Vespera knew Dominic was just joking.
Even if he wasn't, it wasn't realistic.
Even if he could make it real, even if he fought against his parents and won, sure, he'd be happy. But for her, it would probably be the beginning of another nightmare.
She had just escaped a wolf's den, and she wasn't about to step into a tiger's lair.
A little pleasure, a little indulgence, and then they'd move on. There was no need for any endings.
Dominic looked at her—at her beautiful face smiling so heartlessly, and his expression cooled a little.
His dark eyes stayed shadowed for a long moment, but eventually, they softened again. "The single life isn't bad either. But if you ever change your mind, let me be the first to know."
Vespera didn't respond.
It was a fake scenario anyway.
Instead, she tugged down his tie and kissed him again.
Right now, they burned like wild summer flowers. But one of them was just waiting for the bloom to fade, while the other was dreaming of forever.
…
They ended up skipping the rest of the day, leaving poor Gerard alone at the office, working himself to the bone.
Not only did he have to cover for them, but he also had to come up with a unified excuse—they had supposedly gone to meet with a client.
To avoid messing it up, he didn't dare make it too specific.
If anyone pressed him for details like exactly which executive they were meeting, he would just fire back, asking if Dominic's schedule now needed to be reported to everyone.
It sounded like he was being high and mighty, but inside, he was practically screaming, "Please stop asking!"
One person covering for three, working like crazy, worrying nonstop, and he still had to act like he knew nothing.
By the time Dominic and Vespera finally returned to the office, it was almost time to clock out.
Gerard thought, "You might as well not have come back at all!"
Dominic, of course, was calm and unbothered. No one could control him anyway.
Vespera, on the other hand, was all nerves, guilt, and awkwardness.
"Gerard, about this afternoon—" she started.
"This afternoon, you went with Mr. Reid to meet a client. I know," Gerard cut in smoothly.
Vespera fell silent.
"Mr. Reid didn't mention the details of which client you met," he added pointedly. They can work that out themselves.
Vespera fell even more silent.
Vespera drove to the train station to pick them up.
They had bags upon bags with them. Every time they came back, Natalie would always send them home with tons of food
"Mom, Dad." Vespera greeted them warmly as she rushed over.
She reached out to grab some of their bags, but Wanda quickly pushed her hands away. "They're heavy. Let your dad carry them."
Then she pulled Vespera forward by the hand.
In the parking lot, Vespera handed the car keys to Vernon and got into the backseat with Wanda.
"Let's swing by the supermarket first. I'll pick up a few things and make Vera a nice dinner tonight," Wanda said to Vernon, who was driving.
Vespera clung to Wanda's arm and pouted sweetly, "Then I want your butter garlic prawns."
"You little foodie," Wanda chuckled, lightly patting Vespera's cheek.
She took a closer look at her and asked, "You've been on your own for a while now. Have you been eating properly?"
"I have! I'm living the dream these days, totally free and happy. You don't have to worry about me."
Vespera understood Wanda's real worry.
She was afraid that after the divorce, Vespera would fall apart, that even her smiles would just be forced.
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