Chapter 4 - Selena's Reason

Dominic sat in his study, staring at the laptop screen with a sharp expression. In front of him was a full report that had just been sent by his confidant, Selena Vaughn.

Her marriage to David Laurent had never been made public. In fact, none of the media were even aware of their relationship.

Dominic had only discovered a fact that was enough to make him pity her: Selena's mother had been in a coma in the hospital for a year.

Dominic closed his laptop and then reached for his cell phone. He called Selena, inviting her to his private apartment located in the city center.

An hour later, Selena appeared at the door.

Once inside, she immediately scanned the room with her gaze. "How luxurious," she murmured with a small smile. "No wonder you can give away a billion just like that."

Dominic only smiled slightly. "Have a seat."

Selena walked over to the sofa and sat down casually. Her eyes looked at Dominic quizzically.

"What brings me here, Uncle?" she asked directly.

Dominic sat opposite her, crossing his arms over his chest. "I want to know something."  

Selena raised one eyebrow. "Know what?"  

Dominic leaned forward, looking deeply into her eyes.  

"What's the reason you suddenly asked me to be your bedmate?"  

Selena didn't answer immediately. She pretended to look relaxed, although in her heart, there was a hint of anxiety. She couldn't possibly tell the real reason, could she?  

Quickly, she came up with an excuse that made sense.  

"I'm lonely," she finally replied.  

Dominic stared at her, waiting for further explanation.  

"I don't want any ties. I just need someone who can... make me forget everything," Selena continued in a quieter voice. "I don't want to get my heart broken."  

Dominic watched her expression carefully. The explanation did make sense.  

With her mother in a coma, Selena must have felt alone. Moreover, from the information he had obtained, she did not have many close relatives.

"You've been living like this for a year?" asked Dominic finally.

Selena nodded. "Ever since my mom fell into a coma, I've felt alone."

Dominic didn't respond, but he could understand. He had experienced loss himself, so he knew how it felt.

"But..." Selena sighed, looking him straight in the eye. "That's not my only reason."

Dominic raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Selena turned her gaze out of the window. Her eyes were dreamy, as if she were remembering something painful.  

"I've had my heart broken."  

Dominic remained silent, letting her continue.  

"Betrayed by my own boyfriend."  

Selena smiled wryly, but there was no happiness there.  

"We dated for a long time, and I trusted him. I thought he loved me." She chuckled softly, but it sounded pathetic. "But as it turns out, he cheated on me behind my back—with my own best friend."  

Dominic looked at her more deeply. He could see the old wounds that still lingered in her heart.  

"From that moment on, I vowed never to let myself fall in love again," Selena continued. "I don't want to feel the same pain."  

Dominic nodded slowly. Now, he was beginning to understand.  

"So, you just want a no-strings-attached relationship?" he asked reassuringly.  

Selena looked back at him, then smiled slightly.  

"Yes."  

Dominic was silent for a few moments before finally nodding.  

"Okay."

Selena didn't expect the man to take her for granted. "You're not going to ask any further questions?"  

Dominic smiled faintly. "I don't like meddling in other people's business."  

Selena breathed a sigh of relief, then leaned back against the sofa.  

"Good," she said. "I don't like men who are too inquisitive."  

Dominic only smiled a little, but there was something in his eyes that was hard to guess. He had already gotten some of the answers he was looking for.  

***

Selena leaned her head against the taxi window, staring blankly outside. The night was cold, but her chest felt even tighter.  

When the taxi slowed down at a red light, her eyes suddenly caught a very familiar figure.  

David with a woman.

Selena straightened up immediately. Her eyes widened when she saw her husband standing in the parking lot of a luxury hotel, holding Lilian's hand intimately.

The next second, he was pulling her into the hotel.

"Stop here!" Selena exclaimed suddenly.

The taxi driver was surprised but pulled over anyway. Selena reached into her bag, handed over a few bills without waiting for change, and hurriedly got out.

She followed them into the hotel, making sure her steps were light so as not to attract attention.

Her heart skipped a beat when she saw David and Lilian standing in front of the elevator, talking and occasionally laughing.

David looked so relaxed, as if he didn't have a wife at home waiting for him.

Selena clenched her fists.

Ting!

The elevator doors opened. David and Lilian entered, and Selena soon followed. But she didn't go straight into the same elevator; she chose the one next to it and pressed the same number they had pressed earlier.

Arriving on the floor, Selena hurriedly walked down the hotel hallway. Her steps stopped in front of one of the rooms when she saw something that made her want to vomit. David was making out with Lilian. The man pressed the woman against the wall, kissing her passionately.

Selena stood transfixed. Her eyes began to burn, but she refrained from crying.

Suddenly, she saw David reach into his pocket, pulling out a red velvet box.

"I bought this for you," David said as he opened the box.

Inside was a diamond necklace that glittered in the lamplight.

Lilian smiled happily, throwing her arms around David's neck. "Thank you, my dear," she whispered before kissing him back.

Selena closed her eyes, stifling the pain in her chest. During their marriage, David had never given her a gift. In fact, on their wedding anniversary, he had only given her a simple greeting.

But to Lilian, he was willing to spend his money on diamonds? Tears finally fell from her eyes. She wanted to go in and slap him, wanted to scream and say that she knew everything. But she didn't want to look weak.

Selena bit her lip, holding back her sobs. She wiped her tears away quickly, then turned and left. Behind her, David kissed Lilian gently on the forehead.

"Get some rest. I have an early morning meeting, so I have to go home now," he said in a soft voice.

Lilian nodded. "When do we meet again?"

David smiled, stroking her cheek. "As soon as possible."

Meanwhile, Selena walked aimlessly on the sidewalk, still trying to swallow the harsh reality she had just witnessed. She already knew David was having an affair.

But seeing it with her own eyes... it was much more painful. She wiped away the remaining tears, then took a deep breath. No, she wasn't going to cry any longer.

"If David can play dirty, then so can I." She smiled wryly. Selena already knew what she had to do.