Chapter 8 - Emily
I stood in front of Dominic, staring at him through the laced veil Kristi had insisted on, a feeble attempt to hide my puffy, tear-swollen eyes. My mind was miles away, barely registering the priest's words. This wasn’t how I’d imagined my wedding day. There was no father to give me away, no family seated in neat rows, just Kristi standing in as a witness to this hollow moment.
The ceremony was stripped of everything I’d dreamed of. Just Dominic, Leo, Kristi, the priest, and me, a forced bride. If I’d had my way, I’d have worn black to match the funeral this felt like, but Kristi had gently nudged me toward a simple white dress, urging me to hold on to some semblance of tradition. At least her makeup skills had masked the evidence of my sleepless nights.
Every girl dreams of her wedding, the day she falls in love, gets swept off her feet, says “yes” to the perfect proposal, and plans the grand celebration of her life. I had dreamed of that, too. But those dreams now felt stolen, replaced by this grim reality, a debt disguised as a marriage.
The priest’s voice sliced through my thoughts:
“You may kiss the bride.”
My breath hitched as Dominic took a step closer to me. He lifted my veil, his eyes softening as they met mine. For a moment, I forgot how much I resented him, how much I hated what had brought me here. My heart betrayed me, skipping a beat as his lips inched closer.
But just as his lips touched mine, the memory dissolved into my consciousness, replaced by something wet and cold dripping onto my chest. I bolted upright from sleep, my heart hammering, my eyes landing on a small figure frozen by the side of the bed, a little girl with wide, terrified eyes. She gasped, then bolted from the room in a flurry of small footsteps.
My gaze flicked to a tray with spilled cereal and milk, a glass of juice tipped over, seeping into the sheets and my pajamas. Before I could even sit up, Dominic burst in, his face twisted with concern.
“What happened? What did you do to Lucy?” he accused.
“Lucy?” I croaked, “Who’s Lucy? I didn’t do anything!”
Dominic froze, his eyes narrowing as he took in the mess for the first time. He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “She’s my daughter,” he muttered, his voice quieter now.
My heart slammed into my ribs. “Your daughter?”
What the heck! He had a daughter?
I stayed frozen for a moment, unsure of how to react, as he leaned over me to dab at the soaked sheet. His hand brushed against my thigh under the fabric. Heat surged up my thigh, and I shifted, scooting over to give him more space, or at least that’s what I told myself.
But as the lingering sensation faded, reality crashed back in, sharper than ever.
“Wait, so you didn’t think I should’ve known you have a daughter? You just... kept this from me?” My voice rose, rising anger drowning out any fleeting warmth I felt a few seconds ago.
Dominic paused, his eyes flicking to mine for a brief, emotionless moment before placing the glass, bowl, and spoon on the tray along with the towel. He straightened up, his posture stiff. “Knowing wouldn’t have changed anything, Emily.”
My anger flared, hot and fast. “But at least I would’ve been prepared! First, you forced me into being your wife, and now you’re forcing me to be a mother?”
His face hardened, all warmth draining from his eyes, replaced by something colder, distant. “Well, you know now.” His voice clipped, laced with impatience. “Get cleaned up. You don’t want to catch a cold in those wet clothes. I’ll have Mrs. Kensington change the sheets.”
Without another word, he turned and left.
I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, my hands trembling. How could he keep something like that from me? I couldn’t believe I was married to a man who would withhold something so vital. What else was he hiding?
Girl, this man forced you to marry him, did you really think he’d pour everything out to you? You’re just another deal to him, nothing more, nothing less.
As I closed the bathroom door behind me, my phone buzzed loudly on the counter. I glanced at the screen, and my stomach twisted. It was my father.
I let it ring.
That day, after Kristi had picked me up from the lounge, I spilled everything to her. Then she showed me Dad’s social media posts bragging about winning the billion-dollar deal from Quantum Tech and trash-talking them for losing their edge. How had things gone from collaboration to something this drastic?
A bitter thought wormed its way into my mind: Was this marriage just some elaborate revenge plot? But if that were true, why hadn’t my father fought harder for me? Why had he handed me over so easily to the one man he supposedly hated the most? None of it made sense.
My phone rang again. This time, it was Kristi. I swiped to answer and put her on speaker.
“Hey,” I muttered.
“Hi, babe! How are you holding up?” Kristi’s tone was cheerful, but the tension beneath it was unmistakable.
“Okay, I guess,” I replied, though my voice lacked conviction.
“So... how was last night?”
I rolled my eyes. “Do you mean how was the sex?”
There was a pause, and then Kristi’s tone turned serious. “Babe, I know I tease you a lot about losing your virginity, but I don’t think it’s fair for it to be taken by a man who doesn’t love you much less like you.”
I sighed, leaning against the sink, gripping the edge as if it could somehow steady my thoughts. “Actually, we agreed that I’d sleep in a guest room.”
Kristi’s voice on the other end practically sighed with relief. “Okay, well, that’s good. He’s more of a gentleman than I gave him credit for.”
I let out a dry laugh. “And did you know he has a daughter?”
“What?!” Kristi’s surprise was genuine.
“Exactly my reaction! But here’s the twist, she’s about five and tried to bring me breakfast in bed. It ended up all over me and the sheets, but... it’s so sweet of her.”
Kristi was silent for a moment before muttering, “But wait, how does a man who’s been treating you like that raise such a thoughtful kid?”
“Well, he doesn’t, does he? There’s a housekeeper. She’s probably the one who acts as a nanny while he’s off making money and, I assume, barely home to see her.”
Kristi hummed, her tone thoughtful. “Maybe that’s why he married you, to give her a mom.”
I paused, the idea landing heavily in the pit of my stomach. “Maybe,” I said softly.
There was a hesitation on Kristi’s end before her tone shifted. “I’ve got another shocker for you, you’re trending.”
My stomach dropped. “Wait, what?”
“A photo of your wedding leaked. I’ll send you the link right now.”
I clicked on the link, and the words on the screen made my blood run cold:
Rumor has it that Victor Montgomery betrayed Dominic Quantum in a high-stakes business deal, but the question everyone is asking is: Is Dominic’s sudden marriage to Emily Montgomery about love? Or is it part of a payback scheme to settle the score with Victor and send a chilling message to anyone else thinking about crossing Dominic?
Then I scrolled to the picture, a shot of us in the church, during that moment when he kissed me. My cheeks burned as the memory of his lips on mine rushed back.
“But how did they get a picture like this?”
“Bloggers have their ways,” Kristi replied with a sigh. “Looks like the girl who shied away from social media has become headline material.”
I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Guess it comes with the territory.” I paused for a moment, the weight of everything sinking in. “Anyway, how’s the new place?”
When I realized there was no one else to borrow fifty million from, and marrying Dominic became my only option, Kristi and I immediately started searching for an apartment, staying in my dad’s pool house was no longer an option for Kristi. With Seb’s help, she found one in no time. Ever since Kristi picked me up from the lounge a week ago, she’d exchanged numbers with Seb, and they’ve kept in touch.
There was a pause before I heard a muffled male voice in the background. Kristi cleared her throat awkwardly. “Look, I’ve got to go, but I’ll call you back soon, okay? There’s something I’ve got to do.”
A small smirk tugged at my lips despite the mess I was in. “Something you’ve got to do, or someone you’ve got to do?”
Kristi giggled. “Shut up, babe. I’ll call you later!” And with that, she hung up.
Twenty minutes later, I stepped out of the bathroom, feeling slightly more like myself. The sight of an older woman smoothing fresh sheets over the bed caught me off guard.
“Good morning, dear,” she said warmly, folding the last of the linens. “I’m Mrs. Kensington, the housekeeper. Mr. Quantum sure knows how to pick the pretty ones.”
I blinked, unsure how to respond. “Thank you,” I mumbled, feeling a flush creep up my cheeks.
She smiled kindly. “Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you,” I replied again, an odd mix of comfort and unease settling over me.
I suddenly became self-conscious, wondering what Mrs. Kensington must think of Dom and me, newlyweds sleeping in separate bedrooms.
Not wanting to linger and risk further awkwardness, I turned to leave, letting Mrs. Kensington finish her work.
A few moments later, I walked into the living room, only to stop short at the sight before me. Dominic was sitting cross-legged on the floor, a little plastic doll in his hand, gently combing its hair. Lucy was perched next to him, her small fingers reaching for the colorful clips scattered around them. She picked one up, holding it out to Dominic.
“Here, Daddy! Put this one in her hair.”
Dominic took the clip from her and placed it in the doll’s hair. His brow furrowed in concentration as he worked.
I stood there unable to tear my eyes away. There was no way this was the same man who snapped orders and exuded cold, distant authority at the office. The Dominic I knew was moody, sharp-tongued, and barely human. Yet, here he was sitting with his daughter, fully immersed in this tiny world of dolls and hair clips.
A wave of nostalgia washed over me. I remembered sitting at the kitchen table with my father, doing something just like this. I’d always loved braiding my dolls’ hair, and he’d patiently sat next to me, taking the time to get it just right. It wasn’t the big, extravagant moments that made me feel close to him, it was the small things, the quiet gestures that spoke louder than any words ever could.
I felt a stab in my heart at the thought that my father was no longer the man I had once known. The man who would drop everything to listen, to offer advice, to hold me when I needed him. But now... that part of him had vanished, the very part I needed more than ever.
I stepped back quietly and decided to find the kitchen and get something to eat. Though I was no stranger to luxury, Dominic’s house was something else entirely. When Alec had pulled up yesterday, I couldn’t help but marvel at the tall pillars flanking the entrance, supporting a balcony that overlooked the meticulously manicured lawn. The house itself was massive, the stonework gleaming in the sunlight, with large, ornate windows that could have belonged in a palace. Everything about it screamed wealth, sophistication, and power.
As I wandered through the hallways, the grandeur of the place seemed to stretch on forever. Finally, I stumbled upon the kitchen. It was just as impressive as the rest of the house. The floors were a rich, glossy walnut that gleamed under the soft light spilling from the windows. The cabinets were made of Italian walnut wood, their finish sleek and flawless, while the countertops were a stunning mix of white Carrara marble and black granite, catching the light with every turn. It was the kind of kitchen you’d see in magazines, every detail chosen for its beauty and luxury.
I opened the fridge and pulled out a few fruits, grapes, apples, and strawberries. After rummaging around for a knife, a bowl and a cutting board, I started preparing a quick snack.
As I was slicing the fruit, I heard soft footsteps approaching. Lucy froze in the doorway, clearly contemplating whether to bolt again.
“Lucy, thanks for breakfast,” I said with a smile.
She tilted her head, confusion dancing in her eyes.
“You’re not mad that I spilled everything all over you?” she asked shyly.
“No, why would I be? It was an accident,” I reassured her with a warm smile.
She stared at me for a second as if trying to decide if she could trust my words. Then, without a word, she took a step closer and began walking toward me.
“Daddy said that the both of you got married yesterday. He said I should call you Aunty Emily.”
“We did, and I’d like that very much.”
To my surprise, Lucy rushed up to me and threw her small arms around me in a tight hug. I hugged her back, feeling a wave of tenderness I hadn’t expected.
As Lucy pulled back slightly, I couldn’t help but notice the chain with the butterfly pendant around her neck. It caught the light in the most beautiful way.
“That’s so pretty,” I complimented.
Lucy smiled. “Thanks. It was a gift from my Uncle Seb.”
“So,” I said softly, “what did you come into the kitchen to get? Maybe I can help you with that.”
“I came to get a snack.”
I showed her the bowl of fruit I was preparing. “I can make you a bowl if you want.”
She looked thoughtful for a second. “Uncle Vince says a snack should always be something soft and sweet.”
At that moment, Dominic’s voice came from the doorway, playfully, “Oh really? Like what?”
“Like chocolate cake, the one we had for breakfast,” Lucy said. Then her eyes widened and her hands flew to her mouth. “Oops, that was supposed to be our little secret.”
Dominic raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Seems like I’ll have to call Uncle Vince and have a little chat with him.”
Lucy pouted. “Come on, Dad, chill. It’s not that serious. It’s not like I have it every day.”
I couldn’t help but stifle a laugh as I saw the look of shock and amusement on Dominic’s face before he shook his head. “You’ve got to go get ready for dance class, sweetie, you can eat your snack in the car,” he said, his tone shifting to one of parental authority.
“Aunty Emily said she’d prepare me some fruits,” Lucy protested, looking back at me.
“That’s right. I did.”
He shot me a small nod, his lips curling into a brief smile.
“That’s a great way to get that chocolate cake out of your system. Now, scoot before you’re late.”
As Lucy skipped out of the kitchen, Dominic turned his attention to me.
“I see you found something amusing. Care to share?” he asked, his voice low, almost teasing.
“You seem really different at home than at the office. Maybe living here wouldn’t be as bad as I thought.”
Dominic’s gaze softened slightly, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something else in his eyes. “There are also other things that wouldn’t be that bad either.” His eyes lingered on my lips, a quiet intensity building in the air between us.
I felt my cheeks warm as I glanced away, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
There was an awkward silence between us. “I’ll leave you to your snacks then.” He paused just before stepping out, turning to look at me with an unreadable expression. “And, Emily...”
I looked up.
His lips curled into a small smile. “Thank you.”
He left, leaving me to prepare Lucy’s snack, my heart racing. I stood there for a moment, my thoughts a mix of emotions.