The Daring Billionaire’s Wife

Vanessa

Dominic's grip on my hand is so tight that I can't seem to pull away.

"Whatever you said just now, I'm not in agreement with it," he says to me before I can even turn around to face him.

Now looking back at him, I glance at his hand holding mine, then up at his face and he finally lets go while repeating himself.

"I'm really not in agreement with this. I never thought I'd say this, but I hate the way things are now because I prefer us being on good terms with each other." "We are." I cross my arms with a sigh.

"This isn't how it's supposed to be and you know it."

"I've been thinking about it all day and I prefer us being how we were before." Even saying it hurts.

He scoffs. "I can't believe you just said that."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you actually think you and I can go back to how we were before after everything that's happened between us?"

"After what recently happened, yes."

It seems that he's instantly filled with guilt as he looks away for a moment but only a few seconds later, he looks back at me, taking a step forward.

"Look, I admit that I had plans of divorcing you just so I could marry Carmella, but that was when she was still my girlfriend. We're not together anymore and that means it's a thing of the past."

"Just because you broke up doesn't mean that's it. People break up and make up all the time, so who says you two won't get back together?"

"No. You shouldn't even talk about that." He firmly shakes his head. "You know how I care about the children and how much they mean to me. Seeing the joy on their faces, how much love they give including how much I give them in return, all that matters to me and if someone is against that, it only makes my blood boil. After what happened with Carmella, it doesn't matter. Nothing will change."

Curious, I narrow my eyes. "Do you actually mean to tell me you're never getting back with her again, no matter how she comes crawling back to you?"

"No. I won't. I fell for it too many times when she manipulated the situation to her advantage."

As he goes on to further explain why he won't get back with her, I realize that this is more than I wanted to hear, so I hold up the palm of my hand. "Please stop right there," I say to him. "At the end of the day, it doesn't matter. I'll still just play my part in this marriage of ours."

He chuckles, making me tilt my head with narrowed eyes.

"I don't think I said anything funny," I say to him.

"Last evening, when you were so drunk that you couldn't stand on your own, I took you up to the room and you said we should get a divorce."

My eyes widen in shock and I cover my mouth for a second.

"I really said that?"

you did and I was shocked when

don't remember any of that." I

of it,

didn't mean it," I assure him. "Why would I want

breath and he smiles, making me feel embarrassed. I lower my gaze, wanting the floor to swallow me up

back up at him, his

"Really?"

to forgive me right away, but the truth is I just want us to

took care of

sighs heavily. "That's only a small part of it. The bigger part is that I took care of you because of the

furrow my eyebrows. "This isn't the first time you've said that. Every event we've ever attended, you monitor the way I drink because of the way I get when I'm

drunk was during the party that I organized with

"Yeah. I remember that."

you had been holding in and it had to do with losing your mom. When

my heart sinks because truly, I had

my attention again. "I just couldn't leave you like that, so

did?" My eyes

I held you in my arms for a while until you

remember that

course you don't. You were too

that I think about it, I understand why you didn't want me to get drunk to that extent. You thought that I would do the same thing and you didn't want to find yourself in a position where you needed

my eyes. "I feared that you would get drunk and cry because of your mom again, which would only hurt you. I didn't

into his eyes that my lips almost curve into a smile, but I press them together while looking

My voice is

"Don't mention it."

the door

pressing my clenched fists right against it. I even shut my eyes as tight as I can while shaking

happened while he was still

me. From the few details I can remember, he

know this, I find myself not being as upset as I was with him. I

I can even step away from the door, he knocks on it while calling

step away from it, compose myself as I toughen up, then open the door for him. "Yeah?" I stand right in the doorway with crossed arms and a blank expression. "Remember the plan you mentioned to me for the children

want you to be

My eyes grow wide

but it's yours. Even Frank was impressed when I told him." Though I part my

really want me to do this?"