hapter 8
orehead, his eye sockets were sunken, and his jaw covered in stubble–nothing remained of his once confident
demeanor.
I said nothing, turning to Dominic’s appearance momentarily stunned me–his usually meticulously styled hair was messily draped across his fgo back inside, but Dominic grabbed my wrist.
“Please, Aria. Just talk to me for a moment.”
I paused.
“Dominic, I have nothing left to say to you.”
Seeing me finally speak, Dominic’s tone brightened noticeably.
“Then listen to me. Aria, I’ve sent Vivian and Phoenix away. I know I made a terrible mistake–it’s all my fault.
Please give me one more chance.”
“We can go back to how we were before. I came today to bring you home.”
I stepped backward, freeing myself from Dominic’s grasp.
“Home? To what? To watch you and Vivian in bed together again?”
Dominic’s shoulders tensed as he rushed to deny it.
“No, Aria, that’s not what I meant. That night was a misunderstanding. I lost control–I promise it will never happen
again. Please forgive me.”
“As for Vivian, I’ve made things clear with her. I was foolish. I hurt you, and I know I was wrong. But besides that, I truly have no relationship with her…”
I couldn’t help but laugh coldly.
“Dominic, do you take me for a complete idiot?”
“I heard everything you and your deputy discussed in the study the day before Vivian arrived. Phoenix is your child. What your so–called three–year mission really involved–you know that better than I do!”
“Even now, you’re still trying to lie to me?”
Dominic’s face instantly drained of color. His lips trembled for a long time, unable to utter a single word.
Just then, I felt a tug on my wrist as a figure stepped in front of me, facing off against Dominic.
“Mr. Reed? What brings you to see my fiancée?”
Seeing Julian’s protective gesture, my eyes stung with unshed tears.
11.57
C504
My Fv’c Socrot Vid2 101 I Chose the CEO Who Faled Crony for Mo
Chapter 8
For three years, I had endured so many fearful nights alone. It had been so long since anyone had protected me like
this.
Dominic was enraged by Julian’s intervention and demanded loudly:
“Julian Thornton? Aren’t you supposed to be an idiot?!”
“Aria Bailey, after all that’s been said, this is why you won’t forgive me, right?”
Hearing Dominic’s words, I suddenly realized–yes, wasn’t Julian supposed to be a dolt?
Yet now he stood with clear eyes, his face filled with confidence and pride, with even a hint of possessiveness toward me. He showed no sign of being an idiot at all.
But Dominic’s eyes had turned bloodshot. Having known him for years, I recognized this as a sign he was about to lose control.
Not wanting to prolong this confrontation, I took Julian’s hand and turned to go inside. But Dominic grabbed me again.
“Aria Bailey! Answer me! Is he the reason you won’t come back to me?”
“Do you love money that much? Just to marry into the Thornton family, you’d willingly marry this imbecile? Open your eyes and look clearly–he’s a fool! He…”
I slapped Dominic hard across the face, cutting off his words. Red finger marks quickly appeared on his cheek.
. “So what if he’s a fool! At least he doesn’t lie to me. At least he knows how to protect me. What’re you? In my eyes,
garbage like you is worse than any so–called ‘idiot.“”
“Besides, he’s not idiot. He’s my future husband!”
After saying this, I didn’t want to look at Dominic anymore, but he blocked my path again, his voice now choked with emotion.
“Aria, you’ve slapped me and cursed me. Please, just come back with me?”
“It’s okay if you like money–that’s fine. I’ve saved quite a bit over the years. I can take more S–class assignments. If you want money, I can give you enough to last several lifetimes. Just please forgive me, okay?”
This was the second time I’d seen Dominic cry, the first being when I nearly died taking a bullet for him.
I stood frozen in surprise.
Just then Julian’s voice broke the moment.
“Aria, let’s go home.”
