Chapter 42
My mind was nowhere near the dimly lit restaurant where I sat across from Vanessa. Physically, I was here–trapped in this charadebut mentally, I was back home with Faith and my newborn son. I could almost hear his soft cries, feel the warmth of his tiny body against mine. Were they okay? Was Faith resting? Did my son miss the sound of my voice already?
The thought of missing even a single moment of his early days tightened a knot in my chest. And for what? To humor this manipulative woman in some twisted exchange for an SD card. Raha was going to owe me for this. Big time.
“Dominic, are you even listening to me?”
Her voice dragged me from my thoughts, cutting through the haze like nails on a chalkboard. I blinked, focusing on her overly done makeup and the way she twirled her hair like we were at some high school prom.
“No,” I said bluntly, not bothering to hide my irritation.
Vanessa’s painted smile faltered for a split second before she leaned forward, resting her manicured hand on mine. Her fingers brushed my skin, and I recoiled as though burned.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I snapped, my voice cold enough to freeze the air between us.
Her expression morphed into a mock pout, her lips pushing out like a child denied candy. “Relax, Dominic. No need to be so Jormal.”
I stared at her hand still hovering near mine with thinly veiled disgust. “Touch me again, and I’m walking out of here. You can forget about the deal.”
She quickly pulled back, her smirk wavering as she leaned into her chair, trying to play it cool. But I wasn’t blind to the flash of embarrassment in her eyes.
The waiter approached, and I welcomed the interruption. I scanned the menu briefly, not bothering to give it much thought. I ordered the first thing that caught my eye, barely listening as Vanessa prattled on about how difficult it was to choose something from such a “limited” menu.
She was the epitome of everything I despised–shallow, vain, and manipulative.
Once the waiter left, Vanessa tilted her head, her glossy lips curving into a coy smile. “You know,” she started, her voice syrupy, “if I’d known you weren’t Raina’s lover, I would’ve come to you sooner.”
I scoffed, unable to hold back the sound of disbelief. “Why would I want to be anywhere near someone who made my sister’s life a living hell?”
Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second before she recovered, shrugging delicately. “If you want me to apologize to her, I can do that. I’m willing to make amends.”
I set my fork down deliberately, the metal clinking against the plate. My patience was thinning by the second. “Do you think a simple ‘sorry‘ is going to erase years of torment? False accusations? Taking her child away from her?”
Her painted smile disappeared entirely, replaced by a flicker of discomfort. She looked away, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the tablecloth. For a moment, I thought I’d finally shut her up.
“I just want a chance,” she said softly, her voice lacking its usual confidence. “I’ll try to be nicer to her.”
I stared at her, trying to determine if there was even a shred of sincerity in her words. It didn’t matter. My goal was the SD card, and I wasn’t leaving without it.
“Do what you want,” I said flatly, picking up my fork again.
The rest of the evening dragged on like a slow–moving nightmare. Vanessa filled the silence with an endless monologue about designer vacations, luxury handbags, and the latest gossip among her socialite circle. I tuned out most of it, nodding
Chaplet 45
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occasionally to keep up appearances.
The only thing keeping me in that chair was the promise of the Sty card.
Finally, when the clock struck what felt like midnight, I decided I’d had enough. I stood abruptly, startling her mid–sentence.
“The SD card,” I said, holding out my hand. “Now.”
Vanessa hesitated. het perfectly manicured nails tapping against the table as she reached into her purse. She pulled out a small card, holding it delicately between her fingers.
“Is this really the only thing you care about?” she asked, her voice laced with mock hurt.
I didn’t answer, snatching the card from her hand and pulling out the SD drive I’d brought.
As soon as I inserted the SD card into my drive, my heart raced–not from anticipation, but from the simmering anger I already felt brewing deep within me. I tapped on the screen, pulling up the file directory. Empty. The screen stared back at me, mocking my patience.
I slowly lifted my gaze to Vanessa, whose smug smile faltered the moment she caught the glint of fury in my eyes. My jaw tightened, and the restraint I’d been clinging to all evening began to unravel.
“Vanessa,” I said, my voice deceptively calm, the edge sharper than a blade. “Do you think this is some kind of joke?”
Chapter 43
