Chapter 12
sings that he seeded rest, for majitel an
personally aztected by him. The ancheta perfumed presta delayed up for the them designed to match Mia’s preferences programmed to fin
His frnd Airuandry, soviching this display, rumblat
feminis ignored him, checking his watch – ihtily minute
However, thirty manades passék, then an bumi
lage with neticulatra attentio
and terrace, fingris miinaschourly forcing the diamond dog du lidi porket |
thing have happened bi her? is how furement with
vert na hemotacted box stall, “Wheck Miss Miss archedule for foday ||
(Misi Mia Reeves is at Chatemi Spa and Resort. Today the rerrived a bill body sps irvainent, manicure, and has an appointment with a stylist, the has been there
Dominic stared in disbeliet]]
Had she forgotten? |
Termolinded her just yesienby||
He gripped han phoose tightly mod above directly to the spa
When Dominic used in enter Chatra Spa, the security guard allenged to stop (Sic, please present your membership-“||
“Get out of my wait” The manager rushed over, slapping the guard aside. “Have you lost your mind? This is Mr. Reed)
Think strade towards
hut pensed at the door when he brand laughter fimm kaside.
the seriously not going to meet that bodyguard?” A friends voder entled a irming mota
. As if Di marry’s bodygnant?“||
Mis responded Lazily: “Why sold 1? I ran fell from the way he looks of me that he wants to penja “Hat he’s been no gind be you, her find countried. “Taking a bullet, clinding a cliff, even tattoollig your name so his chest.….“||
“So what?” Mia scoffed. “No matter how bandame or devoted he is, he’s still just a dorman. I’ve been notion) by the Noont Dacusing on securing a place in high sirty ||
frozen the doorkno
The friend perstated, “But why not just reject bim outright? Leading him mi
||
heir now of futute din
“You don’t understand.” Mias voice carted a note of triumph. “He’s pergrims, strong, and willing to die for me. Why wouldn’t I want an extra admirer? But most
Her voice dropped to a malicious whisper ||
“Ariana was an lake with bann, but he’s in love with me just imagining her face when she realized I stole something she cherished–its absolutely delicious. 11’s like when she used to love wearing white dresses, lajt I mentioned unce that I liked them, and Dad gave me all her while dresses. I wore them around hej constantly sindd she stopped wearing white altogether?||
Dopunic left as though had been struck by lightning||
The find serted intrigard: “Speaking of which, you’ve nabolaged Ariana q
1 Ariana quite a bit over the years, havent you? Theard about her mother a difavi
“That woman deserved at Mus tone suddenly sharproved. “How dair she occupy the position that belonged in my ma her water better her due date who knew she’d be so weak that both she and the baby weaħt dir ? ||
“And Ariana’s vindy abroad opportunity was canceled because you reposted her fu academia dishonesty? ||
“Jast a forged rounqlaint, Miroid dimissively.
ber? 1 þad slipped some abortion pilla toti
cmassive testrom at home but coulda tilo anything about it. Braddy always taken my side.
Each word felt like a pesemed ilacert, i dormantling the image a
the image of the pore hearted girl rescuing a binds seat that had lived in Dominic’s memory()
The manager anxiously whispered. “Mr. Beed, would you like to go in?
The room reddenly fell slept, then May way voice called out “Who’s there?“||
Dominic dound bas eyes, then turned and walked away. Dont tell her I won here: ||
In his black
(Maybach, Dominic
ic chain smoked one riperette alter anoth
He replayed Mia’s words us his mind.
she considered hos a mete “Woman” only tested in marrying inin wealthi ||
she had slipped abortion pills to Antana’s ten months pregnant mother, causing both her and the sunbeam child in die ()
She had fabricated academic dishonesty claim against Ariana, randing her to hose her study abroad opportunity:||
Through the hare of smoke, he recalled Ananas eyes, always filled with mockery.….||
The way she called him an “what” while gritting her teeth, her trembling fingers as she landegrid his wounds, the way she slammed for door as she left with a final Dominic Rent, I don’t want you anymore“.
It now became clear that the woman he placed on a pedestal was utterly contempritée ||
And Ariana, whom he’d repeatedly treated with cold indifference[]
Was the true victim all along |
The cigarette burned down to his fingertips, but he didn’t notice.
In the distance, fireworks erupted from the rose garden, forming a brilliant “MA REEVES” against the wight sky ||
et the man who should have been garing up at those fireworks was sitting alone in his car, smuking cigarette after cigarette, his heart aching inexplicably || Hecubunderstand how the sweet girl who had once rescued a bird’s nest could become this untecopsirable, calculating creature
TANG
His list slammed against the steering wheel||
He finally understood–the woman be’d loved had always bern anddrage ||
That girl rescuing a
a bird’s nest had never existed–or rather, that person had never been Mia Reeves ||
His memory flashed back to that charity gala three years ago
Sunlight, white dress, the girl in the tree.||
Wait
Mia’s words suddenly echoed in his mind with startling clarity |||
“It’s like when she used to love wearing white dresses, but I mentioned once that i liked them, and Dad gave in all her white dresses. I wore them around her constantly until she stopped wearing white altogether“]
Back then, he had asked the server who that girl wan||
The server had un
server had unly said “tiss Reeven.“]
Later, after returning from handling company projects abroad, he finally had time to seek
out, only to learn that the Reeves family had two daughters–ape
wild and unbridled, the “Vixen” of their social ride who preferred red dresses, and one pare as jaune who loved weating whir
He had automanically assumed “Miss Berves meant the younger Miss Berves
to cala garden three years ago.“]
With trembling haschuhe daled Mexander’s number: “I need you to find the security footage from the charity gala garden
