When You Started to Regret - Chapter 37

“You already look perfect, what more could you possibly need to get ready?”

“Oh my! You can say things like that?”

Elaine giggled, brushing off his line as nothing more than smooth talk, though her question had been half genuine curiosity.
Still, Dominic was far less concerned about being misunderstood than he was with the way her eyes curved when she laughed.

“Elaine When you smile like that…”

They had just reached the second-floor landing when Dominic slowed his steps.
He gently pressed a fingertip to the corner of her eye as he leaned in.

“When I smile like that?” she asked, smiling even wider instead of flinching.
Her eyes glittered as she tilted her face up toward his.

Their foreheads drew closer until his lips softly settled over hers.

In just a few short months, this had become their norm.
They didn’t need to speak anymore.
They could read each other’s intentions with just a look seeking and giving permission wordlessly.

If it weren’t for the sudden sound of footsteps stopping behind them, their kiss might have deepened into something far more intimate.

“…Vanessa unnie?”

Elaine gently pushed against Dominic’s chest, assuming only one person could interrupt them so freely.
Surely no servant would be bold enough to interfere—so it had to be her sister-in-law.

Dominic, annoyed by the interruption, felt a flicker of anger toward Vanessa.
Still, he offered Elaine his favorite smile—the one she liked best—and turned to greet Vanessa.

“Lady Aiola. A pleasure, as always.”

He bowed with leisurely grace, greeting her as if nothing were amiss.

Vanessa said nothing at first, standing frozen.
She didn’t look quite as pale as the first time they met again, but her expression was cold and stiff.
Her gaze carried an odd trace of hostility.

“Sir Dominic Cheshire… was it?”

Vanessa replied curtly, dipping her chin just enough to acknowledge his presence—mostly for Elaine’s sake.

Dominic didn’t mind. That was just how she was.
What amused him more was how she pretended not to know him in front of Elaine—as if their history didn’t exist.

“Our lord of the house is away. I do hope you understand that lingering in a masterless estate is rather… improper.”

“It’s fine, Vanessa unnie,” Elaine interjected. “We were just about to leave.”

Irritated by Vanessa’s frostiness, she tugged at Dominic’s arm.

“Come on, let’s go up.”

As they climbed the stairs together, Dominic glanced sideways at Vanessa’s slightly twitching expression.

Elaine’s posture remained composed, but he could tell she was quietly gauging his mood.
She hated that her family wasn’t warm to him.

That worked in Dominic’s favor.

If this innocent young lady layered guilt on top of her love—if she believed she had to protect him—then she’d never be able to let go.

“Oh my, Lady Elaine!”

Elaine’s maid, Anna, narrowed her eyes in blatant disapproval as Dominic followed her into the room.

“Isn’t it improper for a grown man to enter a young lady’s chambers so freely? I do recall someone—perhaps on Lady Vanessa’s birthday saying just that, when His Highness Prince Turner came by.”

Dominic, who had initially dismissed the maid’s fuss as trivial, froze for a split second.

Prince Turner was in this room?

His eyes sharpened just for a moment but the chill quickly vanished.
He still needed to maintain the persona of a devoted lover, especially in front of the household staff.

“Did you pick out my hairpiece? Not the sapphire one, the onyx,” Elaine said coolly, trying to change the subject.

“Yes, right here, my lady. Oh, and that bouquet you asked about? I thought it would suit this room better than the dining hall, so I placed it in the vase over there. The one Prince Turner gave you… when he proposed.”

Anna made a point of emphasizing Prince Turner, glancing directly at Dominic as if to say:
Our lady is far too noble for someone like you. She’s someone even the Crown Prince holds dear.

Elaine’s eyes narrowed. She could see right through Anna’s intentions.

“You rude little girl!”

“What did I say?” Anna feigned innocence, batting her eyes.

She had gone out of her way to mention Turner, hoping Dominic would realize just how far out of reach Elaine was.

“You think we don’t know exactly what you’re trying to say? If you don’t apologize to Dominic right this instant—”

“It’s alright, Elaine.”

It was Dominic who stopped her.

She looked like she might launch herself at Anna in righteous fury, but he calmly placed a hand on her arm.

“I’ll step outside and give you a moment.”

“No. Stay here,” Elaine said firmly.

“If you were offended, I’ll make sure she watches that mouth of hers.”

“Not at all. I wasn’t the least bit offended. But rather…”

Dominic pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time.

“I get the sense my presence might be slowing things down. And we can’t miss the performance again, can we?”

They had already been late to a show once before.
Even if just spending time together was pleasure enough, neither of them wanted to be late this time.

“You’re right. Just wait a little longer and I’ll be ready in no time.”

“I’ll wait in the hallway.”

“Don’t be silly. I’ll have refreshments brought to the parlor—”

“No need, Elaine. You won’t take long. Besides, one of the paintings in the hall caught my eye. I didn’t have a chance to appreciate it last time.”

With a soft kiss to her forehead, Dominic stepped out of the room.
But instead of admiring the art, his feet carried him directly to the end of the corridor—toward the staircase that led to the third floor.

Just as he expected, Vanessa was still there, standing rigid at the top of the stairs.

“Hello, Vanessa.”

He smiled effortlessly, offering the greeting without hesitation.
No servants passed by. They were alone.

“What are you doing with Elaine?”

Her voice was sharp—straight to the point.
Clearly, she had chased everyone else away and waited here for the chance to confront him.

“What’s your goal? Why have you come back?”

Her eyes burned with suspicion. But rather than irritation, Dominic felt a rush of exhilaration. The discomfort and tension that had plagued him for days vanished in an instant.

“Well now,” he said, chuckling. “What do you think I’m up to?”

He stepped closer with deliberate calm.

“Vanessa. My sweet Vanessa…”

His voice took on the exaggerated lilt of a stage actor, drawing out her name with theatrical flair.

He looked down at her, remembering the way she used to look at him.
How she said she loved him—while her eyes dripped contempt.
He was nothing in her gaze. Worthless. Beneath her.

But Dominic now knew what real love looked like.
Eyes that shimmered with unwavering light, even in the darkest moments.
Eyes that reminded him of spring’s first blooms, of summer’s lush green days.
Elaine’s eyes.

Eyes Vanessa would never have.
Eyes she would never understand.

“I’m doing for her what you once did for me,” Dominic said. “Teaching her about love.”

“Love?” Vanessa echoed, incredulous.

“Yes. Love.”

The corner of his mouth curled into a sharp smile.

“I love that little Aiola girl.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Vanessa’s eyes blazed, her voice rising in alarm.
That expression—fearful, desperate—was the same one Fernando wore.

How alike the two of them were.

Maybe that’s why you chose Fernando over me, Dominic mused. You were always so much like him.

Then what about Elaine?
Why had she chosen him?

Dominic wasn’t like her in any way.
If she were drawn to someone who mirrored her…
Then maybe…

A face came to mind.
A man with refined manners, soft reddish-brown hair, and gentle features.

The prince, Turner Herdian Vert.

The boy who’d been with Elaine since childhood.

The thrill of riling Vanessa quickly gave way to something colder.
Dominic remembered what that rude maid had said—not long ago.
That he had been in Elaine’s room recently.

“You so much as touch Elaine or Aiola,” Vanessa hissed, yanking him from his thoughts, “and I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Dominic turned his gaze back to her, letting go of the image of the prince.

He scoffed.

“Tone, Vanessa. If you want to stop me, beg—like your husband did. Drop to your knees and plead: please don’t hurt that sweet little girl.”

“I’ll use every means I have to drive you out of this kingdom. If you leave on your own two feet before then…”

Their glares collided, sharp and bitter.
And then—footsteps.

Elaine.

Vanessa glanced toward the approaching sound, scowled once more at Dominic, then quickly vanished up the stairs.

Dominic remained where he was, calmly admiring a painting on the wall as though nothing had happened.

“All done! Let’s go, Dominic!”

Elaine emerged, elegantly dressed, and clung to his arm with a radiant smile.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Not at all. Waiting for you is always a pleasure.”

Smiling softly, Dominic allowed her to lead him down the stairs.

But halfway down, he felt eyes on him.

He glanced up.

There—through the railing of the third-floor landing—stood Vanessa, silently watching them.

Dominic met her gaze.
With a smirk, he dipped his chin in a graceful nod.

Then, without another glance, he left the Aiola estate hand-in-hand with Elaine.

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