Chapter 13
nderfood that finding footage from three years ago would take time
et as the minutes neked by, his heart and uncontrollably.
His eyes remained fixed on his phone tereen, his anxiety evident in the overflowing achtery piled high with cigarette butts ||
The phone suddenly vibrated.
He answered mantly “Get the remity”
Instead, his butler’s respectful voice came through. “Young Master, the Elder Mr. Reed respiests your immediate presence at the family mansion. “||
Dominic frowned. Is grandfwher unwell) |
“He didn’t say, ir, but his tone was urgent.
ended the call and stared the engine.
The Reed family in blazed with lights ||
The moment Dominic stepped into the living room, a stack of photographs came flying at him, scattering as they struck his body and fell to the
“Took at the kind of soman you’ve been chasing all these years!. His grandfather leaned on his cane, face livid with anger. The heirm the Bend fortune, plogging bodyguard all for this this kind of woman?
Domande bent to collect the photos, his pupils atracting sharply-[
The images showed Mix in revealing outsih, nestled agunst ddferent men–aging billionaires, motorinos playboys
The most damning photograph captured her on tipine, kissing the cheek of a married business magnate, her eyes calculating and mold
“You thought she was a pure, innocent flower? His grandfather laughed bitterly. “The Reeves family barely registers in our social cirdest This woman would de anything to din the social ladder
Dominic clutched the photos, his knuckles turning white.|||
He suddenly recalled the conversation het overheard at the spa earlier–thinking that was as bad as it could get, only to discover Mia had yet another unpleant Ferprise for him
mentions tomorrow is your birthday and wishes in
Before he could finish, the butler hurried in: “Young Master Miss Mia vs has sent an avitation. She me deliver a
Dominic fruze.
personally
Tomorrow was indeed his birthday ||
He had originally planned, after a successful proposal, to announce Mias position in his life at the birthday celebration
To tell everyone she was the only woman for him
But now.
His grandfather slammed his hand down: “Absolutely not
“Let her cume,” Dominic suddenly spoke, his voice cold aire. “And invite Mr. Reeves as well:“[]
As the bude turned to leave, Dominic called him back: “Also, investigate how Ariana Reeves has been treated in the Reeves l
His grandfather narrowed his eyes: “What are you planning?““]
household over the years.]]
“There are things 1 need to confirm. Dominic looked up, his eyes concealing turbulent emalions. “Grandfather, give me one more day. I promise you’ll have an answer that satisfies you
His grandfather grunted, leaving with a final warning “Remember, the Reed family will never accept such a womant[]
Late that right, Dominic stood in his study, examining the thick folder of documents the butler had delivered ||
The manda envelope felt physically tight, yet impossibly heavy with implications
He took a deep breath and intted the
mon string binding a
But in the next with
he turned, his heart felt an i were being sliced open ||
The first page contained Ariana’s medical trods from age seven-“Mtress induced mutism, persisting three months.”
Beside it.
a psychologist’s notes Tatient witnessed mother’s death during childbirth, siffering severe trim. Father brought illegitimate daughter home same day, patient exhibited strong rejection response…
The papers trembled slightly in his fingers ||
Further pages documented the year Mia transferred to the elite primary school
Trederick Reeves had purchased a custom designer backpack worth $100,000 for Mia, while Ariana arried a faded hand me–down her mother had bought before her death
At twelve, Mia’s birthday celebration spanned thirty banquet tables while Ariana was locked in the attic
At fifteen, when Ariana qualified for a prestigious high school her father refused to pay the tuition, claiming “too much education is wasted on girls.” Her maternal grandfather bad secretly funded her education
At eighteen, the study abroad opportunity that should have been Ariana’s was forcibly given to Mia…
The final page contained Ariana’s diagnosis at age twenty-
[Moderate depression with self harm tendencies]
Dominic slammed the file shut, his chest constricting until he could barely breathe
He suddenly recalled Ariana’s desperate behavior at the Reeves birthday party
At the time, be’d dismissed it as unreasonable spite, even arranging for her to receive ninety nine lashes because Mia had suffered one
Just hours ago, he had been desperate to see the security footage, to confirm the identity of the woman who had captured his heart
Now, he was terrified to learn the truth-
What if the person rescuing the bird’s nest three years ago wasnt Mia at all?)
What if that person had been Ariana”
What if she was the woman he’d fallen for at first sight, and he… what had he done to her?
He couldn’t bear to contemplate it further!]]
