When You Started to Regret - Chapter 26

A creeping irritation furrowed Dominic’s brow, an annoyance with no clear cause. And yet, in his mind, the image of Elaine Aiola’s cherry-colored, teasing lips kept flickering before him.

“So, Dominic,”
“I was really upset back then. That’s why I begged Fernando to help me.”
“And then, I ran into you there.”
“After that, I kept thinking—maybe you and I were meant to be.”
“Hey, Dominic. I…”
“I love you.”
“I love you so much.”

That mouth—so innocent, so stunning it made him want to devour her had whispered those words, believing wholeheartedly that what they shared was love.

If he were to defile that delicate mouth,  the one that flinched just from the brush of a fingertip.

“Would that make it more exciting?”

Dominic laughed darkly at his own vulgar thought. The low, out-of-place sound made Bella hesitate as she looked up at him.

“Dominic?”

“Move.”

He pulled himself out of her grasp.

“Dominic!”

Her voice rang with disbelief, but Dominic collapsed into the sofa with an air of cold detachment.

“Go home.”

“What are you talking about?!”

With a disinterested glare, Dominic delivered his words like a blade.

“You don’t turn me on at all. So just leave.”

Bella’s face twisted with shame. She already knew it—that he hadn’t responded to her advances even once. Still, she couldn’t accept it. Her pride wounded, she raised her voice.

“This wasn’t the deal! You—you said if I helped you, you’d be with me!”

“You’re the one who offered yourself in the first place.”

Dominic, now fully dressed again, crossed his legs and answered icily. Bella may have been a skilled informant, but that was all. Dominic didn’t need her specifically. She had always been the one who wanted, who longed. The power dynamic had never changed.

“Even so,  I did it for you.”

Tears welled up in Bella’s eyes, but Dominic merely scoffed. Leaning forward slightly, he met her gaze and smiled—a cold, tired smile.

“I’m sorry, Bella. But what can I say? You just don’t do it for me.”

Despite the crudeness of the words, his tone was almost gentle. He reached out and brushed his blunt fingertips along her cheek.

“I’ll call for you next time. But not today. Go on now.”

Even his affectionate dismissal carried a note of exhaustion. Bella glanced up at him, reading the weariness in his eyes. He couldn’t help that she no longer interested him—and she knew it. Still, her pride stung.

“As usual, just take whatever you like.”

Once again, Dominic gave her the same kind of compensation she never actually wanted. Bella always pretended to accept it as if it had meaning—jewels from his collection, things that sparkled like they held his heart.

Snap.

As Bella reached into his jewelry box and picked up a piece at random, Dominic gently smacked the back of her hand.

“Not that one.”

With a firm motion, his fingers took back a small hairpin set with a green gem. It looked strangely familiar. Bella narrowed her eyes in suspicion, but before she could examine it more closely, Dominic shifted it out of her view entirely.

“Try these instead—yes, this one’s better. And this.”

He kindly placed two larger gems into her hand, then closed the jewelry box with a warm smile. Bella hesitated before finally rising to her feet. She didn’t want to leave—but if she pushed any further, she risked ruining everything.

As she turned to leave after a curt farewell, Dominic’s voice stopped her in her tracks.

“That cookie back then.”

“What?”

Startled, Bella paused, unable to make sense of what he meant.

“Never mind.”

Dominic had looked serious for a moment, but then shook his head.

Vanessa’s birthday was just two days away.

Fernando was growing increasingly anxious, especially given how unstable Vanessa had seemed lately. But that morning, she finally appeared in better health—alert and composed for the first time in a while.

Waking early, they had a light breakfast together. While he read the morning paper, Elaine sat beside him, chatting brightly about her upcoming birthday party.

When it was time for him to leave for his government meeting, she walked him to the front door, kissed him on the cheek, and waved goodbye.

It was an ordinary, peaceful morning—but Fernando found himself especially grateful for it. It filled him with warmth, and he arrived at the meeting with a lighter heart than usual.

But the atmosphere in the chamber didn’t match his mood. It was tense. Uneasy.

“What’s going on?” Fernando asked.

“About an hour ago, several unmarked carriages arrived at the palace,” one of the nearby nobles replied.

Fernando’s brow furrowed slightly.

Lately, there had been troubling rumors whispers that the queen was planning tax reform with the help of the newly risen nobility. It was easy to dismiss them as nonsense, but the queen’s frequent contact with those men had made Fernando wary.

“They’re gathering in Her Majesty’s office now.”

The noble hadn’t even finished speaking when the herald’s booming voice echoed through the chamber, announcing the queen’s arrival.

Fernando, along with the others, rose from his seat. He quickly wiped any displeasure from his face, lifted his chin with practiced poise, and looked toward the door.

Queen Clemencia entered, radiating a splendor that rivaled even Vanessa. Following behind her were several unfamiliar young men—those infamous nouveau nobles the queen had taken an interest in.

Men who had allegedly bought their titles with vulgar wealth. Crude. Undignified.

The established aristocrats hardened their expressions in open disapproval. Yet, among them, Fernando alone kept a calm and composed face—noble and still.

Then, something caught his eye. One man entering behind the queen made him freeze.

That man!

He was tall, striking, with rugged yet refined features. But what startled Fernando wasn’t just the man’s appearance.

No, it can’t be.

Something about the silhouette was familiar—too familiar. The hair on the back of his neck rose.

Then the man lifted his head. Their eyes met.

Dark eyes like the midnight sea glinted—and curved into the faintest smile.

In that chilling, surreal moment, a cold sweat ran down Fernando’s spine.

He wanted to get a better look, but had no chance. The man barely sat down before the queen gave him a task. He bowed and left the chamber to carry out her order.

Fernando couldn’t exactly leap from his seat and chase after him—not in front of everyone, not in front of the queen. All he could do was sit there, his mind whirling with unease.

He didn’t remember how the rest of the meeting went. Not a word of the tense debate over tax reform registered.

As soon as the meeting ended, he shook off the nobles who tried to speak with him and rushed out to his carriage.

When he arrived home, he headed straight for the garden pavilion where Vanessa usually stayed.

His long strides and agitated demeanor startled the servants, but they said nothing—only stepped aside in silence.

“Vanessa!”

Startled, Vanessa turned, a lukewarm teacup in her hands.

“Fernando?”

“It’s him. That man!”

Fernando collapsed onto the seat across from her, face pale as if he’d seen a ghost.

“He’s back, Vanessa.”

“Who?”

Vanessa stood, her voice tight with dread.

From between Fernando’s clenched teeth, a broken whisper escaped:

“It was him. I’m certain Dominic.”

Clatter.
The teacup slipped from Vanessa’s hand and shattered against the ground.

“That useless slave boy Prince Edmund brought into the palace.”

“Oh!no…”

Vanessa clutched her forehead and staggered. Fernando caught her just in time, pulling her into his arms.

Burying his face into her shoulder, he muttered with dread:

“But we sent him away, didn’t we? Put him on that ship. Made sure he could never come back. So, how is he here now?”

Normally, Fernando would have been the first to check if Vanessa was alright. But the shock of Dominic’s reappearance had thrown him off completely.

Swallowing hard, Vanessa tried to make sense of it all.

“Fernando, slowly—tell me everything. Where did you see him? Are you sure?”

“At the palace. This morning. During the council meeting. He was with the queen.”

“…”

Vanessa’s hands shoved hard against his chest.

“With her? He was with Mother?!”

“Yes. Among those new nobles she’s always surrounding herself with lately. She seems to trust him greatly. He’s like one of her closest aides now.”

“No! no, no!”

Vanessa screamed, both hands covering her mouth in horror.

“It’s him, Fernando. It’s really him. He’s come back for revenge. He’s gotten close to Mother—and now he’s going after poor Elaine.”

“Elaine?”

At the sound of his beloved sister’s name, Fernando froze and stared at Vanessa. His handsome face twisted with fury.

“What do you mean, Vanessa? Why would you bring up Elaine’s name now?”

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