Chapter 124
Ellie's POV
"So stubborn," Dominic's mother says with an affectionate smile. "He's always been that way."
The words make something twist inside me.
Stubborn.
I've called Dominic more times than I can count.
Without thinking, I glance at him.
At the same moment, he looks at me.
Our eyes meet.
Just for a heartbeat.
Then we both look away.
The silence stretches.
Dessert arrives.
A single bowl.
Two spoons.
The maid places it directly between us before stepping back.
Dominic's mother smiles as though she's just done something clever.
"Share," she says lightly. "It helps build closeness."
My stomach drops.
Neither Dominic nor I reach for a spoon.
"I..." I begin carefully. "I don't think that's appropriate."
His father chuckles.
"You're fated mates, Ellie."
He gestures dismissively toward the dessert.
"This is nothing."
Nothing.
Maybe to him.
To me, it feels like everything.
Dominic shifts in his chair.
His knee brushes mine beneath the table.
The contact is barely there.
Instinctively, I pull away.
No one misses it.
The room suddenly feels too warm.
Too small.
Dominic's mother tilts her head.
"You'll get used to it."
And suddenly...
I understand.
This isn't dinner.
It's practice.
A carefully arranged rehearsal for a future they've already decided belongs to us.
"I..." I force out another polite smile.
"I don't think I will."
His mother's expression remains perfectly pleasant.
"You're young," she says gently.
"You'll understand in time."
His father nods toward the untouched dessert.
"Go on."
"Eat."
"Both of you."
Beside me, Dominic sits unnaturally still.
His jaw is clenched.
His shoulders are rigid.
He's staring straight ahead like he's enduring a punishment rather than a family dinner.
Slowly...
Reluctantly...
We both reach toward the bowl.
Our fingers close around the same spoon.
Skin brushes skin.
A tiny spark shoots through me.
I jerk my hand back instantly.
So does Dominic.
Across the table, his parents exchange amused smiles.
His mother actually laughs.
I hate every second of it.
The sound feels less like affection...
...and more like satisfaction.
The chair beside me scrapes loudly against the floor.
Dominic stands.
"Ellie needs to get home."
His voice is calm.
Flat.
Final.
I blink at him in surprise.
His parents turn toward me expectantly.
"Oh!"
I push my chair back so quickly it squeals across the polished floor.
"Yes."
I nod far too many times.
"I do."
"I need to study."
I clutch my purse against my chest.
"Thank you for dinner."
I bow quickly.
"And... I'm sorry about what happened at the gala."
Before anyone can answer, Dominic lightly takes hold of my arm.
"Come on."
He doesn't wait for permission.
He simply guides me toward the front door.
The moment I step outside, cool night air rushes into my lungs.
It feels like surfacing after being held underwater.
I inhale deeply.
Once.
Twice.
The crushing weight on my chest eases...
Only a little.
The front door closes behind us with a heavy thud.
I release a long breath of relief.
Then freeze.
Dominic is still standing beside me.
His hands are shoved into his pockets.
His gaze is fixed on the dark road stretching away from the mansion.
For a long moment, neither of us says anything.
Finally, he lets out a dry, humorless laugh.
"What a complete shitshow."
Despite everything...
A tiny, unwilling smile tugs at the corner of my mouth.
I tuck a loose curl behind my ear and glance between him and the house.
"Um..."
"Dominic?"
He looks over.
"What are you still doing out here?"
He starts walking down the stone steps.
The answer comes over his shoulder.
"Come on."
I blink.
"What?"
"I'm walking you home."
I stare after him, convinced I misheard.
He's... what?
Dominic Volkov... wants to walk me home?