Chapter 172
A soft, ragged sigh was the only response I got at first. “Honestly? No. In all feels very, moddled up. And I am constantly expecting to turn a corner and find Nathan waiting there, just out of view, watching me.”
My fingers closed tightly around the phone. “He won’t touch you,” I promised her. “I’ll personally make sure of it.”
She didn’t say anything for a moment, and I could feel the almost imperceptible hitch in her breathing. She was frightened, and I hated how I couldn’t do anything else to alleviate her fear
“Anyway,” I said, trying to move the conversation to something lighter, “Nathan isn’t the only problem. Eliza’s being completely crazy, as per usual.”
Raina snorted softly, a sound that brought a small smile to my face. “When isn’t Eliza crazy? That’s her default setting.”
I smiled. “You’re right.”
“What’s Den doing?” she asked her velce tuning sharp
Ipword. “The Footage from the bar is erased–wiped clean. Dominic doesn’t know yet, but he’s trying to put things together.”
Before Balna could respond, there was a knock on my door. Faith peeked in, her eyes red and pulty.
“Faith!” i annonced.
“I let you two ralk,” Raina said softly. “I’ll call in the morning”
I wanted to say something more but the line became dead before I could.
Faith entered the room hesitantly, her eyes red–rimmed and swollen. She hopped on the armrest of the couch with her hands scratching at the hem of her shirt. “When you said that Eliza also did the same thing to you,” she whispered almost inaudibly, “was that just some kind of way of trying to help me feel a little better?
I sighed, string back and running a hand through my hair. “No, Faith. I wasn’t just trying to make you feel better–it’s the truth.”
She blinked at me, trying to process what I was saying “When did it happen?”
It was after Raina left,” I said, keeping my voice steady, though the memory stirred a storm of emotions I’d rather leave buried. “Eliza tried to worm her way in. I was too busy taking care of Liam to even entertain the thought. But she assumed falding a pregnancy would force my hand. She thought I’d marry her and take care of her along with Liam.”
Η
rachance-
Faith’s lips parted, but for a moment, no sound would come out. “Did you ever. I mean, was there ever a
“Never,” I cut in firmly. “I couldn’t even think about being with someone else, let alone someone like Eliza. I was still hurting. The idea of sleeping with someone who wasn’t Rainalit wasn’t something I could do.”
Faith nodded, looking down at her lap. “I just–Dom. I don’t know what to believe anymore. Eliza is always in my face, tossing these accusations around
I slumped forward, elbows on my knees. “Faith, Esten. Dominic would never do that to you. He keeps Eliza clase because he needs to, not because he wants to. When we have evidence, she’s For good”
Her shoulders stumped and she shuddered out a breath. “It’s hard, Alex Knowing she’s just there. It feels like she’s winning”
“Don’t,” I said firmly, “I swear to you, Faith, she is not. You will get through this. Dominic loves you, and he’s doing everything in his power to protect you and Caleb,”
Her lips curled into a faint smile. “Thanks,” she whispered. “And. I’m glad you’ve changed. Raina’s lucky to have you
Her words were like something sharp hitting at a very deeper place in my soul. I put on a fake smile. “For her, I can never be that man. For her, I need to be the man she deserves
Faith walked out of the room and turned to give me a slight nod. I staring at the empty space she left behind.
I could not sleep. So I decided to freshen up and clear my head 11 I water splashing against my face was doing nothing to soothe the tension knotted In my chest. Finally, unable to tale the silence anymore, I walled downstairs to find Dominic standing in the kitchen with a glass of milk in his hand.
“Milk, Dominic? Really?” I asked with a laugh, resting my weight against the doorframe. “What’s this all about?
Dominic looked over the rim of his glass at me. “Same reason you’re awake,” he answered
“Yeah, but I’m not the one chugging milk in the middle of the night,” I said, smirking.
He set the glass on the table and sighed heavily. “Can’t bring myself to drink anything stronger knowing what I am dealing with. Milk will have to do.”
ד
head back.
the cup Eliza drugged for testing?”
1 laughed, pulling my head back. “Fair enough. Have you managed to get the
Domini nodded grimly. “Not just the cup. I found out the waiters who worked that night as well.”
D
