Chapter 7
288 (Vouchers
Dominic snatched her phone and saw the headline.
“Greg Keenan and the Only Daughter of the Hammond Family Spotted Sweetly Choosing Wedding Dresses in Los Angeles.”
His mind went blank, a loud buzzing in his head.
That familiar face in the photo was mine. The girl he had known for three whole years.
I was indeed the only daughter of the Hammond family. Turns out, Dominic was not the only one hiding a secret identity.
“I’m going to get her back!”
Dominic tossed the phone aside and made a move to rush out, but Marianne stopped him.
“Wait! What about this poor girl? She’s carrying your child! You can’t just walk away. Is this how we raised you?”
Jenny gripped Dominic’s hand tightly, tears welling in her eyes as she looked up.
“Dominic, don’t you want me or the baby?
“Just because you found out Julia’s from the Hammond family, now you want her back?”
Dominic shook her off without a second thought, his expression full of
disdain.
“I told you to know your place. Julia is the only one I care about. Once
12:50
Chapter 7
you give birth, you’ll go abroad!”
288 Vouchers
Jenny collapsed on the floor, crying out in frustration, “You already broke up! She’s married to someone else now!”
Dominic froze in place when he heard that.
He turned around slowly, a twisted expression on his face that Jenny had never seen before. “Shut up!” he roared. “Julia can only marry me! She only found that guy to piss me off! I’m going to bring her back right now!”
Meanwhile, I was in a custom bridal boutique, slipping into a designer runway gown Greg had flown in specially.
When I stepped out of the fitting room, the staff gasped in awe, and I caught the flicker of amazement in Greg’s eyes.
“I saw this on the runway three years ago and imagined how it’d look on you.”
As he said that, his lips curved into a rare, gentle smile.
“I’ve pictured it a thousand times, even in my dreams.”
I gave a little twirl, my voice teasing but uncertain.
“So? Do I look nicer with it on or off?”
“You look amazing. Absolutely breathtaking,” he murmured. Then added with a smirk, “Though honestly, you’d look good without it too.”
He slipped off his gold–rimmed glasses, his eyes locking onto mine like he could see straight into my soul.
I used to think those pale amber eyes felt too unreal.
And now, I finally understood everything behind them.
19899
12.50
Chapter 7
For example, the emotions he could no longer hide.
“You married me on a whim that day,” he said, “but I’ve been planning this for years.”
288 (Vouchers
Then he pulled a rare Apollo Blue from his suit pocket, got down on one knee, and held it out to me.
“Every piece I’ve ever bid on at an auction was meant for you.”
I slowly extended my ring finger, my heart fluttering. However, just as I was about to say yes, the door burst open and a breathless voice cut through the moment.
“Don’t! Don’t say yes to him!”
It was Dominic. His hair was a mess, his bow tie askew, and there was desperation in his eyes.
He rushed forward, reaching for my hand.
“We were just giving each other the cold shoulder for a few days. Why would you put on a wedding dress for someone else?”
His eyes turned red immediately.
“And it’s so beautiful. I’ve never seen you wear anything this beautiful. I didn’t even know you were the Hammond family’s only daughter.
“You kept it from me for three whole years.”
The smile on my face vanished.
“Sir, let me remind you, we’re exes now. And in my opinion, the only good ex is a dead one.
“As for hiding my identity?” I gave a short laugh. “It was just returning the favor. You kept yours from me the entire time too and treated me like
12:50
Chapter 7
some kind of toy.”
The truth was, I had known about his identity long before he told me.
I found out during a company social. I had had too much to drink and went to the bathroom to clean up.
That was when I heard his voice in a nearby booth.
288 Vouchers
“Hey, Dominic,” someone laughed. “How long are you gonna keep lying to that girlfriend of yours? She’s been with you for what, over a year?”
“One year’s nothing,” Dominic replied casually. “Still too early to know if she’s not after my money. Plus, it’s fun. Everyone knows the game–except her.”
The others burst out laughing. “She’s the only one dumb enough to stay up late finishing a proposal for a project you already locked in. Didn’t you tell the GM to keep rejecting her work just so you could step in and ‘save‘ her later? Genius! You even blocked her promotions and raises. Damn, Dominic, you’re really playing this well!”
I stood frozen behind the door. The alcohol–induced fog vanished instantly.
That same night, he showed up at my place, drunk. He had a box of blueberry cake from the place I mentioned casually.
And a bouquet of flowers.
They were clearly squashed against his chest the whole way over, so they looked a mess.
However, instead of the ruined flowers, I worried more about whether the
thorns had hurt him.
The cake tasted a little bitter. And pretending with him had always been exhausting.
69 13%
12.50
Chapter 7
288 Vouchers
However, I still remember the feel of those wilted roses in my hands.
“Please,” he begged now, his voice cracking. “Give me another chance. I’ll send Jenny abroad right away, and we can have our own child, just you and me.”
12.50
