The Daring Billionaire’s Wife by Lypstical

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 tobefore 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 toand 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 tellyou'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, makingtilt 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?" "Yes, you did and I was shocked when I heard it." "I... I don't remember any of that." I swallow hard.

"By the looks of it, you didn't mean it." "I definitely didn't mean it," I assure him. "Why would I want to divorce you? Realizing what I've just said, I hold my breath and he smiles, makingfeel embarrassed. I lower my gaze, wanting the floor to swallowup because of the way it sounded when I said it. "I don't want to divorce you either," he says.

I look back up at him, his words warming my heart a little.

"Really?" "Yes and about what you found out from Carmella, I don't expect you to forgiveright away, but the truth is I just want us to be a team." "Is that why you completely took care oflast night for a start?" He sighs heavily. "That's only a small part of it. The bigger part is that I took care of you because of the way you get when you're drunk." I furrow my eyebrows. "This isn't the first tyou'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. What don't I know?" "The first tyou were extremely drunk was during the party that I organized with Frank." "Yeah. I remember that." "I brought you hand it seems that because you hadn't taken alcohol in a long time, it brought out a part of you which you had been holding in and it had to do with losing your mom. When I brought you back to your bedroom, you burst into tears while calling for her." As he gives further details, my heart sinks because truly, I had been bottling it all up.

"But you know what?" he says, grabbing my attention again. "I just couldn't leave you like that, so I got on the bed with you and held you close." "You did?" My eyes widen.

"Yes. I held you in my arms for a while until you let it all out." "I...I don't remember that part." "Of course you don't. You were too drunk." "Now that I think about it, I understand why you didn't wantto get drunk to that extent. You thought that I would do the sthing and you didn't want to find yourself in a position where you needed to comfort me." "That's where you're wrong." He takes a step forward, looking right into my eyes. "I feared that you would get drunk and cry because of your mom again, which would only hurt you. I didn't want to see you like that again." He sounds and seems so sincere as I look into his eyes that my lips almost curve into a smile, but I press them together while looking away.

"Thanks." My voice is quiet.

"Don't mention it." With a nod, I turn to face the door and suddenly make my way out of his bedroom.

As soon as I'm in my bedroom, I close the door, pressing my clenched fists right against it. I even shut my eyes as tight as I can while shaking my head. No matter how hard I try, I can't remember the part wher he comforted me.

Then, my eyes shoot open when I realize that when he comforteduntil I let it all out, it happened while he was still in a relationship with Carmella. Did he care that much for him to do what he did? Just thinking about it makes my heart race and now it begins to make sense to me. From the few details I can remember, he was kissing and touchingwhile in bed. It must have been in that moment that he comforted me.

Now that I know this, I find myself not being as upset as I was with him. I wonder if he would've still toldabout my mom if not for what happened last night.

Before I can even step away from the door, he knocks on it while calling my name.

I 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 tofor the children at the orphanage?" "Yes, I do." I tilt my head, wondering where he's going with this.

"I want you to be in charge of the project." "Really?" My eyes grow wide as I am pleasantly surprised.

"Yes, I want you to do this because it's your idea. Of course, I'll be there to guide you, but it's yours. Even Frank was impressed when I told him." Though I part my lips to speak, it takesa few seconds to gather my words. "You really wantto do this?" I point at myself.

He nods. "That's why I cback here. We're going to the orphanage tomorrow morning to talk to management." The thought of doing this actually excitesso much that I press my lips together to hide my smile as I look away. "Have you had dinner yet?" he asks.

"Not yet." Though I quickly respond, I find his question to be so sudden.

"Since you haven't had dinner yet, we should do it together," he suggests.

Even though my heart flutters, I still feel like I can't bring myself to do it.

"If you think that having dinner together will makeforget about everything, you're wrong." I look to the side. "Aren't you hungry?" "I am." "Then let's have dinner together." "Fine." I nod with a sigh.

As we have dinner together, I soon realize it's not as bad as I thought it would be. We sit far away from each other but despite the distance between us, I catch him stealing glances atas I equally steal glances at him. I wonder if we'll do this more often because in my heart, I don't hate this at all. "Did you finally watch the video I sent you?" he asks.

"Yes, I did. I have to admit that the moment itself was ridiculous." "I know, but it worked." I nod in agreement, still keeping a blank expression despite my amusement deep inside.

"The most shocking part toas I watched the video were those hard slaps." He chuckles. "I actually had to pay the actress more for that." "I'm not surprised. She took it all with that in mind." I lean back in my seat, still trying not to smile.

"Shane called but I didn't pick up," he says, then sips his juice.

"Why not?"

"There's no need to talk to him. That fucker has his money for the rest of the month if he thinks he's going to get more out ofthen he's absolutely wrong." I nod in understanding, focusing on my food again after leaning forward.

As we eat in silence, it still feels comfortable, including the Om conversation we just had. This is the least awkward meal we've shared. I could loosen up a bit more, but not yet. Comparing Dominic now to how he was within the beginning, I'd choose this version of him, especially after seeing all his efforts to make things right.

"There's something I haven't told you yet," he says, grabbing my attention. "Don't be too shocked." I hold my breath, wondering what it is.

RULE #1 choose married women They have reason to keep things secret, as do you.

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