CHAPTER 5

Dominic stood at the edge of the bed, silent—his eyes fixed on the white sheets now stained with a faint trace of red. Morning light filtered weakly through the curtains, drawing pale lines across the wall, but it wasn’t enough to soften the tension hardening his face.

Renata sat at the foot of the bed, barely breathing. Her body was rigid, and the blanket clutched to her chest felt like the last fragile shield she had left. She knew something terrible was about to happen—she could feel it in the way Dominic looked at her: cold, unreadable, and frighteningly calm.

“I don’t understand,” Dominic said quietly, his voice echoing in the suffocating silence. “You… were a virgin?”

Renata lowered her gaze, her fingers twisting the edge of the blanket. Her voice came out in a whisper.

“I… didn’t mean to hide it, sir. I just—”

“So you knew,” he cut her off sharply. His tone dropped an octave, trembling with fury he was barely restraining. “You knew and still let me treat you like—”

He stopped. His jaw tightened. One hand clenched into a fist, pressing against his forehead as though the act could contain his anger.

Renata lifted her head, tears blurring her vision. “I was scared, sir. I was afraid that if I told you the truth, you—”

“—wouldn’t help you?” Dominic interrupted again, his voice rising. “So you chose to lie to me instead?”

Silence fell. Only their uneven breathing filled the space—two people drowning in the same storm, yet refusing to reach for each other.

Dominic finally turned away. He barely made it two steps before slamming his fist into the wall. The thud echoed through the room, making Renata flinch.

“Lying about something like this…” His voice came out rough, almost broken. “Do you think that’s trivial? I don’t even know if I should be angry at you or at myself.”

Renata scrambled off the bed, her knees weak. “Please, sir… I didn’t mean to deceive you. I just wanted my sister to get better. I couldn’t lose your help, I—”

Dominic looked at her, his eyes bloodshot now. It wasn’t just anger, it was disappointment, deep and raw.

“Stop talking.”

The single command sliced through the air. Renata fell silent, her lips trembling.

Dominic lowered his gaze, his breath ragged, as if struggling against a weight heavier than rage. “You don’t even understand what trust means, Renata. I’m not a good man—but I don’t deserve to be played like this.”

Tears fell from Renata’s chin onto the marble floor.

“I’m sorry…” she whispered, her voice thin and broken. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

Dominic said nothing. His eyes drifted back to the red mark on the sheets. He inhaled deeply, then spoke in a quiet, almost weary tone.

“You even made me feel guilty for touching you.”

The words hit harder than any shout.

Renata’s knees gave way, and she sank to the cold floor, her shoulders trembling violently. Dominic stood there, unmoving—furious, wounded, and haunted by emotions he couldn’t name.

She stayed kneeling on the marble, covering her tear-streaked face with both hands. The world seemed to close in around her—no sound, no air, only the pounding of her heart and the crushing weight of guilt.

“Please, sir… listen to me.” Her voice cracked, hoarse and pleading. “I never wanted to deceive you. I was just scared—scared of losing your help for Alea. I know that’s no excuse, but—”

“Enough.” Dominic’s tone was sharp, though softer than before.

He took slow, deliberate steps across the room until he stood directly before her. His polished shoes stopped inches from her trembling knees.

“So that’s why you lied?” he asked quietly. “You sold something you didn’t even understand the meaning of?”

Renata shook her head, sobbing. “I didn’t sell myself, sir. I just thought… it was the only way to save Alea. I’d endure anything if it meant she could live.”

“Look at me,” Dominic said, his voice low.

She hesitated, then obeyed. His gray eyes no longer looked like a storm—they were something darker now: disappointment, pity, and exhaustion rolled into one.

“You’re sorry?” he asked softly.

Renata nodded frantically. “Yes, sir. I truly am. I don’t know how to make it right. I know I was wrong—I’ll do anything to fix it, I swear—”

“Enough.” Dominic’s voice cut clean through her words. “I don’t want empty promises.”

He walked to the large window overlooking the city. When he spoke again, his tone was flat—but it carried the kind of quiet authority that left no room for argument.

“I think our arrangement ends here, Renata.”

Renata’s heart stopped. Her legs moved before her brain could catch up, bringing her closer to him.

“No, Mr. Dominic. Please don’t.”

“You broke the rules,” he said without turning around. “I have no reason to continue this.”

Her voice trembled. “I know I was wrong. But I… I still need your help. Please. I swear I won’t make the same mistake again.”

Dominic turned slowly. His gaze cut into her measured, cold, and calculating.

“You still need my help?” he asked, calm but deliberate.

Renata nodded quickly. “Yes. I need it. I really do.”

For a long moment, he said nothing. He just looked at her, weighing something in his mind—anger, disappointment, and the quiet thrill of power shifting back into his hands.

“You want me to forgive you?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “Anything, just don’t end this.”

Dominic stepped closer. Each step tightened the air around her, until she could barely breathe.

“Fine,” he said at last, voice low and sharp. “I’ll forgive you. But not without consequences.”

Renata lifted her gaze, eyes glistening with hope. “What do I have to do?”

Dominic leaned in, his tone a near whisper.

“Tomorrow,” he said evenly, “you’ll go to campus wearing a short skirt, without anything underneath.”