Chapter 9

ELEANOR'S POV

Dominic's roar echoed down the dim corridor. The murky light fell across his face, making him look ferocious and frightening.

"Dom, you need to calm down. There must be some sort of misunderstanding somewhere. I'm sure of that. Ellie would never ds something like that." Callum stood beside him, pale, looking at me with worried eyes. I stood less than a meter away.

The light was behind me, so he couldn't see my expression. All he could do was keep making frantic faces, silently begging me to explain.

"Ellie may not be that kind of person, but she definitely has the guts for it." Finn said suddenly. His round baby face lit up with enthusiasm. "Remember when Dom got cheated by that business partner? Ellie marched into the other pack's headquarters by herself. She put the guy's head through a glass table. She'd do anything for Dom."

Dominic's face, rigid with rage, cracked slightly at Finn's words.

Callum closed his eyes. "..."

He turned and glared at Finn, turning even paler. "If you don't know what to say, then shut up..."

"What did I say? I'm just admiring Ellie's bravery. Did I say something wrong again?" Finn frowned, bewildered, and muttered to himself.

"Ellie would never do something like this. I believe her!"

Theo had come in late and now stood behind me with a solemn face. I could feel him at my back, steady and rain-damp, smelling of cold night air.

"You believe her? Do you even know what happened?" Dominic's furious gaze snapped to him.

"No matter what happens, I believe her."

Behind his gold frames, Theo's eyes were steady. He planted his tall frame firmly behind me and spoke without hesitation.

"You..."

Dominic's face was terrifying now. His back teeth ground together, and his eyes cut like knives. He looked as if he wanted to kill Theo.

"Are you sure you want me to apologize?"

I had been silent until then. My porcelain face was perfectly still. I looked only at Vivian, curled in Dominic's arms.

"I..."

Her hands tightened on his collar. She flinched under my stare and buried her face deeper in his chest to escape it.

"Dom, don't be angry. I don't want you to get all worked up because of me. I'm fine. It doesn't hurt anymore..."

Large tears rolled down her pale face. She shivered in his arms and whimpered softly.

Something twisted in Dominic's face as he watched her try to comfort him. While she was obviously terrified, his fury surged higher.

"Are you threatening her? How could someone as simple and kind as Vivi stand up to your threats! Ellie, I'm warning you. Don't use those dirty business tricks to harass Vivi! You are going to apologize!"

"Vivi, don't be afraid. Let alone being harassed by her. I'll be by your side no matter what. I will never let anyone hurt you!"

"Dirty business tricks?"

Something sharp flashed across my face. I looked at him with eyes colder than I had ever let them be.

My nails bit into my palms but I felt no pain at all.

I narrowed my eyes and stared at the face I knew better than any other. My heart felt desolate. All I could feel was the irony of loving this man for five years.

I had decided the moment I left the bridal boutique that nothing he did would make me angry or wounded again.

But hearing those words, my heart still ached uncontrollably. My nose still stung.

He was the one who had begged me. He was the one who had coaxed me and pleaded with me to come to the company and help him. And now he called me dirty.

Ha. It was absurd.

I clenched my fists. I pressed the tip of my tongue against the roof of my mouth and breathed in deeply. I forced the heaviness in my heart back. and then I said in a voice as cold as steel:

"Then call the police."

"Wh…. What did you say?!"

Panic flickered in Vivian's dark eyes. The body in Dominic's arms went rigid. She turned her head, her bloodied face full of disbelief.

"You heard me. Call the police!"

Theo's brown eyes narrowed. He had not missed the flash of fear in Vivian's face. He pulled his phone from his pocket. "I'll make the call right now."

"Wait... wait..."

Her chest heaved uncontrollably. Her panicked eyes darted back and forth. She frowned hard, thinking at lightning speed.

I watched her mind race, and I knew exactly what she was thinking.

Police meant statements. Statements meant I would tell everyone what I had heard on that phone call. She might be sure that Dominic would believe her over me. But this was the critical moment. She was trying to get pregnant and secure her place. She couldn't afford a single mistake.

I folded my arms and looked at her frightened eyes. A sneer spilled from the corner of my mouth.

"What is wrong? Are you scared?"

Afraid I'll tell everything?

"Ellie, when did you become so aggressive?" Dominic said. "If you were wrong, just apologize. Why do you have to be so stubborn and refuse to bend at all?"

He knew my temper. Once my stubbornness surfaced, ten wolves couldn't drag me back. He had complained about it a hundred times. If I would only bow my head and soften my voice, he always said, he could solve anything for me. But I would rather crack my own head open than say one soft word to him.

"Dom, I am sure you already know what my personality is like?"

I pressed my tongue hard against the roof of my mouth. My lips were a thin line. There wasn't a flicker of warmth in my eyes as I looked at him.

"If I weren't so stubborn, I'm afraid you'd still be dragging your crippled legs around that old house."

"You..."

Under that cold gaze, I saw his throat work. For a moment, something like panic flickered across his face. As if he had only now noticed how I was looking at him.

Like a stranger.

"Dom, my head hurts..."

A pained groan slipped from Vivian's lips. "Could you take me to the hospital? I feel so dizzy..."

"Vivi, you don't look good. I'll take you right now!"

Dominic's attention went back to Vivian. His eyes fell on the blood still trickling from her forehead, and his jaw clenched. He drew a deep breath and swept her up in his arms.

"I'll take Vivi to the hospital first. When I get back, I'll settle this with you!"

He looked at me for a long moment with dark, deep eyes. Then he turned and walked out.