LOGINThe week after Christmas passed faster than I expected.The day after Christmas, I had an event to attend.Then came everything else that seemed determined to fill every empty space in my schedule.I kept myself busy.But whenever things became quiet, my mind went back to that morning.To Dominic standing in front of me.To the look in his eyes when I told him to disappear.I had been too harsh.I knew that now.At the time, I had convinced myself that I needed to say it that way. I needed him to stay away so I could understand what I truly felt without him constantly in front of me.But the more days that passed, the more I regretted the way I had said it.I was the one who had asked him to leave.Still, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.Not because of Leo.Not because I felt guilty.It was because of my feelings for him.And that frightened me more than I wanted to admit.I had spent those two weeks trying to separate my feelings from everything else.Was it because Leo finally kn
Dinner continued with easy laughter around the table.Gabriella slowly became more comfortable as the evening went on. At first, she mostly listened, smiling whenever someone spoke to her. But before long, she was answering questions, laughing at Pierce’s expense, and even joining in when we teased him.Leo kept finding reasons to speak to everyone, his questions bouncing from one person to another.The table stayed loud until the plates were cleared.Later, we moved outside to the garden.Music played through a Zealot speaker, filling the cold night air while glasses clinked and conversations overlapped.The garden had turned into its own little world.Pierce and Gabriella were talking near one of the seating areas. Ford and Hayes stood together with their drinks, discussing something that occasionally made Ford laugh. Camille had joined them for a while before drifting toward the music.Reed stood farther away, listening to one of the conversations.Leo stayed close to me for a whil
Hayes was speaking with one of the staff members in the dining room when I walked in.Ford was checking something on his phone.Reed arrived shortly after.He walked through the front door in a dark coat, greeted the staff, then found us in the dining room.Pierce immediately looked over.“Look who finally decided to show up.”Reed removed his coat.“I wasn’t aware there was a deadline.”“There was.”“Where?”“Five minutes ago.”Reed looked at his watch.“Then I’m late.”Pierce smiled.“Exactly, bro.”Reed walked over and shook his head.They clasped hands before Reed pulled him into a brief hug.Leo ran toward him.“Uncle Reed!”Reed immediately bent down.“Hey, little man.”Leo hugged him.“You came!”“I did.”“Are you staying for dinner?”“I wouldn’t miss it.”Leo smiled.“Good.”Reed looked at me.“Merry Christmas.”“Merry Christmas.”The afternoon moved quickly.Then evening came.Everyone eventually gathered around the dining room.I was helping Leo with his napkin when the fron
The week passed quietly.Dominic kept his word.He disappeared.There were no calls.No messages.No unexpected appearances at AURELIA.No convenient business meetings.No excuses to see me.Nothing.At first, I told myself that was exactly what I wanted.But there were moments when the silence felt heavier than I expected.Especially when Leo asked about him.The first time was during breakfast.Leo was sitting beside me, eating his pancakes while watching a cartoon movie on his iPad. “Mummy?”“Hmm?”“Is Daddy going to be around on Christmas?”My hand stopped halfway to my coffee.I lowered it slowly.“I’m not sure, baby.”“Why?”“He’s busy.”Leo frowned slightly.“But you said he might come.”“I said he might.”“So he might come?”I forced a smile.“He might.”Leo seemed satisfied with that answer and returned to his pancakes.I wasn’t.I stared at my coffee.Busy.That was the excuse I had given him.It was easier than telling my five-year-old that I had asked his father to stay aw
For several seconds, neither of us moved.The cold air pressed against my skin, but I barely noticed it.Dominic was still standing in front of me.His eyes remained on mine.There was so much pain in them that I almost hated myself for putting it there.Almost.Because I had to remember why I was doing this.I needed time to know where I stood.I needed space to know exactly what I was feeling.Dominic finally lowered his gaze.For a moment, I thought he was going to argue.I expected him to tell me I was being unfair.To remind me that he had changed.To tell me that he deserved a chance.Anything.Instead, he took a slow breath.“Okay.”The word was quiet.I stared at him.That was it?He lifted his eyes again.“If that is what you want.”My chest tightened.I forced my expression to remain still.“You won’t fight me?”His brows drew together slightly.“No.”“Why?”He was silent for a moment.“I promised to do anything for you.”I looked away.That should have made this easier.It
He looked exactly like the man I had spent the entire night trying to convince myself to let go of.He closed the car door and looked around.Then his eyes found mine.He walked toward me.I swallowed and straightened.He stopped a few feet away.His eyes searched my face.“Are you okay?”I nodded.My throat felt too tight.“Yeah.”The word barely came out.He continued looking at me.Waiting.I looked away for a moment.Then back at him.I had called him here.I had spent the entire night deciding what I needed to say.There was no turning back now.I drew in a slow breath.“Dominic…”He remained silent.His eyes stayed on mine, waiting.I could see the question in them.What was wrong?Why had I called him here?I tightened my fingers around the strap of my bag.“How much do you care about me?”The question seemed to catch him off guard.His brows drew together slightly.For a moment, he simply stared at me.Then his expression softened.“More than I know how to say.”My heart gave
My legs felt weak.I couldn’t move.It was like my body had stopped listening to me the moment I saw her.Mirabel stood up slowly, smoothing her dress like she had all the time in the world. Then she started walking toward me.“It’s been a long time, Rel.”The nickname twisted something deep in my
Dominic took his bath and left without saying anything.I didn’t try to stop him this time.What was there to say?He had already told me the truth.He was with Mirabel.And he didn’t feel bad about it.I was still sitting on the bed long after he left.I didn’t move.I just sat there, staring at n
I didn’t sleep.I don’t think I even tried.I sat on the couch the entire night, my body curled into itself, my eyes fixed on him like if I looked away for even a second, something would change. Like I would wake up and realize none of it was real.But it was.He was still there.Lying on the couch
My stomach twisted suddenly, a wave of nausea rising so fast I had to press my hand against my lips.I didn’t know if it was the food I had forced myself to eat…or the way my whole life had just been turned upside down.The phone slipped slightly in my hand.For a second, I thought I could hold it







