic pulled into the parking lot of Stephanie’s apartment, he let out a slow, exhausted sigh, already regretting every decision that had led him to this moment. He could hear the muffled sounds of chatter and laughter from inside the building, a clear sign that almost everyone had already arrived, fully immersed in the chaos of wedding preparations. He sat behind the wheel for a few extra seconds, gripping it tightly as if gathering the strength to step inside and subject himself to whatever madness awaited. Moments like these made him wish he wasn’t friends with so many people—because, let’s be honest, fewer friends meant fewer obligations, fewer expectations, and most importantly, significantly less torture. But life had never been that easy for him, and as much as he liked to complain, he knew deep down that he wouldn’t trade these people for anything.

Despite the fact that his best friends could be an unbearable pain in the ass, they were also the only people who had ever truly stuck by him. They pushed him, annoyed him, dragged him into situations he wanted no part of, but at the end of the day, they were always there. Maybe that was why he loved them in the first place—because they were relentless, because they refused to let him shut them out, and because they had never given up on him, even when he had given them plenty of reasons to. There was something oddly comforting about knowing that, no matter how much they drove him insane, they would always be there, refusing to let him slip away into the solitude he sometimes craved.

Still, none of that made walking into Stephanie’s apartment any easier. He could already picture the chaos inside—Chris taking everything too seriously, barking orders like some military general, Stephanie pretending to be calm while secretly obsessing over every tiny detail, and the rest of their friends throwing in their unsolicited opinions just to make things even more complicated. It was going to be loud. It was going to be exhausting. And most of all, it was going to be a long night. Taking one final deep breath, Dominic reluctantly turned off the engine, stepped out of the car, and braced himself for whatever fresh hell awaited him inside.

The moment Dominic stepped inside, it was exactly as he had imagined—complete and utter chaos. Chris was in full command mode, standing at the center of the room like a battlefield general, barking out instructions with the same intensity he used for much more serious matters. It was almost amusing, the way he was treating wedding preparations like a high-stakes operation, as if one misstep in flower arrangements or seating charts would be the end of the world. Meanwhile, the rest of the group was just as expected—talking over each other, offering conflicting opinions, and making things infinitely more complicated than they needed to be. It was a mess, but a familiar one. Dominic had seen this dynamic play out countless times before, and while it was mildly entertaining, it was also the exact kind of situation he would have preferred to avoid.

However, something was different this time. As he stood there, taking in the scene, he realized there was one crucial element missing—Stephanie. That was odd. If there was one thing he knew for certain, it was that she had an obsessive need to control every single detail when it came to her wedding. She wasn’t the type to leave anything to chance, nor was she the type to simply step aside and let others take charge without at least micromanaging them from a distance. The fact that she wasn’t here, hovering over Chris’s shoulder or arguing over color schemes, was not just unusual—it was downright suspicious.

He scanned the room again, half-expecting to see her emerging from some corner with a clipboard in hand, ready to take over. But she was nowhere to be found. Instead, everyone else was fully engaged in their own conversations, too preoccupied with the chaos to notice that the bride-to-be was missing from the scene. He frowned, his curiosity piqued. Stephanie was predictable, almost frustratingly so, and this? This wasn’t like her at all. Something was up, and he had a sinking feeling that whatever it was, he wouldn’t like it.

Before Dominic could even voice his thoughts, Aron appeared beside him, looking as surprised as if he had just witnessed a miracle. His expression was one of disbelief, his voice tinged with equal parts amusement and shock as he informed Dominic that Stephanie had actually agreed to take a nap—something that Beth had apparently insisted on. Dom raised an eyebrow at that, processing the information with a mix of relief and curiosity. Stephanie, the perfectionist, the control freak, the woman who couldn’t sit still when there was work to be done, had voluntarily stepped away from the chaos? It seemed almost impossible, but if Beth had been the one to push her into it, then maybe it wasn’t so far-fetched. Beth had always had a way of getting people to do things they wouldn’t normally consider, and Stephanie trusting her enough to let go, even for a little while, spoke volumes.

For the first time since he walked in, Dominic felt himself relax just a little. He hadn’t realized just how much he had been silently worrying about Stephanie’s relentless pace until now. He had watched her pour every ounce of energy she had into planning this wedding, obsessing over every last detail as if her life depended on it. And even though he had no real interest in weddings or all the over-the-top preparations that came with them, he couldn’t ignore the fact that she had been stretching herself too thin. He wasn’t blind—he had noticed how exhausted she looked lately, how the light in her eyes had dimmed under the weight of expectations. And while he would never say it out loud, the thought of her collapsing from sheer exhaustion had crossed his mind more than once.

So when Aron told him that Stephanie was actually resting, that she had finally taken a much-needed break, Dominic couldn’t help the small, involuntary smile that tugged at the corners of his lips. He wasn’t one to show emotions openly, but this? This was good news. If only she could stay in bed long enough to actually recharge before jumping back into the madness. But knowing Stephanie, she wouldn’t be able to stay away for long. She would wake up, feel guilty for leaving everything in the hands of others, and rush back out to regain control. It was just the way she was wired. Still, for now, he would take what he could get. At least for a little while, she was putting herself first, and that was more than he could have hoped for.

When Dominic was sure that no one was paying him any attention, he slipped away from the crowded living room, his steps careful and quiet as he made his way to Stephanie’s room. He wasn’t sure why he was doing this—maybe it was curiosity, or maybe it was the simple need to see for himself that she was actually resting like everyone said she was. Whatever the reason, he found himself standing in front of her door, hesitating for only a second before pushing it open just enough to peek inside. The room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn to keep out the harsh afternoon light, and there she was, curled up in bed, completely unaware of his presence. His gaze softened as he took in the sight of her, her face relaxed in a way he rarely ever got to see. It was strange how different she looked when she was asleep, as if the weight she carried during the day had been momentarily lifted, allowing her true self to emerge.

As he stepped closer, the soft sound of her breathing reached his ears, and he realized she was snoring—lightly, almost imperceptibly, but enough for him to notice. A small, amused smile played at the corners of his lips. He never thought snoring could be something he'd find endearing, but with her, it just seemed to fit. It was a reminder that beneath the strong, composed, and sometimes frustratingly stubborn exterior, she was still human—still someone who deserved to rest, to have moments of vulnerability. Watching her like this, so at ease, made something tighten in his chest. He had always wanted to protect her, even from things she refused to acknowledge, like her own exhaustion.

Without thinking, he leaned down, pressing the softest of kisses against her forehead. It was barely a touch, fleeting and delicate, but it sent warmth coursing through him and a painful reminder that he would never dare do that when she was awake.. His fingers gently brushed a few strands of hair away from her face, his touch lingering for a moment longer than necessary. Even in sleep, she was breathtaking, but there was something even more captivating about her in this state—something almost fragile, as if this was the only time she allowed herself to let go completely. Maybe that was why he couldn’t look away. Because when she was awake, she was always carrying something—stress, responsibility, expectations. But in sleep, she was weightless, unburdened, and absolutely beautiful.

A part of him wished he could freeze this moment, make it last just a little longer, because he knew that as soon as she woke up, she would dive right back into the chaos. She would push herself until there was nothing left to give, and he would be forced to stand by, helpless to stop her because he wasn't hers. But for now, she was at peace, and for Dominic, that was more important than anything else in the world.