Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Dominic

It’s been a while since I started keeping Frank posted on all I’m doing now. At first, I didn’t mind because I assumed he just wanted to make sure everything was in place when I got to the hospital. Now that I think about it, the calls have been too frequent

Only a few minutes after sending him a text that I’ll soon be arriving with Vanessa, he calls me again.

av to me.

“What is it this time?” I shake my head before even hearing what he has to say i

“Where exactly are you?” he asks from the other end of the line.

“We just left the toy store.”

“Great, so how long will it take for you to get here?”

I lean back with a sigh. “I already told you it would be around fifteen minutes. You even know this. Why do you keep asking? Is everything okay over there?”

“Actually, there’s something I didn’t tell you. It’s about the press. They’re here.”

I instantly sit up more with wide eyes. “What did you say?”

The tone of my voice is so loud that it makes Vanessa widen her eyes at me. She probably thinks something happened. I dismissively motion her with my hand to relax and she sighs with relief.

“What did I tell you about the press?” I rub my temples.

“It wasn’t my idea, okay? Trust me on this one. I didn’t tell them anything.”

“Well, someone must’ve given them the information. How many are they?”

“Honestly, I can’t even count them, but they’re waiting for you two. They’re taking this seriously because it’s actually a big deal.”

“Unbelievable.” I clench my fist, annoyed. “I don’t want to deal with this right now.”

“Again, it wasn’t me. However, n

now that I think about it, this is a good thing for your public image.”

“You know that’s not the reason I do any of this.

“I know, neither do I, but hey, since they’re already here, you might as well make the most out of the opportunity, Remember what it is you’re trying to do here.”

Thinking about my parents being so proud to see me and Vanessa on the front pages of the largest news sites makes me embrace the idea a little more and I sigh deeply.

“Fine. Let’s do it.”

After I end the call, I toss the phone aside and look over at Vanessa, who’s been glancing at me the whole time.

he press.

“I told you to relax. It’s just the

“I know.” She nods. “It’s the way you reacted that scared me. I thought –”

Chapter 25

“No.”

She leans back in her seat and looks outside the window.

I can’t help but watch her right now, and it’s not just because her long luscious hair is being blown by the wind.

The incident in that aisle is something I’ll never forget. I might look past a lot of the things she does, but that emotion I saw made me wonder just how deeply that bear affected her. I don’t know the story behind it, I probably never will. I don’t ever see myself asking her about it. Why should! care? I already did enough when I kissed her and hugged her, though it was mainly for the people watching.

While everything was just for the show, there was a moment where it felt like she genuinely smiled at me. I don’t know how to explain it, but it felt that way. I guess her acting is getting better and better.

When we start approaching the hospital, I begin to fix my necktie and the lapels of my jacket.

“We’re almost there. The press will be asking a lot of questions. Don’t fuck this up because we’ll be on live TV and the front pages.”

“You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll do just fine. I’m curious about something.”

“What is it?”

“Do you really care about these children?”

“Of course I do. Why the hell would you ask me that?”

“It just seems hypocritical of you to have the press capture the events that are about to take place.”

I pause for a moment, dropping my hands from the lapels and pointing at her. I’m actually offended by her view of me.

“Listen here. You might make whatever assumptions you want about me when it comes to anything else, but don’t the children to my advantage in the public space.”

“I wasn’t accusing you, I just find it strange that ”

“Whatever it is, I don’t want to hear it. Don’t ever question all that I do for these children.”

I’m sorry.”

“…I didn’t mean to doubt you. I’m

It takes me a moment to respond to her. I didn’t think she’d apologize. It actually caught

“You better be,” I say to her.

me off guard.

t ever accuse me of using

When we get to the hospital, there’s barely any space to drive through but soon, swings into action to keep them on the sides of the road.

the press begin to make way. Security on standby also

Once the door is opened for me, I step out first, then hold out my hand with a smile as I face Vanessa.

e takes my hand and smiles at me. Once again, it seems genuine, but I tell myself she’s just becoming a better actress.

She

As we walk hand in hand, I have the shopping bag with me in my other hand.

I can also spot her limp no

no matter how hard she tries to not make it too obvious.

19:20 TL, ALU

Chapter 25

Though security surrounds us, the press relentlessly ask questions while others wish to take pictures of us.

To give them just a few seconds of our time, I instruct the bodyguards to step aside.

The press instantly take that moment and come closer, their mics and cameras in our faces.

“Mrs Richards, you got married only a few days ago and had to cut your honeymoon extremely short. Please tell us how you’re feeling right

now.”

I’m hoping Vanessa nails this because we didn’t even discuss what they could possibly ask and who they would ask between the two of us.

With a bright smile, she looks around at the cameras with her head high. “Do you really want to know how I feel right now?”

They

ey all nod in unison, eager to

o hear her response.

rpery was a

a success and I can finally meet her.”

Placing a hand on her chest, she says, “It just greatly warms my heart that Penelope’s surgery

“But reports say you had your honeymoon on an island, which means you didn’t get your money’s worth,” another reporter adds.

She smiles as she looks around at them all. “That doesn’t matter to me. I personally believe that human life is more valuable.”

I sigh with relief at how everyone nods their heads with each word she says as she continues to speak about what she values. I’m actually impressed and glad she didn’t fuck this up.

“Mr Richards, anything you’d like to add?” One of the reporters brings the mic closer to me.

This is the perfect time to give Vanessa more of the spotlight.

“My wife’s actually still in recovery from a call discomfort that had her in bed for two days, but today, she insisted on coming here with me. I guess I’ll just have to babysit her if she needs me to.”

Everyone breaks into laughter, amused by what I had to say about my fucking wife.

After answering a few specific questions about Penelope, security surrounds us again and we head inside.

I glance at Vanessa, who continues to keep her head high and I don’t even want to admit this, but so far, I’m glad she’s handling herself well.

Though everyone else is left outside, only one camera crew follows behind us from one of the most credible news stations.

As we walk through the reception, I notice all the hospital staff lined up to welcome us but that just bothers me and I’m forced to act right

away.

“What are you all doing here?” My voice is filled with disbelief. “Please get back to work. You have patients who need you, not us.”

They instantly y scram and I wonder whose idea it was to have them all here. This rarely happens when I come to the hospital. Was it Frank? Didn’t he know that doing this would leave the children unattended to?

Wanting to speak to Vanessa alone, I instruct the bodyguards to leave and keep an eye on the camera

a crew.

Then, I tower over Vanessa while we’re alone in the hallway. “We’re now going to see Penelope.”

“I know,” she firmly says to me, crossing her arms.

I scoff as I look around. I already miss the version of her that cried in that aisle.

Chapter 15

have to worry about me

to you by now

br you,” she assures i

even meant what I said out there to

been very interested

ted in Penelope’s post surgery updatin

“Fine“ve her a light nod

just made

ear that i don’t doubt her reason for being here with me right now, she goes on this rant about it and can’t believe I have to deal with this side of her now. Why do women do this? It’s the same with Carmella, my mother and even my sister

As she continues to rant, I barely focus on her when I spot Frank from a distance. He’s coming from behind vanessa. I can’t help but narrow

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