Chapter 2

"What are you looking at so intently?"

A low voice came from behind me, with a raspy edge from just smoking.

My fingers instinctively stiffened, the numbers on the screen reflected in my pupils.

A few seconds later, I calmly pressed the lock button and placed the phone face down on the couch cushion.

"Nothing."

I turned around and met his eyes.

The dark undercurrent in his eyes hadn't completely dissipated, but the moment he met my gaze, he skillfully switched to a gentle expression.

"Just checking tomorrow's bridal fitting schedule," I said.

Dominic casually stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and strode toward me with long legs.

He carried the scent of tobacco mixed with the coolness of the night breeze, naturally pulling me into his embrace.

"Leave those trivial matters to the assistant." His chin rested on top of my head, rubbing gently in a soothing manner. "Tomorrow I'm clearing my entire schedule to spend the whole day with you."

I leaned against his warm chest, listening to his heartbeat, which remained steady.

The question "What's with the fifty million?" got stuck in my throat.

I closed my eyes and swallowed it down, along with five years of my youth.

"Okay," I said softly.

The next morning, a light rain began to fall over River City.

Unusually, Dominic didn't handle emails during breakfast. Instead, he carefully peeled an egg and placed it on my plate.

When we arrived at the city's most exclusive bridal boutique, the manager and her assistants were already waiting at the entrance.

"Miss Harper, all three wedding dresses you reserved have been flown in."

I was ushered into the VIP room.

Dominic sat on the couch, casually flipping through a magazine.

"Go try them on. I'll wait here for you." He smiled at me warmly, his eyes full of affection.

The first dress was an extremely elaborate French embroidered gown with a long train.

The fitting process was lengthy, with several assistants carefully tightening the laces at my waist.

Just as I was about to put on the veil, a sudden urgent phone ring came from outside.

Through the half-open curtain of the fitting room, I saw Dominic abruptly stand up.

He didn't even notice the magazine dropping to the carpet. He strode to the window, covering the receiver, his voice extremely low, his spine rigid.

By the time I walked out of the fitting room holding up my skirt, he had already grabbed his suit jacket from the chair.

"Dominic?" I called softly.

He turned around, his gaze pausing on me for half a second. No amazement, no praise, only poorly concealed irritation.

"A friend has an emergency." He strode toward the exit while quickly buttoning up his jacket, not even coming over to hug me. "I'm going to check on them. I'll be right back. Whichever dress you like, just put it on my account."

As the VIP room door clicked shut, he disappeared behind it.

The manager stood awkwardly holding the veil. "Miss Harper, this..."

"It's fine," I said, looking at myself in the full-length mirror, dressed so elaborately yet looking utterly ridiculous. "I'll wait for him."

The wedding dress was heavy, making it hard to breathe.

The wall clock ticked monotonously.

The staff changed my tea for the fourth time. The water had gone completely cold, a bitter film forming on the surface.

I glanced at my phone.

8 PM.

He said he'd be right back, but made me wait twelve hours in the climate-controlled VIP room.

A sudden pain shot through my lower abdomen. My face went white as I bent over, fingers gripping the wedding dress tightly.

Cold sweat beaded on my forehead.

With trembling hands, I opened my contacts and dialed Dominic's number.

The long ringing tone echoed in the empty VIP room.

Just one second before it automatically disconnected, the call was answered.

"Dominic, my stomach hurts a bit..."

"Hello?"

What came through the speaker wasn't Dominic's deep voice, but a woman's coquettish laugh.

"Oh, it's Miss Harper."

My breathing stopped abruptly.

It was Vivian.

"Dominic can't take your call right now."

I heard a faint metallic clinking sound from the other end.

Vivian laughed casually, her tone blatantly showing off. "The crystal chandelier at the Blackwell estate is too heavy. Dominic's worried it might fall and hit me, so he's standing on a ladder right now, personally hanging it for me."