Chapter 8
His dismissal made me cry, but Dominic didn’t care about my tears. His heart and mind were completely consumed by Faye.
In the end, I couldn’t stand it anymore and went to find him. Only then did Dominic deign to speak to me again.
Thinking about those past incidents, I felt self–contempt. It was my endless forgiveness and tolerance that had emboldened Dominic to mistreat me.
Dominic finally answered the phone, his tone warm: “Faye, what’s wrong?”
I couldn’t hear what Faye said, but immediately afterward, Dominic made a U–turn, heading in a different direction.
I recognized it–this was the route to Faye’s place.
“You can drop me off here. I can get to campus on my own,” I said flatly, my voice
calm.
Dominic looked back at me with surprise, as if wondering why I wasn’t making a
scene this time.
“Faye says she’s going to campus too. I’ll just pick her up quickly,” he said.
He didn’t stop the car, so I didn’t say anything more. I closed my eyes, pretending
to sleep.
Soon, Dominic pulled up in front of Faye’s building. Like an excited bird, Faye naturally opened the passenger door and slid in. “You’re the best, Dominic!” When she turned and saw me, her expression instantly changed. “Sienna? You’re
here too?”
What a strange question. Dominic and I weren’t broken up yet, and she was sitting in my boyfriend’s passenger seat, yet she acted surprised to see me there.
As if remembering something, Faye quickly adopted an apologetic tone. “Sienna, please don’t mind the stickers. I just thought they looked cute. If you don’t like
them, I can remove them right away.”
But the triumph in her eyes was unmistakable.
Dominic looked at me and, just as Faye had anticipated, defended her. “They’re just little decorations. Sienna won’t mind. Hurry and buckle up—we need to get going.”
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“Hehe, Dominic, you’re going to spoil me if you keep this up.”
“Silly girl.”
Their conversation flowed naturally, completely disregarding my presence. When we reached campus, I immediately got out of the car. Spending another second with them was unbearable.
Dominic tried to follow me, but Faye held him back. “Dominic, I’m afraid the professor will scold me again. Please come with me?”
Dominic stopped in his tracks and called after me, “Sienna, wait in the office for me. I’ll come get you soon.”
I didn’t stop or acknowledge his instructions. I headed straight to the office. My professor looked happy to see me, smiling as she asked with concern in her voice, “How are you feeling?”
Her genuine care improved my mood considerably. “Much better now. I’m here to fill out the paperwork.”
“I’m so glad you’ve made this decision. I was worried you’d regret missing this opportunity,” she said as she handed me the forms.
I silently completed all the application materials. Yes, this was a rare opportunity, and I absolutely wouldn’t miss it this time.
Some other professors I knew came over, their voices concerned: “Sienna, if you leave, what about your fiancé? I remember you saying you two were planning your
wedding after graduation…”
Berlin and San Francisco were far apart. Once I left, I wouldn’t be able to return soon, which explained their confusion.
The professors all knew about my relationship with Dominic, including the
rampant rumors about him and Faye.
I shook my head. “We won’t be getting married. We’ve broken up.”
This statement shocked them, but most expressed support, assuring me I would definitely meet someone better in the future.
Their words warmed my heart. There were still many people who cared about me.
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Losing Dominic wasn’t such a big deal.
With the application in hand, I quickly left. While Dominic was accompanying Faye, I could return home and pack my things.
To my surprise, Dominic was waiting at the office entrance.
When he saw me, his eyes lit up. “What were you seeing the professor about? All done? Let me take you to that trending restaurant you’ve wanted to visit for so long.”
Afraid I might refuse, Dominic’s tone turned almost pleading: “We haven’t had time alone together in ages…”
Looking at him, I felt emotionally detached. Before I could respond, Faye came running over and seemingly lost her balance, bumping into me.
She stuck out her tongue apologetically. “Sorry, Sienna. I tripped.”
The papers in my hand fell. As I reached to pick them up, Faye beat me to it.
She grabbed my Berlin application materials, and my heart raced with panic. If Dominic discovered I was going to Berlin, he definitely wouldn’t let me leave easily.
Faye’s eyes gleamed with mischief as she deliberately read the heading.
“Application form, Sienna, are you—”
