Chapter 143: Ruthless

As the lightning subsided, the storm outside eventually stopped. Dominic rose and walked to the window, lighting a cigarette. Only then did he notice Pudding standing behind him.

"You're too quiet," Dominic muttered.

Pudding, of course, didn't understand. Unlike humans, it couldn't express sadness perfectly and simply wagged its tail silently.

Bella remained unconscious. She lay on the bed, unmoving, her eyes half-closed as she watched his back against the window, a lonely moon hanging in the sky. The post-rain breeze carried a fresh scent, drifting into the room and making her sleepy.

The following morning, Bella awoke feeling warm. The air conditioning was working perfectly, yet the warmth came from a body pressed tightly against her from behind. She felt smothered and struggled to breathe.

Surprised to find Dominic in her room, all she wanted was a quick shower before work. However, she didn't want to wake him, so she tried to slip from his embrace. As she moved, his arms tightened, and he whispered, "If you move, it'll wake up."

Bella froze. "It" had already awakened; she could feel it. (The sentence about searching FindNovel.net has been removed as it is irrelevant and likely promotional.)

Last night's passion had left her aching, and she wasn't up for another round. Regaining her composure, she softly said, "I'm going to be late for work. Let me go"

Dominic nuzzled her neck before reluctantly releasing her. He rolled over to sleep, seemingly with no intention of getting up.

Pudding, ever the loyal companion, followed Bella everywhere, even into the bathroom. Being a female dog, Bella allowed Pudding's clinginess.

During breakfast, Bella, after taking a bite of her sandwich, casually tossed some food into Pudding's dish. It was a simple sandwich, a favorite of Pudding's.

Sylvia stared at Bella, touching her own neck with a strange expression. Bella, understanding, smiled awkwardly.

"I get it. I'll cover it up."

Sylvia grinned knowingly. "Stop playing with Pudding, Ms. Jones. You'd better hurry and finish eating. You're going to be late for work."

Bella glanced at the clock, quickly devoured the rest of her sandwich, grabbed her bag, and turned back to Pudding. "I'm off to work, and I'll be back tonight. Be good, okay?"

Pudding wagged her tail, watching Bella leave before settling down by the door, seemingly prepared for a long wait. People say a pet's life is mostly spent waiting for their owner's return. Clearly, Pudding considered Bella her owner.

Bella arrived at the hospital fifteen minutes late—a rare occurrence in all her years there. She rushed into the office, only to hear Ian's teasing remark:

"Look who's here! You're late!"

Bella had no defense. She shrugged helplessly, then pulled a scarf from her bag to cover her neck. Ian clicked his tongue. "Wow, those are some serious hickeys. He was ruthless, huh? Your skin's so pale they're impossible to miss. Must have been quite a fight last night."

Bella shot him a half-hearted glare. "What hickeys? You're Ugh, never mind. Go cool off somewhere, you unprofessional doctor."

Ian chuckled, but his tone shifted to serious. "Amber is trying to get Dominic to leave the country with her. Regardless of her excuses, she's not going to let him return easily."