Chapter 6

ELEANOR'S POV

My fingers tightened around the paper bag. I looked at Vivian standing in the doorway, and a cold expression slid across my face.

Callum scratched at the hair he had dyed bright red only two days ago. and he tugged his stiff mouth into an awkward smile. "Ellie, Vivian heard about the opening and came to celebrate. Don't get the wrong idea."

I could see in his eyes that he had meant to warn me at the door. He had never expected Vivian to appear on her own.

Dominic might have secretly signed a marriage license with her. but as far as Callum was concerned, I was the only woman who belonged beside his friend. It was written all over his face.

"That's right, Miss Ashmoor. Don't misunderstand." Vivian's eyes curved. "I heard from Dom that Callum's bar was opening. We've known each other so many years, I thought we should come and celebrate."

Her gaze drifted past me to Dominic, who sat on the sofa inside with a glass of wine. She nibbled her lip, her carefully painted face the picture of shyness.

Callum's frown turned into a knot. He scrubbed at his head again and exhaled. "Let's just go in. Don't stand around out here."

"Of course. Come in."

Vivian turned and walked straight to Dominic's side and sat down.

In the dim light, my brows drew together. I touched the bandage on my forehead and followed Callum inside.

"Ellie, you're here."

The second Dominic saw me, his eyes narrowed. He put down the red wine he had just poured, stood up, and crossed the room to me.

"You..."

His sword-straight brows knitted. His smile had barely formed before it turned into a frown as he took in my tracksuit.

"You came to a bar dressed like that?"

"What? Is it not allowed?"

I lifted an eyebrow and tilted my head to look at him. My black ponytail swung with the motion.

"It's not that it isn't allowed."

He rubbed his nose with one finger. He must have felt my indifference, because he added, more quietly. "I know you're still angry about the hospital."

"Ellie, what happened at the hospital couldn't be helped. You didn't see how those reporters swarmed Vivi and Henry. They were like wolves that eat people and don't even spit out the bones. They kept throwing those ugly, cruel questions at her. She's been my friend for so many years. How could I watch them bully a mother and her little boy? So I just..."

"So you just decided to be a father?"

There was ice in my eyes. I interrupted him before he could finish.

"I..." Guilt flashed through his dark eyes. He grabbed my cold hands. "I had no choice. If I hadn't stepped forward, they would never have left Vivi and Henry alone. But you have to believe me, this is temporary. Once Vivi is through this crisis, I'll have her explain it all to the public."

I pulled my hands out of his grasp. My face was as expressionless as porcelain. As I listened to his explanation, I felt nothing except contempt.

I turned and handed the blue gift bag to Callum.

"It isn't expensive. Just a lucky cat. I wish you good fortune."

"Ellie, I'm so happy you came. Thank you. I'm going to put it on my desk like it's a treasure!" Callum's eyes darted from Dominic to me. He took the bag and stretched his mouth into a grin that showed all his teeth. "Come on, sit down, sit down!"

He could feel how thick the tension in the room had become. He shot Dominic a frantic look.

Dominic's face darkened under the dim lights. He sucked in a breath. "Ellie, I know I got it wrong today. I'll explain everything when we get home. Sit down first, please."

He reached for my hand again, wanting to pull me down beside him.

I put my hands behind my back. I turned and sat on the sofa farthest from everyone, at the very edge of the room.

Dominic's hands curled into fists at his sides. His face went grim, and I saw the veins on his forehead bulge as he stared at the woman sitting in the corner.

What is wrong with her today? I could almost hear him think it. Why is she acting like this? I only did Vivi a favor.

"Dom, you can't really blame Ellie for this," Callum said, sighing as he crossed to him and lowered his voice. "Any woman would be furious. She came tonight anyway, which means her heart is bigger than ninety-nine percent of women. I told you not to rush in to help Vivian. You're about to be married, and then an illegitimate child appears out of nowhere. What did you expect Ellie to do?"

"I explained it to her. It's a misunderstanding." Dominic scowled, grabbed a tall glass of red wine from the table, and drained it in one go.

The wine was bitter as it went down. He exhaled. "You didn't see the state Vivi and Henry were in today. If you had, you'd have wanted to help them too."

"I wouldn't..." Callum curled his lip, glancing at Vivian, who couldn't stop sneaking looks at Dominic. He then muttered under his breath.

"What did you say?"

Dominic's fingers whitened around the glass. His eyes narrowed and his eyebrows went up.

"I said, I wouldn't..."

"Everyone! I'd like to sing a song to celebrate the opening of Callum's bar."

A soft, delicate voice cut through the room, and a slender figure in black walked to the small stage in the corner.

"I came in such a rush, I didn't have time to prepare a gift. So I'll make up for it with a song."

Vivian took up a silver microphone and turned her burning gaze on Dominic. Her lips curved into a sweet smile.

"The song I want to sing is my favorite, and the most unforgettable one. It has carried me through every hard time these past years, every time I thought I couldn't go on. It's called 'The First Time.'"

She paused, smiling.

"And Dom wrote it for me himself."

The noisy lounge went quiet.

One by one, every head turned toward the woman in the white tracksuit, sitting alone in the corner.