Chapter 12
Dominic slammed the door as he left.
Listening to the loud bang, I sank weakly onto the sofa. Strangely, I didn’t feel
particularly upset.
From downstairs came the sound of Dominic’s car driving away. I knew he was definitely heading to Faye’s place.
Perfect–it made things easier for me.
I had already packed all my luggage, just waiting for departure.
Callum had sent a message saying he’d pick me up when I arrived in Berlin, and
my parents were waiting for me too.
Before leaving, I did one last thing: I went to the university and gave my design sketches to my professor, asking her to make sure they reached the competition
organizers.
After that, I destroyed all the design sketches I had at home and moved with my luggage into a hotel.
Faye’s academic performance had always been mediocre. She wanted to enter this competition, but with her abilities, she wouldn’t place well.
But if she cried, Dominic would fulfill her every wish—even taking my work and giving it to her.
After all, my research paper had become “Faye’s” that way last time.
So I had to take precautions.
On the third day after I left home, Dominic called. His voice revealed little emotion
as he asked, “Where are you? Why aren’t you at home?”
Dominic sounded natural, as if we’d never fought.
In the past, without my apology, Dominic would never have called me first. He must truly love Faye.
“What do you want? If it’s nothing important, I’m hanging up.” I had no desire to
talk to him.
Perhaps my attitude was too cold, because Dominic momentarily couldn’t speak. After a brief silence, he finally asked, “Where are your design sketches? I looked in
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your room but couldn’t find them.”
Of course this was about Faye.
I gripped my phone tightly. “Threw them away.”
“What?!” Dominic’s voice instantly rose, filled with disbelief.
“How could you throw them away?!”
After speaking, he realized his reaction was too extreme and quickly tried to cover
it up. “I mean, you worked on them for so long. How could you just discard them? Weren’t you going to use them for the competition?”
I couldn’t help but laugh coldly. My competition entry had been submitted long
ago. Did he think I’d leave them around for him to steal for Faye?
Then he’d tell me again that he just felt sorry for Faye, that I already had everything, so I should let Faye have this opportunity.
Why should I?
If Dominic wanted to be kind to Faye, why use my work? I didn’t owe Faye anything. There were plenty of unfortunate people in the world–why didn’t Dominic help each one of them?
“Sienna, you must be lying. Are you still upset about what happened? I admit I was wrong, but how could you throw away everything in our home?”
“Look, I won’t hold it against you. We can buy new things later. Where are you
now?”
Dominic’s tone was magnanimous, as if I should be grateful for his forgiveness. I obviously wasn’t going to tell Dominic where I was. Before I could figure out how to brush him off, I heard Faye’s startled cry and the sound of something breaking
on his end.
Dominic seemed afraid I might hear it. His voice became flustered. “Come home
soon. I need to go now.”
Then he hurriedly hung up.
So he had brought Faye to our home.
I only had two more days until I’d leave this place.
I marked another day off on the calendar.
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The next day, I visited the university to see my professor and say goodbye to
everyone.
After handling all my affairs, I boarded the plane to Berlin with my minimal luggage.
In the final minute before turning off my phone, I sent Dominic a text message:
“We’re done.”
