Chapter 4

Winnie acknowledged me with a gentle, friendly nod.

I felt a bit awkward, but I still managed to smile back at her.

I was in a new environment, surrounded by new people. They were welcoming, and no one judged me or knew what I had been through. I felt as if I'd had a fresh start in life.

I thought my time with Lisa was finished, but I had forgotten that she wasn't the type to let go so easily—especially if she felt someone else was eyeing what belonged to her.

I noticed a familiar figure as I left school that afternoon. Lisa was leaning against her ostentatious luxury car, a lollipop hanging from her lips. I noticed that she looked visibly thinner and had dark circles under her eyes, radiating a sullen, violent energy.

Lisa tossed the lollipop aside after spotting me, walked right up to me, and asked in a raspy voice laced with bottled-up anger, "Have you had enough, Dominic? You're coming home with me this instant!"

Leonardo, intimidated by her aggressive manner, instinctively moved to shield me behind him. "Who is this woman, Dominic?"

I replied flatly, "She's just a lunatic."

"Did you just call me a lunatic, Dominic?" Lisa burst out laughing, as if she had heard the funniest thing ever, though her eyes remained cold.

"You're right! You're the one who drove me to this lunacy, Dominic! You ghosted me and blocked my number! Do you have any idea how hard I've been looking for you, Dominic?"

I looked at her calmly and asked, "What of it then? There's nothing between us anymore, Lisa."

Lisa gripped my wrist with incredible force. "How dare you! Do you think our ten years together can be forgotten so easily? Your father is still working as the chauffeur, and your mother is still working as the housekeeper of our family, Dominic! I'll have them both fired tomorrow if you don't do what I say!"

I had never seen her lose it like this. I also couldn't help but feel my blood run cold, as this was the first time she had threatened me using Mom and Dad.

"You'd better let go of him this instant!" Winnie stated coldly, having approached my side without me noticing. She then methodically pried Lisa's fingers off my wrist; her steady movements were backed by an uncompromising strength.

Lisa narrowed her eyes as she studied Winnie dangerously. "Who the hell are you?"

"I'm Dominic's classmate," Winnie replied as she stepped in front of me, meeting Lisa's gaze with composure.

"You've found yourself a girlfriend, huh?" Lisa sneered, her eyes brimming with contempt. "You're quite something, Dominic. You've only been gone for a few days, and you've already hooked up with someone new! Your taste is still terrible—you picked some broke bookworm!"

Winnie showed no change in expression, remaining perfectly composed. "I don't care what you think of me—what matters is that Dominic doesn't want to leave with you."

"Who gave you the right to decide what he wants?" Lisa was absolutely livid. She then lashed out and tried to slap Winnie in the face.

I shouted out loud. Winnie sidestepped in time, but Leonardo, standing behind her, wasn't as fortunate—Lisa's strike sent him stumbling to the floor.

In that instant, the scene turned chaotic, and the school security, upon hearing the commotion, arrived and broke up the fight between the two of them.

I was sent to the principal's office along with Winnie and Lisa.

Mr. Zimmerman, my homeroom teacher, and Uncle Lionel arrived promptly. Lisa's parents, Oliver Thornton and Dahlia Greene, arrived as well.

Oliver burst in and immediately pointed at me, yelling, "You've got a lot of nerve, Dominic! You lied about your academic training camp just to come here and mess around with another woman!"

Dahlia pulled Lisa close, checking her for injuries with concern. "Did you get hurt, Lisa? That brat went way too far!"

Uncle Lionel, trembling with rage, threw my diagnosis report directly in their faces. "You're actually accusing him of messing around? You'd better take a look at what your darling daughter did, Mr. and Mrs. Thornton! Your daughter tortured Dominic until he developed severe depression! How dare you act like we're the problem here!"