Chapter 16 He's Your Husband Now

I panicked, grabbing Gina and apologizing to Dominic Hawthorne, "I'm sorry—my friend's drunk." I didn't know why I felt so guilty. Gina was indeed drunk. She clung to me, shouting, "Lydia Fairchild, do you have any spine at all? He's your husband now—he's got the certificate!" Dominic ignored us, continuing toward his car. Just then, Leona slipped from his arms, standing on the ground with tears streaming down her face. "Lydia… I'm sorry. I'll leave now," she said, turning to hail a taxi. "It's not you who should be leaving," Dominic said, pulling her back into his embrace. Gina exploded. "Leona, stop your act! Everyone knows you're a ‘sweet little tea drinker'—all innocence on the outside, poison underneath! When Lydia was working odd jobs, you did all kinds of underhanded things behind her back. Others might not know, but I know exactly what you are!" "Enough, Gina," I said, trying to pull her away. But Gina wouldn't let go. "Don't back down! Can't you see this little actress is seducing your husband? If you let them go now, they'll be jumping into bed together in minutes!" The moment she finished, Dominic strode forward, grabbed Gina by the collar, and shoved her hard. Teeth clenched, barely containing his fury, he warned, "Shut up. Push me too far, and I'll hit a woman without hesitation." "Dominic Hawthorne, take it out on me!" I rushed to steady Gina, afraid he'd hold a grudge. Leona quickly grabbed his hand, shaking her head. "Dominic, it's fine. It's my fault. I was upset and drank too much—I caused you trouble." As she spoke, her eyes were coldly calculating. "Get these two separated," Dominic ordered. As I struggled to hold Gina, his driver arrived with several bouncers from Queen's Bar. The bouncers immediately grabbed both of us. Then the driver hurried to the back door and opened it. Dominic wrapped his arm around Leona and got into the car. Gina tried to keep yelling, but I held her back. "Let it go. Just let it go." I knew nothing we said could change anything now. As soon as the car drove off, the bouncers left. Gina tapped my forehead, her face full of frustration, as if I were a dream she'd given up on. "Lydia Fairchild, how can you be so weak? Letting them walk away like that?!" I pulled her along with a bitter smile. "Let's go." Truthfully, I was afraid Dominic would punish Gina. After all, we both came from The House of Stars. Her success hadn't come easily. No matter how harshly she scolded me, I just smiled apologetically. It took all my strength to drag her home. Gina was too drunk—she washed her face and passed out. But standing by the window, looking outside, the night was unusually clear, the sky thick with stars. My phone rang. I turned—the screen showed Dominic Hawthorne's number! My heart clenched. I stared at it, hesitating, until I answered at the last ring. "Hello," I said. My palms were already slick with sweat. No one spoke. Only strange sounds… I pressed the phone to my ear, listening closely. What I heard was a woman's voice, dripping with seduction… "Ahh… too fast, too fast, darling…" "Give it to me… let's go all the way…" The honeyed moans poured from the phone, unrelenting. Alongside them came a man's heavy breathing, low grunts of effort. My heart felt like it was being crushed by invisible hands, each breath a struggle. Dominic, why are you torturing me? I hung up, crouched in the corner, and whispered to myself over and over: don't cry. They're not worth it.