The middle-aged woman was Emily!
Vespera froze as her brain tried to catch up with what her eyes were seeing.
The two women eating at the table looked up. Nancy got up happily and ran over to Dominic. She said, "Dominic, you're finally here. I thought you had forgotten all about me."
Dominic pulled Vespera over, shielding himself from Nancy. In a low voice, he said, "Take her outside. I need to speak with Mrs. Dawson."
Vespera answered, "Got it."
As Vespera pulled Nancy, who looked sad, outside, she said, "Let's take a walk. I have something to ask you anyway."
Nancy was frustrated. She had been staying here for so many days, but Dominic didn't even say a word to her when he came. He only wanted to speak to Emily. If it weren't for the deal, she would have left long ago.
"Let go of me!" Nancy said, pushing Vespera's hand away and walking out.
Outside, the two found a place to chat. Vespera spoke first. She said, "I met Evelyn."
Nancy's eyes immediately lit up. All the irritation vanished from her face, especially when she heard Vespera's tone.
She said with a sneer, "You always acted like you didn't care about Domininc, like it was just a fling. But you aren't fooling me. You're head-over-heels for him, aren't you?"
Vespera sighed. There was no way she was head-over-heels for Dominic. Although that was what she thought, she didn't refute Nancy. Instead, she lowered her gaze and said dejectedly, "Why are you laughing at me? You didn't win either. In the end, we're the same."
"We aren't the same!" Nancy refuted. She crossed her arms, chin lifted with pride.
She continued, "Vespera, after seeing Evelyn, don't you feel hopeless? She's an actual noble. If she hadn't been chasing her dream, you wouldn't even get to stand in the same room. And Dominic? He's completely different around her. You don't even know how gentle and attentive he is in front of her."
Vespera was confused? Gentle? Were they even talking about the same man? Was Nancy delusional? She just couldn't handle the idea of another woman near Dominic.
Vespera couldn't help but recall the time when she first met Nancy. They were in Seloria, and Nancy was hostile toward her. Nancy was certain that she and Dominic weren't in a platonic relationship.
"You weren't thinking about Dominic. You were focused on who would win between me and Evelyn.
"I know now that you're just obsessed. You probably did love him once, but you've been stuck in that feeling so long it turned into something else."
Nancy's pupils trembled. It was as though she had heard something terrifying. Every word landed like a hammer on her heart. It was like a mirror exposing her deepest and most twisted truths. A woman who loved and failed to win a man over eventually became distorted.
Seeing that Nancy was silent, Vespera added, "We're both women. I have to say that you're a great woman. There's no need to lose yourself over one man. Just let go and move on. If you never step out, how will you ever know what other beauty the world might hold?"
And with that, Vespera walked away, leaving Nancy frozen in place.
Nancy thought that Vespera was a cunning woman. Did Vespera really think she could brainwash her with that nonsense? No way! Nancy took a few deep breaths, and a strange hollowness settled in her chest.
While Nancy and Vespera were having a conversation between women outside, the atmosphere inside was tense and heavy.
Emily looked at Dominic with fear in her eyes. She asked, "Why did you save me?"
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