Chapter 69

hapter 69

Dominic

After Vanessa’s question, I instantly feel stupid for asking such a thing, so I look to the side and clear my throat. “If you don’t want to tell me, just go.”

She sighs, coming back to me and sitting down on the couch across from me. She places her handbag on the other seat, leans back, then crosses her legs as she touches the sides of her neck for a few seconds with her eyes shut. I don’t know why she’s doing it, but it reminds me of yesterday and everything that happened while we stood in front of that mirror, including her ass coming in contact with my crotch.

It’s only when she begins to speak that I snap out of it

“I’m going to meet Patrick. He was my boyfriend in high school I only recently reconnected with him.”

“Are you two a thing again?” I hold my breath and I don’t even know why.

“Why would you ask me that?” She raises her eyebrows.

I clear my throat. “Just answer the question.”

She sighs. “No, we’re not

She then tells me all about him and how she plans to help him through my father–in–law,

“I see. Are you still in love with him?”

“What’s wrong with you?” She narrows her eyes as she glances at me, uncrossing her legs and leaning forward.

“Don’t look so surprised that I’m asking you such questions. I need to know That way, we’re on the same page with how to hide this from everyone around us.” Even as I say this to her, I don’t believe it myself.

“No, I’m not in love with him. My feelings have….changed.” Just for a second, she looks at me and I spot the same intense look from yesterday.

Before I can make out what it actually means, she looks away and clears throat.

I hate to admit it, but the fact that she’s not in love with him makes me relax my tense muscles.

“Fine.” I firmly nod. “In case you two get together, you better tell me so we don’t fuck things up.”

“Like I said, my feelings have changed.” She reaches for her handbag as she rises to her feet, facing the other direction. “I’m leaving now.”

‘Cool.”

As she makes her way to the door again, I try to keep my eyes only on the article I’m reading, but I once again find myself looking back at her.

I’ve told myself to stop doing this, but I can’t seem to give it a rest everytime I see her.

As soon as she closes the door, I drop my phone and ruffle my hair, wondering if I’m acting this way just because of my breakup with Carmella.

Despite how she showed up here yesterday, I still don’t want to talk to her. What’s there to say? It’s over between us. It’ll take some time for me to get used to it, but I’m not changing my mind. I’ve experienced just how manipulative and heartless she can be.

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he doesn’t get what she wants, will she do something like that again? Even if she does, she won’t get too close. I never aght a day would come when I’d have to tighten security because of her.

n though I try not to think about it, I can’t help but wonder why she suddenly left yesterday when she came all the way e so she could speak to me.

essa

er meeting up with my father. Patrick suggests we have lunch together and it’s his treat.

soon as we get to the restaurant of his choice, he pulls out a chair for me and says, “Even through the glass, your dyguards are so intimidating.”

bok through the glass of the restaurant at my four bodyguards standing outside, thinking about how they’d be even more d I not specified how many I wanted with me.

on’t worry about them, I assure him. Just pretend they’re not here.”

“hat’s kind of difficult considering they re right there, keeping an eye on us.”

t’s important that I’m right where they can see me.”

That already sounds like you have to be protected at all times and considering the fact that you’re Mrs Richards, I’m not urprised”

Don’t say that.” I chuckle dismissively. “It’s my decision to just have them with me. I don’t always do this, but I just thought hey’d accompany me today.”

Was it because of me?” He points at himself.

Not at all. It’s just something else. I chuckle, but it soon fades as 1 think about Carmella. I’m not afraid of her, but I just don’t know what’s going on in her crazy head.

With a nervous smile, Patrick says, “Im sorry I brought you to a simple restaurant when you’re used to dining in only the

most-

“Hey, there’s no need to apologize. I don’t mind at all I give him a warm smile.

“I just really wanted to show you how grateful I am.” His face brightens up.

“It’s just as my dad said, don’t mess this up.

He firmly nods. “T’ll do my best. To be honest, he was quite scary and I shouldn’t be surprised, considering the history between you and L

“It’s in the past now. He just wanted to get it off his chest,”

“With a loving husband like Dominic in your life, you’ll never have to worry about something like what I did to you.”

I nervously tuck my hair behind my ear, thinking about how my marriage is far from what people see, except that now, -things have begun to change on my part

As Patrick and I have our meal, I can’t stop stealing glances at him. There was a time when just seeing him made my heart race because I was so in love with him and now, everything’s so different. It’s just like I said to Dominic – my feelings have changed.

Before I left home, I actually had something else to tell him but couldn’t bring myself to do it. I didn’t just know it, I could

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Chapter 69

feel it in my body. That’s why I got a little carried away when I touched the sides of my neck and shut my eyes while sitting

on that couch.

y again.

And now I’m thinking it won’t be so easy to tell him as I’m not used to such things. Maybe when I get home, I can try Or I could just say it through a text message, that my fertile window is here.

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