My heart filled 190

Chapter 190

Another text. Another boundary placed. One Dominic would learn to respect whether he liked it or not.

Ied on the faucet, letting the water rush down the sink to drowns out any sound, then pressed Raina’s name en my screen. It rang once. Twice. Straight to voicemail.

“Damn it!” I muttered under my breath, gripping the edge of the sink, “You can’t trust people these days,” I murmured,

w? Had he gotten to her?

Was she en Dominic’s side now?

A bitter laugh bubbled up in my throat, but I swallowed it down. I should’ve known better. Trust wasn’t something I could afford anymore.

I stepped on of the bathroom, drawing a deep breath to steady myself. My hands were shaking a little, but I clenched them into fists, willing the weakness awar. I couldn’t afford to fall apart. Not now.

Dominic was still standing there, his stiff body upright like a sentry, his piercing eyes fixed on me. Not a word uttered from his mouth, but his intensity in staring at me had my skin crawling. He watched me like a hawk, expecting me to run the moment he blinked.

Maybe I should have done.

“I need some air,” I said, my voice even, controlled. “I want to take a walk.”

Dominic’s face darkened immediately. His jar flexed, and his eyebrows pulled together. “I’ll go with you.”

Of course he would say that.

I noticed the serious look on his face and blew out a sharp breath before he could turn it into an argument. “No. Keep an eye on Caleb.” My voice didn’t waver, but the next words I spoke came out sharper than I intended. “It’s not like I’d run away and leave my only son behind.”

The second the words left my mouth, something flickered in his eyes. Hart. Maybe even guilt. I wasn’t sure, and I didn’t care to figure it out. The silence stretched between us, heavy and tense. For a moment, I thought he might push back, insist on coming with me, but I didn’t give him the chance.

Imed on my heel and walked away before he could say another word.

As I stepped into the hall, I nearly collided with Alex. He was directly in front of the arms crossed, face neutral.

1 gritted my teeth. Not now.

“Spit it out or move,” I snapped, patience wearing thin.

His eyes flicked to Dominic, who’d moved up behind me, then back to me. “You told Raina about the divorce.”

It wasn’t posed as a question.

I met his gaze, unwavering. “I did.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw, but I didn’t stick around to see if he’d actually blow up at me. I brighed past him, my heart hammering in my ears. I didn’t owe Alex an explanation. I didn’t owe anyone anything.

Alex shatted, like he was going to shut me up, but Dominic’s voice cur in before he could. “Let her go,” he said, defeated but resolute. “If getting some fresh air clears her bead, just let her gu.”

I didn’t turn around. I kept moving forward, my walk slow and calculated. I could feel them staring after me, but I kept going

I was almost at the front doors when I heard Dominic’s voice again, lower this time, speaking with someone else.

“Follow her. Keep her safe.

I didn’t react but bristled on the inside. Of course

urse. His security.

I didn’t argue. As long as it wasn’t him breathing down my neck, I could live with it.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, my gut tightening when I read the message.

On my way.

My lawyer.

Good

But I couldn’t go to him now -not with Dominic’s men following me like shadows.

had to stall.

-35 Bonus

So I slowed my steps further, trailing my fingers along the edges of the flowers lining the walkway, pretending to be interested in them. I plocked one, rolling the thin stem between my fingers, playing like I had nothing else on my mind.

Let them think 1 was just clearing my braid, that I was some distraught wife needing a moment to breathe.