Chapter 19: You're Disgusting

Bella suddenly lost her courage. No matter what she said, he wouldn't believe her. Their ten-second stare felt like an eternity.

Dominic remained silent—no outburst, no questions, nothing. With cold detachment, he looked away and entered his car.

A voice urged Bella to chase him; delaying even a second felt like losing him forever. She dashed to the car, the jacket Felix had given her falling to the ground unnoticed. She didn't see the fleeting look of disappointment on Felix's face.

"Dominic…" Her voice trembled, laced with tears, as she peered into the car. She felt like a drowning person desperately clinging to a life raft.

Dominic didn't look at her or start the engine. The stalemate continued, and Bella boldly assumed this meant he was letting her in. Regardless of his treatment, she couldn't back down.

Once seated, Dominic drove back to Miller Manor. He didn't look at her again. The silence felt like the calm before a storm.

Bella recalled the coldness in his eyes—the same look he’d given her when he learned of his mother's death. The difference was that then, there had been hatred; now, there was only a chilling calmness that frightened her more.

She fumbled to break the silence. "It's not what you think."

"What do you mean, 'what I think'?" he interrupted coldly, his grip tightening imperceptibly on the steering wheel. "Do we have any kind of relationship? There's no need to explain. You… disgust me, that's all."

Bella clenched her fists, her nails digging into her skin, trying to dull the ache in her heart. He was right. They had no relationship. He wouldn't believe her, and it didn't matter to him.

Still, she asked, her eyes red-rimmed, "Then why were you at the Quinn residence?"

Dominic didn't answer. Silence fell again.

At Miller Manor, Dominic got out and quickly went inside. By the time Bella caught up, he was packing, throwing clothes into a suitcase with rough, angry movements. It seemed he wouldn't even stay for a moment longer. He had only just returned after three years, and Bella had hoped for a peaceful coexistence before she left. Now, it seemed he wasn't planning to stay at all.

"Dominic… where are you going?" she asked cautiously, her voice tinged with desperation.

He looked at her angrily. "Get out. Stop being an eyesore!"

Bella stubbornly remained. "If you're going on a trip, let me help you pack…"

She knelt and began to fold his haphazardly thrown clothes. Her hands shook, but she tried her best.

Suddenly, he grabbed her wrist and yanked her away. "Get lost! You really disgust me! Bella, you're nothing special!"

She fell to the floor, a sharp pain shooting through her wrist. Tears streamed down her face, her eyes filled with despair. No words came. She wanted to say, "The one who should leave… is me."

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