Chapter 116: The Tables Have Turned

Dominic stared at her for two seconds before turning and leaving. Della looked down at the car keys in her hand; the relaxed expression on her face vanished. When had he become so considerate? Before he returned to the country, even thinking about riding in his car was a pipe dream. Let alone last night, when he'd given her a lift home simply because he happened to be passing by. When had everything started to change?

She thought about his earlier question—"Is leaving the house with me such a burden to you?"—and suddenly felt as if the tables had turned. That was something she had once wanted to ask him, but never dared. After all, hadn't she always been the one making him uncomfortable?

There weren't many surgeries today, so when Bella finished work, the sun was still high in the western sky. Not wanting to go home too early, she drove to Lia's studio, which had practically become her second home.

As she parked, a few young women from the studio came outside, excitedly wondering who the wealthy big shot was. When they saw Bella stepping out, their anticipatory expressions turned to admiration.

She felt awkward. Dominic's car wasn't flashy, but it wasn't designed for women. Most of its features were fantastic, but more suited to men. She hadn't wanted to drive something so attention-grabbing, but she had no choice.

As soon as she walked in, she heard Lia calling, "What are you all gawking at? Get back to work! What's so interesting?"

"He has money to burn, huh?"

When she spotted Bella, Lia glanced at the car. "Wow, you broke one, and now he's given you another. Dominic really has money to burn. With your knack for destruction, he should just get you a little beater like mine—ten thousand dollars tops. He wouldn't mind if you wrecked that. But to hand you something worth several million? Tsk, tsk."

Bella was speechless. "What do you mean I broke it? Amber crashed it on purpose! I didn't want the car, but Dominic insisted. Otherwise, he'd drop me off at work every day, and I'd rather drive myself."

Lia raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Is this your way of low-key showing off your relationship?"

Bella rolled her eyes and spat on the ground. "Come on, when are you getting off work? Let me take you to dinner."

Lia glanced at the clock. "I can leave whenever. But what's up with you lately? Why are you suddenly so generous?"

"It's hard not to suspect you and Dominic have been up to something sneaky. But I can't join you tonight. My mom set me up on a blind date, and the guy's coming soon. He's taking me to dinner. It wouldn't be right to bring a friend."

Bella was surprised. "Are you serious? You complained to me about your mother not giving you freedom, and now you're going on a blind date? Is it because the guy has a good family background, or just because he fits your taste?"

Lia sighed. "I had a change of heart. My mom's right. I spend all my time in the studio, not making any real money and wasting my life away. You're my only friend, and you're a woman, of course, she's worried. She showed me a photo of the guy, and he's not bad-looking. Plus, he has a decent job."

Bella suddenly felt deflated. "Right then. Enjoy your date. But when your blind date arrives, let me take a look first, and then I'll leave. I just want to see how handsome he has to be for you to ditch your friend for him."

Lia shot her a playful glance. "I'm not ditching my friend for him. Next time, I'll introduce you. Today's our first solo meeting. I wouldn't want to make it awkward."

About twenty minutes later, a man rushed into the studio, looking slightly disheveled.

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