Chapter 160
Ellie POV
We said so.
Apparently, Dominic took that as a challenge.
He doesn't greet anyone when he enters the dining room.
Not his parents.
Not the servants.
No one.
He walks straight toward the table, adjusting his tie as he moves, looking every bit like the Alpha everyone expects him to be.
Then his eyes land on me.
"Ellie."
"Dominic."
Before I can say anything else, he reaches my chair.
Fast.
I barely have time to process his sudden appearance before a thick folder lands in front of me.
Documents.
Official-looking ones.
I stare at them.
Then I look up at him.
"If you decided to add more conditions to your side of the agreement, sorry to disappoint you, but we already signed."
He leans slightly over me, one brow raised.
"If I wanted something from you, I wouldn't need a document to get it."
His finger taps the folder.
"This is everything needed to reopen your mother's case once we're legally married."
My expression changes immediately.
Slowly, my eyes widen.
"You..."
I look back down at the papers.
"You did this?"
He shrugs like it's nothing.
"It hasn't even been a day."
"Exactly."
"It's not complicated when you know who to call."
His tone is casual.
Almost annoyingly casual.
"Besides," he adds, "your mother will be family soon enough."
Family.
The word hits differently.
Power.
Resources.
The things I never had before.
The things Dominic has always had.
I swallow, suddenly aware of how close he is standing.
Close enough that I can feel the warmth coming from him.
Close enough that the faint scent of cedar fills my lungs.
I tilt my head back to meet his eyes.
"Thank you."
The words come out softer than I planned.
"Really."
For once, Dominic doesn't immediately respond.
He just looks at me.
His chewing stops.
The world seems to pause for a second.
His eyes drop briefly to my lips before returning to mine.
And I don't know what I expected.
Maybe nothing.
Maybe something.
But when he finally steps back, the sudden distance feels colder than it should.
"I have meetings," he says.
Right.
Of course.
Business.
"You're going to visit your mother soon."
My hands tighten in my lap.
"She won't believe it until she sees the paperwork."
I glance down at the folder.
"And she'll know I did something to get her released. I'll have to explain—"
"Tell her we're engaged?"
I look up.
I expect annoyance.
Maybe frustration.
Instead, Dominic is smiling.
A small, knowing smirk.
"She'll find out eventually."
He tilts his head.
"Why not today?"
"Because maybe I need a minute."
I rest my cheek against my hand.
"This is... a lot."
And it is.
A lot.
My entire life changed overnight.
Again.
"I haven't even processed it yet, let alone figured out how to explain this to my mother."
Dominic watches me quietly.
"She'll be happy for you."
I almost laugh.
"You don't know my mother."
"I know enough."
Before I can respond, he leans down.
I barely have time to register what he's doing.
Then his lips brush against my cheek.
Just a small kiss.
Barely anything.
But my entire body reacts.
Heat rushes through me.
The lingering nausea I've been carrying all morning fades almost instantly.
My body relaxes before my mind catches up.
And that annoys me.
A lot.
I immediately turn toward him with a glare.
"The contract."
Dominic tilts his head.
"But you feel better, don't you?"
The corner of his mouth lifts.
I hate that he's right.
I hate that he's smiling.
And I hate that it looks good on him.
"We agreed."
I push his face away gently.
"No unnecessary contact."
He doesn't even look guilty.
He just calmly lets me move him.
"It's not unnecessary."
He takes my hand from his cheek and holds it.
"Affection stabilizes your condition when we're apart."
His thumb brushes lightly over my knuckles.
"It's practical."
Practical.
Right.
Of course.
I stare at our hands.
Then at him.
Then I quickly pull mine back.
"Fine."
I clear my throat.
"Practical."
His grin grows slightly.
"Exactly."
He straightens.
"Visit your mother."
Then he pauses.
"Or maybe practice first on someone who won't cry or interrogate you."
I narrow my eyes.
"That doesn't leave many options."
His quiet laugh catches me off guard.
Then he's gone.
Servants immediately follow him, asking questions about his schedule and meetings.
And I remain sitting there.
Watching him disappear.
My cheek still tingles where he kissed me.
Which is ridiculous.
Completely ridiculous.
I look away.
He seems different.
Not a different person.
But...
Different.
Broader.
More confident.
Like he finally grew into himself overnight.
We're still young.
Technically.
But Dominic doesn't feel young anymore.
He feels like the person he was always supposed to become.
The Alpha.
The leader.
The man who carries everything on his shoulders.
A version of him I never really saw in our previous life.
My thoughts are interrupted by my phone.
I pull it from my skirt and hesitate before dialing.
The call connects.
"Hey."
I pause.
"Can you..."
I glance toward the doorway where Dominic disappeared.
"Yeah. I know."
I sigh.
"I'll explain everything."
A pause.
Then I smile faintly.
"But maybe you should come over."