Chapter 166
Ellie POV
Dominic stands behind me as the decision has already been made.
Like, Vivian helping with the wedding is no longer a discussion.
It’s a fact.
And somehow, both Vivian and I are wearing the same expression.
Wide eyes.
Complete shock.
Because apparently, this wedding is moving at a speed neither of us expected.
A few days.
I have a few days.
Which means I have no time to properly get rid of him.
I shake my head.
No.
One problem at a time.
I turn toward Dominic.
“Hi.”
My voice is tight.
“Sorry, did you not hear me? I said no.”
He doesn’t react.
Of course, he doesn’t.
He just looks at me with that calm, steady expression that drives me insane.
“You’ve made it very clear,” he says evenly, “that you don’t want to participate in Luna duties.”
His gaze doesn’t waver.
“And I’ve respected that.”
I cross my arms.
“But those responsibilities still exist, Ellie.”
My expression hardens.
“If it’s not you, then it falls on my mother.”
A pause.
“And she already has enough to handle.”
Something unpleasant twists in my stomach.
“That’s not my fault.”
My voice lowers.
“I told you my terms. You agreed.”
His expression shifts slightly.
Not anger.
Just patience.
“You’re not going to guilt me into taking a role I never agreed to.”
I step closer.
“You told me I could live how I choose. That this wouldn’t—”
“And you can.”
He cuts me off.
Calmly.
“Nothing about that has changed.”
That only irritates me more.
“But the work doesn’t disappear because you don’t want it.”
He gestures slightly toward Vivian.
“I’m not forcing you to become someone you’re not. I’m finding someone who can help.”
His eyes move briefly.
“Vivian has been studying management since the beginning. She understands these things. She has a good eye for organization.”
Then back to me.
“We could use her skills.”
I look at Vivian.
And there it is.
The smallest mistake.
A tiny lift at the corner of her mouth.
A flicker of satisfaction.
A smug little victory, she thinks nobody noticed.
But I noticed.
I always notice.
I step back.
My hand reaches for the door.
“Get out.”
My voice is flat.
I look directly at Vivian.
Her eyes widen.
Not because she’s scared.
Because she’s performing.
“Ellie, I only meant to help—”
“No.”
My grip tightens around the handle.
“If I see you here again…”
I pause.
My eyes drop briefly to the roses.
“Those rose thorns are going straight across your eyes.”
She gasps.
Like I slapped her.
“Ellie!”
I slam the door before she can finish.
The sound echoes through the foyer.
And for half a second…
It feels good.
Then I turn around.
And immediately walk straight into Dominic.
My face collides with his chest.
Which, on any other day, might have been a pleasant experience.
Today?
Absolutely not.
My forehead slides upward slowly until I’m looking directly at his face.
His expression says everything.
That look.
The one that tells me he’s not moving.
Not backing down.
Not even slightly.
“Move.”
I scoff.
“The only reason I want to be near this door is that my pizza is supposed to arrive.”
He runs a hand through his hair.
His jaw tightens.
“You’re overreacting.”
“Over pizza?”
I shrug.
“Not really.”
I look at him.
“I’m hungry.”
His eyes narrow.
“More like hangry.”
My brows pull together.
“That’s because you keep irritating me, and we aren’t even married yet.”
I poke his chest.
“What happened to you not undermining me?”
Another poke.
“You said I make my own choices.”
He doesn’t even flinch.
“No.”
The correction is immediate.
“I said we should discuss things.”
His voice remains calm.
“I tell you what I think. You tell me what you think.”
A pause.
“And then we come to an agreement.”
I laugh without humor.
“But I already told you my answer.”
Before I can step away, his hand moves.
It settles at my waist.
Not harsh.
Not forceful.
Just enough to guide me backward.
Until my shoulders meet the door behind me.
My breath catches.
“We move as a team now, Ellie.”
His voice lowers.
“If there are problems, we talk about them.”
He leans closer.
“If there are concerns, we say them.”
His eyes stay on mine.
“You don’t just shut me out.”
I stare at him.
Because this isn’t the Dominic I remember.
The Dominic I knew would argue until we were both exhausted.
Dominic, who fought with Lucas like a jealous idiot.
This version of him is different.
Older.
Steadier.
And somehow, that bothers me more.
I push against his chest.
“Exactly.”
My voice sharpens.
“That doesn’t mean you get to override me.”
I duck under his arm and move down the hall.
He follows easily.
“So coming to an agreement is controlling?”
“Yes.”
I glance back.
“It is when I already said no.”
He exhales.
“You’re not even listening to my side.”
“Because she’s my sister.”
The words come out instantly.
“That means my choice.”
“Ellie.”
There’s frustration in his voice now.
“Can you just wait five seconds?”
I keep walking.
“Not unless you’re my delivery driver.”
A beat.
“Who, by the way, is extremely late.”
My heels click against the marble floor.
“I said wait.”
“I heard you.”
I don’t turn around.
“I just chose to ignore you.”
Silence.
Then—
“Will you just explain—”
I stop.
“Vivian is not the enemy.”
The words hit harder than I expected.
Like ice water.
Because I’ve heard them before.
“That’s what you said last time.”
The hallway goes quiet.
Dominic goes still.
“Last time?”
I immediately regret speaking.
Damn it.
Slowly, I turn around.
“You have a soft spot for her.”
My voice is quieter now.
“You always have.”
His jaw tightens.
“We grew up together.”
His tone is controlled.
“All of us.”
A pause.
“I don’t love her.”
The words come quickly.
“But I care about her.”
His expression shifts.
“Her father is being investigated because of us.”
He looks away briefly.
“Rightly so.”
Then back at me.
“But she’s losing everything.”
His voice lowers.
“Her family.”
A pause.
“And now she’s losing you too.”