Chapter 7

"I—" I had just opened my mouth to say I was tired, but the call had already ended.

Eric turned to me. "Was there a dinner meeting planned for tonight?"

I shook my head. "I don't know. He didn't say."

The dishes on the table were barely touched. The atmosphere had just settled into something warm and quiet, and I didn't want to ruin it. I quickly pulled up my phone to message Dominic and decline, but Eric stopped me.

"Don't turn him down," he said. "What if he wants to talk about my promotion?"

Just like that, the brief moment of peace I'd imagined shattered under the weight of reality.

"Is there anything else in that head of yours besides getting promoted? Can't you see I'm exhausted? I don't want to go anywhere. I just want to rest at home."

Eric rushed to calm me down. He took my hand in his and said softly, "I'm sorry, baby. This is all my fault. I'm useless. If I were more capable, you wouldn't have to go beg him. But you know how things are for us right now… We really have no other choice."

He stepped behind me and began to gently knead my shoulders. His breath grazed my ear as he whispered, "Mr. Chase called you himself. It must be important. If I get promoted, I can solidify my place as regional manager with my own ability. And when that happens, you won't have to suffer anymore."

The truth was, when Dominic asked me to go, I didn't dare say no.

Not for Eric's sake — but because my family owed Dominic money, and he was the one who helped me repay it. I owed him a massive favor. I had no right to refuse.

Eric had dragged me into this guilt-ridden, pitiful marriage. People say the suffering a woman endures after marriage stems from the foolishness before it.

I used to think I was clear-headed. Now, I was not so sure.

When the car stopped in front of Azurea, Eric reached for my hand before I got out.

"Baby, don't forget the other thing. You have to seize the opportunity."

Seize the opportunity?

He couldn't even have children, and he was obsessed with having one. Wasn't that ridiculous?

I looked at him coldly. "He uses protection. How am I supposed to 'seize' anything?"

Eric leaned in, eyes gleaming with secrecy, and tapped the brooch on my coat. "Use this to tear the condom."

I was speechless. So that was why he insisted I wear this ridiculous brooch.

In a pleading tone, Eric said, "Please, baby. If I could raise a child with you, my life would be complete. It doesn't matter whose it is — as long as it's yours, I'll raise them as my own. Please, Alicia. I know it's hard on you."

Every time he said it was hard on me, a wave of disgust rose in my chest.

I couldn't help but ask him, "You really don't care if it's someone else's child?"

Eric lowered his head, looking utterly defeated. "Baby, I'm not even a real man. I… I can't even look at myself…"

Then he started crying, hugging me as he sobbed. His tears left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"Alright, stop crying." I gently stroked his back, my voice filled with guilt. "I shouldn't have said that."

What man would willingly raise another man's child? If the roles were reversed, I'd feel the same. It wasn't that Eric didn't care about bloodlines; it was that he had no choice.

He was proud, obsessed with appearances, and couldn't bear for anyone to know he was infertile.

So he'd rather arrange a surrogate conception than face public shame.

Just before I got out of the car, Eric pulled me into one last hug and whispered, "Don't forget what's most important."

His eyes were filled with desperation. I knew how badly he wanted me to get pregnant.

I pushed open the private room door.

Dominic was sitting leisurely inside, sipping tea. His gaze swept over me slowly.

Eric had picked out a short black dress for me to wear. It was deliberately seductive. When I took off my coat, my bare legs were exposed, and I instinctively tugged down the hem, embarrassed.

As I sat down, his hand rested naturally on my thigh. "How did you get here?"

I avoided his eyes. "I took a cab."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for the truth.

I glanced toward the window. From the window, the entrance to Azurea was perfectly visible. He must have seen Eric drop me off.

I lowered my head. "He brought me."

"Tch." His disapproving click of the tongue somehow sounded gentle.

He poured more tea into the cup in front of me. "It's cold out. Have some hot tea."

"Thank you." I took a sip.

"Have you thought about what I said?"

I blinked, confused. "What?"

"At the airport. When we parted. I told you to get a divorce."

"…Uh." I was caught off guard. "About that…"

I was at a loss for words. He didn't rush me, just watched me quietly.

My gaze drifted to the delicate white porcelain teacup in front of me. It reminded me of Dominic: poised, refined, and deeply composed.

His hand rested casually on the back of my chair. "Tomorrow, you'll divorce Eric."

His tone wasn't a suggestion. It was an order.

"Mr. Chase… I'm afraid I can't do that."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him shift closer, his leg brushing mine. "What's so great about him that you can't let go?"

I didn't understand why he was so insistent that I leave Eric.

I looked him straight in the eye. "Mr. Chase, I'm just a passing moment in your life. A fleeting romance, and I know it. You're only interested now because the novelty hasn't worn off. There's no need to ruin my marriage over a fleeting moment.

"Besides, if I divorce, it's easy for you since I'd be at your beck and call. But what about me? I'd be branded a divorced woman, with no one to rely on in this city. It was Eric who gave me a home, who takes care of me in every way. I can't abandon him."

I didn't say this, hoping for his compassion. I just wanted to remind him that he couldn't ask me to gamble my entire life on a whim.

He wasn't surprised. His expression didn't change. Calmly, he topped off my tea until it spilled over the rim.

I stared at him, confused. "Mr. Chase… the tea…"

Dominic said slowly, "A cup can only hold so much water. Same goes for people."

I knew what he meant. In his eyes, I was that teacup, and I needed to understand my limits.

"Alicia," he said, setting the teapot aside and taking a napkin to wipe his hands with elegant precision. "If you can't make the divorce happen, I'll find a way."

"I—" Before I could object, he lifted his eyes and looked directly at me.

"You're clinging to a marriage with no intimacy. Who are you trying to impress? What does Eric really offer you besides being dead weight?"

"Love," I blurted.

At that, he gave the faintest curve of his lips. It wasn't mockery — more like pity, or quiet frustration for someone who couldn't see the truth.

"You really think Eric loves you?"

I nodded without hesitation. "Yes."

He tilted his chin toward my phone. "Call him. Tell him to come pick you up."

I didn't understand, but I did as he said. Maybe I'd upset him, and this was his way of dismissing me.

I called Eric and asked him to come get me. From the tone of his voice, he almost sounded annoyed.

I put on my coat and got ready to leave. Dominic followed me out.

We stood together at the entrance. The temperature had dropped, and the night air was chilly. Without warning, Dominic took my hand and slipped it into the pocket of his coat.

I panicked and tried to pull away, but he held me fast.

"Mr. Chase," I whispered, nervously glancing around. "Someone might see us."

He turned to me, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Are you more worried about me… or yourself?"

I was speechless for a long while.

Finally, I managed to answer, "If a client sees you being too intimate with a married woman, it won't look good for the company."

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you worried about me? Or are you scared?"

How could I admit I was terrified of someone I knew seeing us together? That would be asking for trouble.

"I'm worried about you."

Dominic saw through it but said nothing.

"Relax," he said. "In business, no one cares about these things. They only care about profits."