Chapter 105
Dominic sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging slightly. “You wouldn’t understand,” he muttered, brushing past me. I stood there, my eyes fluttering in utter disbelief.
Dominic had always been my anchor, the one person I could count on no matter how chaotic life became. But lately, something had shifted.
I decided to give him space at first, chalking up his distance to the usual stress of work. Everyone had their moments, right? But as days turned into weeks, the gap between us grew wider, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong.
“Busy,” he would tell me whenever I asked where he was or what he was doing. I
was always the same clipped response, accompanied by a vague shrug that did nothing to ease my concerns. He was constantly on the move, his phone glued to his ear or his attention somewhere else entirely.
One night, I caught him in the hallway, his voice low and urgent as he spoke into his phone. He didn’t see me standing there, watching as he paced back and forth. The sharpness in his tone, the way his free hand clenched into a fist–it was all so unlike him.
I froze, torn between confronting him then and there or retreating to avoid whatever storm he seemed to be navigating. In the end, I stepped back into the shadows, deciding not to interrupt.
But from that night on, I couldn’t stop paying attention. Every hushed phone call, every hurried exit, every time he brushed me off with a vague excuse- it all painted a picture I couldn’t ignore.
Something was wrong, and Dominic wasn’t telling me.
The unease clawed at me day and night, a constant whisper in the back of my mind. Whatever he was hiding, it couldn’t be good.
I was done tiptoeing around it. The longer I waited, the more certain I became that this wasn’t just about him–it could affect all of us. And I couldn’t let that happen.
My opportunity came sooner than I expected. Late one evening, I noticed Dominic leaving the house, his movements hurried but deliberate. He was trying to be discreet, but I’d been paying too much attention to miss it.
Quietly, I grabbed my coat and slipped out after him, keeping a safe distance as I followed him down the street. My heart pounded with every step, the adrenaline coursing through me as I tried to stay out of sight.
Dominic turned the corner, his pace quickening. I ducked behind a parked car, peeking out just in time to see him enter a small café. Through the window, I spotted him heading toward a table where another figure was already seated.
Alex.
My breath caught in my throat. Of all the people he could be meeting, why him?
I lingered outside, my thoughts racing. Dominic had been avoiding me for weeks, and now he was meeting Alex in secret? What could they possibly have to talk about?
Steeling myself, I pushed open the door and stepped inside. The bell above the entrance chimed softly, drawing their attention.
Dominic’s expression froze when he saw me, his jaw tightening. Alex leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as a smirk played on his lips.
“What’s going on?” I demanded, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.
Dominic stood abruptly, blocking my path to the table. “Raina, you shouldn’t be here,” he said, his tone firm but not unkind.
“Shouldn’t be here?” I repeated, glaring at him. “Then maybe you shouldn’t be sneaking around with him.” I pointed at Alex, who raised his hands in mock surrender.
“Relax,” Alex drawled, his smirk widening. “It’s just a little meeting. Nothing for you to worry your pretty head about.”
I ignored him, my eyes boring into Dominic. “You’ve been avoiding me for weeks, and now I find you with Alex? What the hell is going on, Dominic?”
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s complicated, Raina. Let’s leave, and I’ll explain everything.”
“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what this is about,” I shot back, folding my arms across my chest.
Dominic glanced at Alex, who shrugged lazily. “Your call,” Alex said, clearly enjoying the tension.
“Fine,” Dominic muttered, his jaw tightening. “At least let’s get to the car.”
I followed him out of the café, my mind racing with questions. Dominic had always been honest with me- at least, I thought he had. But now I wasn’t so
sure,
We walked in tense silence to his car. Once inside, I slammed the door and turned to him. “Start talking.”
Dominic gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. “I was showing Alex the video of Eliza. He needed to see what she did to Liam.”
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Chapter 105
His words took the edge off my anger, but suspicion still lingered. “Why? It’s not like he’s going to do anything about it…”
“Because he needs to understand why Liam belongs with you,” Dominic replied, his tone clipped. He was doing this for me.
I leaned back in my seat, processing his explanation. It made sense, but something still felt off.
