When You Started to Regret - Chapter 24

“How can someone say such beautiful things? My Dominic really is something.”

Seeing her happiness, Dominic smiled faintly and kissed the corner of her lips, then her neck, and finally her collarbone. His lips, cool to the touch, moved slowly but deliberately downward. Elaine let out a light, breathless sigh.

Her soft, red lips, constantly parting with quiet gasps, were so temptingly sinful.

“But Dominic,” she said suddenly, even as her voice still carried a hint of laughter and her expression remained dreamy.

“Yes?”

“Isn’t there anyone important to you? Like… family, maybe?”

Dominic pulled back slightly and looked at her. His eyes narrowed just a little. The way she tried to seem casual, glancing up at him for his reaction, was endearing and a little sly.

From the moment Elaine Aiola first arrived at the mansion, she’d shown interest in the fact that he lived alone. Stirring her sympathy wouldn’t hurt. After all, the noble Aiola girl was exactly the type to feel pity for those who came from less fortunate backgrounds—wrapped in a sense of superiority, yet sincere in her own way.

“They all passed away a long time ago.”

His father, once king of a small island nation in the South, was slaughtered like an animal. His mother died in misery. And his younger sister, Liliana, whose death hurt the most because he couldn’t protect her.

They weren’t memories one could speak of with a smile, but Dominic still replied with a bitter grin. Maybe he was just that obsessed with revenge.

“But I don’t think it’s such a bad thing. It means you can be the only one who’s precious to me.”

Only someone consumed by pain could say something that mad—to a woman from the very family he loathed.

“Dominic…”

As expected, Elaine’s face softened, a mix of sorrow and tenderness in her teary green eyes.

“When you say things like that, it makes me feel bad.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m your only one, and yet I can’t give you the same in return. There are others I care deeply about too…”

How sweet. My dear Aiola. As if someone like you could ever truly be my “only one.”

“That’s perfectly fine. You’re an Aiola. You’re someone who deserves to have that kind of love and support.”

Dominic pushed down the bitter sarcasm rising in his throat and smiled gently. His soft expression made Elaine tighten her fists as she spoke with determination.

“But Dominic, this I can promise you. Even though I have others who are important to me, the one I love the most—more than anyone—is you.”

Her eyes met his, unwavering. And the moment her lips parted again—

“I love you, Dominic.”

—her voice carried a love that didn’t falter.

“More than anyone in the world.”

Elaine spoke each word slowly and clearly, putting all her heart into them.

“Even more than Fernando, my brother who raised me… and Vanessa, my sister.”

“…”

At those words, even Dominic—who had silently dismissed her feelings as naïve—was left speechless.

“What’s wrong, Dominic? Are you touched?”

Elaine smiled, catching the brief flash of confusion that crossed his face.

“No, Elaine. It’s just…”

Dominic quickly pulled himself together, wiping a hand over his face as if to clear his mind. He wouldn’t let himself be caught off guard again. Looking straight into her eyes, he asked:

“If—just as a possibility—your family didn’t approve of me, what would you do?”

Elaine’s smooth brow furrowed slightly. It was the first time she’d ever frowned at him—except in more intimate moments.

“That would never happen. Fernando would respect any decision I make.”

She spoke firmly, as if the idea was absurd. The deep trust in her voice when she mentioned Fernando made Dominic feel unexpectedly irritated.

“I hope so.”

His next words were laced with both intention and something more vulnerable.

“Because, if we’re being honest, I’m not exactly someone who suits you.”

“And who decides that?”

One of Elaine’s eyebrows rose sharply. The fire in her green eyes held a kind of intensity that felt far too powerful for someone so young.

“An objective opinion? Don’t make me laugh. The only person who decides who’s right for me—is me. Not some so-called standard of ‘objectivity.’”

She cupped his face gently in her small hands, her gaze proud and unwavering. And once again, Dominic found himself speechless, forced to look up at her in awe.

At that moment, Dominic had no choice but to admit it.

That foolish girl, blinded by love—she too was a noble, one who carried the dignified bloodline of the Carta Imperial family.

“If anyone dares to say you’re not a match for me, I won’t let it go,” Elaine said.

“Even if it’s someone you love? Even if it’s your family?” Dominic asked quietly.

“I don’t think they ever would,” she replied firmly, “but even they wouldn’t be an exception.”

Elaine Aiola was resolute.
Though Dominic had been the one to approach her first, planning to draw in the blind affection of a newly-come-of-age noble girl, she had ended up giving him far more than he had anticipated—a heart that was pure, sincere, and unshakable.

He should have been pleased by such unwavering affection. But instead, Dominic felt an uncomfortable weight settle in his chest. Even though everything was going according to plan, something about it didn’t sit right. Her feelings for him were too much—too deep, too honest, too transparent.

Whenever he came face to face with Elaine Aiola’s painfully pure heart, he couldn’t help but feel like a filthy, despicable man for using her.

The moment that realization struck, Dominic couldn’t bear to look at her any longer. He pulled her into a sudden embrace, pressing her innocent, foolish face against his chest.

“Dominic…?”

Elaine called his name in a small voice, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he tightened his arms around her.

Even as a wave of disgust crept across his skin, he hated himself for responding to the soft pressure of her lips brushing against his chest.

“D-Dominic, wait, this is…”

Elaine stammered, her voice flustered and embarrassed, not understanding when—or why—he’d become so aroused. Her small hands gripped his strong arms tightly.

Though they had shared this kind of intimacy many times before, she still blushed like it was the first. Her innocent reaction should have been adorable—but Dominic didn’t want to find it so. Instead, he grabbed her a bit more roughly and pushed her onto the table.

“Ah…!”

Elaine let out a startled gasp as he flipped her over. Dominic’s gaze swept across her body with a cold, emotionless stare.

She’s no different than any other woman, he told himself. Just another body, dressed in expensive clothes clinging to her delicate frame… That’s all she should be.

Damn it.

He cursed under his breath.

He had believed that, once he stripped away her Aiola title and all its luxury, she would be nothing special. But standing here, facing her bare body, he realized just how wrong he was.

Her pale, flawless skin. The pink, delicate form that filled his hands. It all felt unbearably different. It made him feel like he was losing control. Dominic clenched his teeth.

“Damn it… Elaine, you…”

He said her name without thinking, then clamped his mouth shut and forced himself to focus.

It was a bitter truth, but one he had to admit—Elaine Aiola’s body aroused him more than any other women ever had.

Why? What made her so different?

If he let his guard down for even a moment, he found himself thinking she was cute… even lovable.

Was it her unwavering devotion?

Despite knowing how easily a highborn girl like her could toy with someone of his status, despite already having been broken once by Vanessa—was he really being swept up in the naive affection of this arrogant Aiola girl?

Maybe he had been enchanted. And maybe that was only natural, considering how long he’d played along.

Tch.

Dominic clicked his tongue in frustration at himself and began to move more roughly. Elaine’s body, bent over the table, rocked with each of his movements. The way she trembled—shamelessly beautiful—was almost cruel.

His lips pressed tightly together, Dominic stared down at her trembling white body. He forced himself to feel nothing, to see her as just another woman—nothing more.

Eventually, the hazy tension scattered like mist. Breathless, Dominic finally let go of her and stepped back, his hand falling away.

Elaine, who had remained quiet and still on the table, slowly turned to face him.

“Dominic.”

She looked back at him with a flushed face, smiling lazily from the heat of their passion.

“My legs feel like jelly.”

Her soft, cherry-red lips curved upward, drawing his gaze.

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying you were bad. Actually… it was really, really good.”

Her playful giggle sounded sultrier than usual, likely because of how thoroughly disheveled she looked.

Dominic, who had been staring blankly at her lips, slowly lifted his eyes. And there it was—the same green gaze, still hazy with warmth, sending him a sleepy, loving smile.

Thump…!

Suddenly, his heart slammed loudly in his chest.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump!

Staring at her like he’d been struck, Dominic raised a hand to his chest. His palm met the slick sweat clinging to his skin as he looked down in irritation.

It was just an ordinary heartbeat. Nothing special. The kind of rapid pounding that came after intense physical exertion.

That’s all it was. Nothing more.

At least, that’s what he told himself.

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