When You Started to Regret - Chapter 41

It was only then that Elaine realized Dominic’s words were true. She cried out in a panic.

“No, Dominic. It’s not true. I’ve never thought of you like that, not even once. I don’t know what rumors are going around yet, but even if there is talk of an engagement, I would never take another man’s hand. Never.”

Her unsightly green eyes brimmed with tears. Dominic had often imagined making her cry, but he never expected to see her cry like this. And strangely, he found that he didn’t like it—her crying face.

“Why are you crying?”

“Because I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

The tears finally rolled down, landing heavily on the hem of her dress and soaking the fabric.

“I’m sorry, Dominic. I’m sorry.”

“…”

“I’m sorry for making you feel that way. Sorry for hurting you. Sorry I didn’t realize what was happening and stop it sooner.”

The woman who always seemed too poised to ever fall apart was now sobbing uncontrollably.

“But it’s not true. I swear, it’s not. Not even for a moment have I ever thought of you like that. You’re… you’re…”

Dominic stared at Elaine as she wept. The truth was, his anger wasn’t meant for her. It was Fernando and Vanessa—those who acted without even her knowledge. And it wasn’t like their opposition was unexpected. In fact, he had been waiting for it. Their resistance would only make Elaine act more impulsively.

And yet, Dominic was angry. Angry enough to lash out. At none other than Elaine Aiola—this naive, ignorant girl who knew nothing.

“You’re everything to me, Dominic. I’ll go back and speak to Fernando myself. And if he still insists on stopping us… then I’ll throw everything away and choose you. So please, don’t see my love like that. I…”

She shouldn’t have said that. Throw everything away? Nothing could ruin Dominic’s revenge more than that.

And yet, in that fleeting moment, a strange feeling began to coil itself deep inside his chest—perhaps yet another wicked trick of this dangerous Aiola woman.

Damn it.

Dominic cursed under his breath, squeezing his eyes shut. When he opened them again, the world had gone dark and come back into light. And in his field of vision stood a woman—beautiful like a fairy, dangerous like a witch—crying as she looked at him.

“You love me? Enough to throw away everything for me?”

His voice was nearly mocking. Elaine bit her lower lip hard and nodded with conviction.

“Even the great name of House Aiola? Even your beloved family?”

Her tear-soaked green eyes seemed to waver for a moment, but quickly regained their clarity.

“Even if I added up everything I have, it still wouldn’t be as precious as you. You’re the only one for me.”

She was the same woman who, not long ago, had told him she couldn’t make him her “only one.” She had already given him her heart, but couldn’t let go of her other loved ones.

“You are the only one for me… but I can’t give you that place. Because there are others I can’t abandon…”

Back then, Dominic had thought: if she couldn’t give him that place, he’d just make it so she had no choice but to.

And now here she was, ready to abandon all she had for him. What a pitiful sight it was—to watch a foolish woman blinded by love.

“Only one, huh…”

The corner of his mouth curled into a crooked smile. It almost looked satisfied.

“Then prove it.”

Dominic took a bold step forward, grabbed Elaine by the wrist, and dragged her out. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. His angry footsteps echoed down the corridor. A passing servant glanced their way, then quickly returned to their duties.

As the bedroom door opened, Dominic flung the petite woman—who had followed him without resistance—onto the bed.

“…”

Elaine didn’t make a sound, only gasped as the breath caught in her throat. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. Dominic gently brushed her cheek with a voice as smooth as silk.

“I can’t believe you with just words.”

“Then… what can I do?”

“Will you bear my child?”

Elaine’s eyes widened in shock. Of course she was surprised. He was just as surprised.

There was a time when he had planned to seduce Elaine Aiola and get her pregnant—to bring down the Aiola family from within. But not like this. Not under these circumstances. Not like this.

“If I’m not just a passing amusement to you… if in the future you imagine, I stand beside you as your man—”

Swish. Her dress hem slid up, and his hand slipped beneath it, with no hesitation.

“Then there’s nothing stopping you, Elaine Aiola.”

Elaine returned to the mansion looking weary. As she entered through the door, Fernando, who happened to be coming down the stairs, spotted her and greeted her with a gentle smile, as if nothing had happened.

“Where have you been, Elaine?”

His kind voice and subtle smile were no different from how he had always treated her.

“I went to Dominic’s estate. I heard he wasn’t feeling well.”

“I see. I understand.”

Fernando gave a short reply and said nothing more about Dominic. Elaine stared at him quietly.

So he’s really trying to push forward with my engagement—while smiling to my face like this.

“Go on upstairs and rest. You look tired.”

“Yes. I’ll head up now.”

Elaine also chose not to let on that she knew of his plans.

“Have a good night.”

“You too, Brother.”

With a brief smile, they exchanged calm goodnights. Elaine walked past him and retreated to her room on the second floor. Her body heavy with fatigue, she collapsed onto the bed but soon sat up again. She opened her drawer and took out a notebook. It held the private thoughts she had begun writing since the night just before her coming-of-age ceremony—the night she first met Dominic.

Elaine slowly closed her eyes, then opened them again. His voice, different from usual and strangely distant, echoed again in her ears.

“Don’t let it spill. Hold it in tight.”

He had smiled with satisfaction as he said it.

“If you’re going to bear my child, you have to carry it well.”

A child… Would that really be enough for him? Would that heal his wounded heart?

“I’ve never seen Dominic wear such a frightening expression before. But it didn’t seem like he was angry. He looked hurt… and that made me even sadder. Why do I always end up hurting him?”

As she wrote down her jumbled thoughts to the soft scratch of her pen, there was a quiet knock at the door. Anna, her young and somewhat informal but affectionate maid, stepped inside with a small tray in hand. Around this time every evening, she would bring Elaine a glass of water and her nightly medications—remnants of the poison she had once suffered from Carlotta, now a daily routine.

Once Anna left, Elaine would secretly slip in the contraceptive pills Vanessa had once given her, mixing them in with her other medications. She had taken them regularly since beginning her relationship with Dominic—but today, she had no intention of doing so. Having made her decision, Elaine rose and opened the drawer, retrieving the pills and discarding them all.

“I wonder… if I can even have a child.”

Elaine gently touched her flat stomach.

Children had always been rare in House Aiola. Though it had been over five years since Fernando and Vanessa married, they still had no children. There were once whispers that Vanessa might be infertile—those servants were swiftly dismissed the very next day.

“To do what even healthy Vanessa couldn’t…”

Elaine glanced toward the untouched medications on the tray. The sheer number of them was enough to give her a headache just by looking. She tossed them into her mouth all at once and washed them down with water.

She knew it was an impulsive decision. She knew that trying to conceive out of strategy, for some goal, was not the right way.

But still…

Even so, the thought of having a child with him filled her heart with something dangerously close to joy.

A child with Dominic. A child that resembled the two of them…

“It would be beautiful, no doubt.”

A soft smile bloomed across her face, one that had not visited her expression in days.

The peace in the Aiola household lasted surprisingly long. That was only possible because Fernando, Vanessa, and Elaine all hid their true feelings while pretending harmony. Ironically, each of the three could sense the intentions of the others—and yet each was convinced they alone would emerge victorious in the end.

That peace shattered the night Fernando invited Turner to dinner.

Fernando, Vanessa, Elaine, and Turner—all four gathered in the dining room. Though they had shared meals together before, tonight Turner had clearly dressed with special care. Noticing this, Elaine thought to herself:

“It’s today.”

Beneath the table, her hand moved slightly to brush over her lower belly. In truth, she had already guessed it two days ago when Vanessa first mentioned the dinner. Elaine had immediately visited a physician—alone and in secret.

“As we’ve all enjoyed our meal, I think it’s time to bring up the real matter at hand.”

Fernando wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin and made a small gesture to the attendants. The table was promptly cleared, and four glasses of red wine were brought in.

“His Highness the Crown Prince may have already received word from Her Majesty. Elaine, it’s time you were informed as well.”

Fernando looked at her as he spoke.

“Talks of marriage have begun—between you and Turner. The Queen has given her blessing.”

Elaine wasn’t surprised. She had expected it—only, part of her had quietly hoped she was wrong.

“I see.”

She moved the wine glass set before her aside and instead lifted the glass of water she had requested. The cool liquid sliding down her throat helped calm her thoughts.

“I’m sorry, Brother and Turner.”

She glanced briefly at Fernando, then turned her gaze toward Vanessa and Turner. Seeing Turner’s expression grows stiff in real time, she realized he must also have been left in the dark—used, just as she had been.

“I cannot be engaged to Turner.”

“It’s too late. The Queen will make the announcement tomorrow.”

“…I’m pregnant.”

The glass in Elaine’s hand made a soft clinking sound as it gently hit the table.

“It’s Dominic’s child.”

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