Chapter 7

Hearing him call her, Louise froze, her whole body stiffening instinctively. Back then, Edgar never used her full name-he always called her "Lulu" with that familiar tone, gentle and affectionate. All their good memories had shattered because of that incident. Those years he spent locked up only confirmed one thing: he hated her. Louise sniffed, lifted her head, and met her reflection in his dark eyes. Her voice was laced with a tipsy rasp, "Took you long enough. Let's go." Edgar frowned, only to see her gaze slide past him as she reached out and naturally looped her arm around another man's. The smile on her face-it was just like the one she used to give him. The anger inside him flared instantly. Without thinking, he grabbed her wrist. Dominic stopped too, turning his head to lock eyes with Edgar. The two stood in front of the restaurant, two equally striking men, silently staring each other down. The tension in the air spoke louder than words. Louise smiled sweetly and said, "Mr. Shaw, would you kindly let go?" "Who is he?" Edgar's voice was blunt, the possessiveness in his tone all too familiar. Before Dominic could respond, Louise stepped in. She knew Edgar too well-his ability to dig deep and his need for revenge. She didn't want her newly-wedded husband caught in any mess. "What's it to you?" She lifted her chin, staring him down. She had done nothing wrong back then and saw no reason to bend now. Edgar sneered, his expression dark. "Got it... a new guy, huh? You never seem to be short of men, Louise." She couldn't be bothered anymore. She pulled Dominic with her and strode forward. Watching them walk away, Edgar's eyes narrowed sharply. "Louise, you belonged to me back then, and you still do. I never said I don't want you - so no other man should even be near you." Dominic looked down at their clasped hands. The softness of her touch made a strange warmth bloom in his chest. In the car, Louise couldn't bring herself to look at him. She'd hinted the first time they met that she had a bit of a reputation in Kingswell-but to be insulted by her ex like that, right in front of her new husband... it was humiliating. Dominic glanced over at her. The soft overhead light cast a glow on her pale skin. From where he sat, he could clearly see her long lashes fluttering-heartachingly pretty. "Ex?" he asked, his voice low and calm. "Uh? Yeah..." Louise hesitated, then mustered the courage to explain. "Sorry. I didn't expect to see him here, and I..." She didn't even know where to begin. Her history with Edgar could fill an entire night. Would he even want to hear it? "Why wouldn't you admit it?" he asked again, slight displeasure creeping into his tone. Louise let out a soft sigh. It wasn't that she didn't want to admit it-Edgar had the power to crush someone in Kingswell with ease. If he figured out Dominic's identity, there was no telling what he'd do. "It's not that I'm afraid... I just don't want anything to do with him anymore," she said, turning to look out the window as the car started moving. The buildings outside sped by. Her eyes drifted past the entrance of Jade Court. Edgar was long gone by now, but her chest still tightened a little. She swallowed hard and turned back. Dominic's near-perfect side profile came into view. "I was in prison. Three years."