Chapter 206
Ellie's POV
The silence in the room was so complete that I was pretty sure I could hear a pin hitting the floor.
But it didn't last.
I simply continued cutting my meat, smiling politely at Dominic's parents as if I hadn't just announced that their son's marriage had yet to be consummated.
His father was the first to recover.
He slowly turned toward Dominic.
"Dominic."
His voice was low.
"Is this true?"
A pause.
"You don't even share a bedroom?"
Dominic said nothing.
And somehow, that silence answered everything.
His mother's face fell.
A small sound of distress escaped her.
"But I thought..."
Her eyes moved toward me.
"You two are married now. I thought pups would be on the way soon."
Then her expression shifted.
"All of your behavior lately..."
She looked confused.
"That's not related?"
I took another bite of my food.
"What behavior?"
She blinked.
"You know..."
I tilted my head.
"Do you mean the part where I stabbed your son at our wedding?"
I paused.
"Or the prawn incident?"
The color drained from her face.
Slowly, she looked at Dominic.
And Dominic looked furious.
His hands were gripping the edge of the table so tightly that his knuckles had turned pale.
His jaw was tense.
His expression was carefully controlled.
But barely.
Good.
I watched him with satisfaction.
Finally.
Finally, I had found something that could break through his endless patience.
All this time, I had been working so hard.
Creating scandals.
Acting irresponsible.
Making myself unbearable.
And apparently, all I had needed to do was tell his parents we hadn't slept together.
It had to be enough.
Dominic could endure my attitude.
He could endure my rebellion.
But this?
This had to be different.
He was still Dominic.
Proud.
Arrogant.
Concerned with appearances.
His parents were clearly upset, already imagining grandchildren that weren't coming.
And if word spread...
The humiliation would be unbearable.
The great Alpha Dominic couldn't even convince his own wife to share his bed.
People would talk.
They would laugh.
His reputation would suffer.
Surely...
Surely this would finally make him let me go.
Or so I thought.
Because apparently, Dominic was just as skilled at this game as I was.
He took a slow breath.
Composed himself.
And then smiled.
Calmly.
Almost pleasantly.
"We're working on it."
I stared at him.
What?
"It's just that..."
He hesitated, looking at me.
A small spark of amusement appeared in his eyes.
Oh no.
I knew that look.
"I probably shouldn't tell you this, but..."
He turned back toward his parents and lowered his voice.
"Ellie has a fear of intimacy."
My eyes widened.
His mother gasped.
She covered her mouth with her hand and looked at me with immediate sympathy.
"What do you mean?"
I opened my mouth.
But Dominic was faster.
"She's afraid of the pain."
"The pain?"
His father laughed.
A sharp smack immediately landed on his arm from his wife.
"Don't laugh."
Then she turned back to me.
"Ellie, it's not that bad."
I stared.
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, hush," Dominic's mother scolded him before I could say anything.
Then she reached across the table and took both of my hands.
My fork slipped from my fingers and landed against my plate.
"Ellie, I won't lie to you. The first time can hurt."
She glanced toward Dominic.
"And if he's anything like his father in the..."
She cleared her throat.
"The size department..."
Dominic immediately covered his face with both hands.
Even I felt heat rush into my cheeks.
"But," she continued, completely ignoring our embarrassment, "the second time and every time after that can be much more enjoyable."
She squeezed my hands.
"There are things you can do. Lubrication is important. There are special products designed for women."
She leaned closer.
"We're different from men, you know."
"Mother."
Dominic's voice was strained.
"I think that's enough."
I smiled.
"No, no. Go on."
His mother brightened immediately.
And then she began.
A very detailed explanation about intimacy, women's bodies, and how to make the experience more comfortable.
I had expected to be horrified.
Embarrassed, yes.
But strangely...
I wasn't.
In fact, I found myself actually enjoying her company.
For the first time.
Maybe because this was the first time she had spoken to me like a person instead of a disappointment.
And the look on Dominic's face?
Absolutely priceless.
Even if her entire explanation was based on a lie.
Eventually, after what felt like an entire lecture, she finally leaned back.
"I do hope you'll consider it now."
I reached for my wine glass.
Then raised it toward Dominic.
"Perhaps."
The word came out innocent.
But we both knew the truth.
I had no intention of doing anything.
Dominic's father suddenly looked uncomfortable.
Very uncomfortable.
He pushed his chair back.
"Ahem."
He stood.
"Perhaps a little nightcap before we leave."
"Yes."
Dominic immediately stood as well.
I stood too.
But while everyone was distracted, I slipped away.
It wasn't until I reached the room that I realized how warm my face still felt.
I looked at myself in the mirror.
And hated what I saw.
Because the conversation had awakened something I had been trying desperately to bury.
Something I didn't want to admit.
I still wanted him.
Despite everything.
Despite the pain.
Despite the betrayal.
Some part of me still wanted Dominic.
And I hated that.
I had never been intimate with anyone.
Not in this life.
Not in my previous one.
Our marriage before had been nothing more than an obligation.
A title.
A contract.
There had never been affection.
Never passion.
Never anything real.
And the idea of being with Dominic now...
It wasn't the physical pain that scared me.
It was what came after.
Because if I let myself become close to him in that way...
If I allowed myself to want him...
Then losing him would hurt so much more.
And I knew the truth.
Dominic didn't really want me.
Not like that.
In my past life, he had made that painfully clear.
He had looked at me like I was a burden.
Like I was something he regretted.
And in this life...
Yes, he flirted.
Yes, he touched me.
Yes, he acted as if he cared.
But what did any of it really mean?
Probably nothing.
Maybe it was just another way to make me feel safe.
Another way to trap me.
Just like the contract.
Just like his vows.
A sudden movement behind me interrupted my thoughts.
The door pressed against my back.
I stumbled forward with a gasp as it opened.
Dominic stood there.
His ears were slightly flushed.
Just like mine.
As if he, too, had felt the unwanted spark of attraction tonight.
"You disappeared."
His voice was quiet.
I crossed my arms.
"I'm tired."
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
"Tired?"
His eyes met mine.
"Or running away?"
I froze.
Because the answer was both.
But I would never admit that.
Not even if someone threatened me.
"Ellie, listen."
He stepped closer.
"I've been thinking a lot lately, and I want you to know—"
A sudden crash interrupted him.
The sound came from the door.
The entire frame shook.
Then came another noise.
Something breaking.
Metal hitting the floor.
Dominic and I exchanged startled looks.
"What was that?"
He moved toward the door.
"Hello?"
He grabbed the handle.
Pulled.
Nothing.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
Then his father's voice came through the wood.
"Sorry!"
Dominic froze.
"I tried to open the door, and the handle broke."
A pause.
Then his mother's voice followed.
"Looks like you'll be stuck in there until morning!"
Dominic's expression changed.
"What?"
"This is a job for the locksmith," she called happily. "Sorry, dears. Truly! Goodnight!"
"Wait!"
Dominic grabbed the handle again.
"Hey!"
But it was useless.
The lock had jammed firmly into the frame.
The door wouldn't open.
And suddenly...
Dominic and I were trapped.
Together.
Until morning.