Dominic froze. His expression, under the dim lights, was intensely cold.

"Bella, you're asking for trouble!"

Bella knew she was. Years ago, when her mother, Dorothy Jones, brought her to the Miller family, she'd first called out his name. He'd rejected her brutally. "You disgust me, just like your mother," he'd said.

The air, once intimate, crackled with hostility. Dominic squeezed her wrist so tightly she feared it would break. Finally, he stormed out, slamming the door. Silence descended. Bella lay on the bed, a soulless puppet, the emotional pain far exceeding the physical.

Some people are born into obscurity, trapped in an endless, dark tunnel, each step a struggle. [Remove the promotional sentence about FindaNovel.net]

Bella eventually got up, went to the bathroom, and washed away the exhaustion.

During Dorothy's terminal illness, they'd had no choice but to turn to the Miller family for help. With Bella's father absent, Dorothy could only think of her childhood friend, Richard Miller. This, however, led to Dominic's parents' divorce.

Dominic's mother, Margaret Reed, had left him at eight, vanishing without a trace. The following year, Dorothy died. Shortly after, they received the shocking news that Margaret had also died abroad. They never saw each other again. Dominic blamed Dorothy and Bella. The Millers took Bella in, as she was alone.

Nineteen years passed in the blink of an eye. Three years ago, Richard died, and Dominic left the country. Yet, it still felt unresolved.

Bella rummaged under her bed for a ledger, then curled up to examine it. Since Dominic's departure three years prior, she'd been scrimping and saving, meticulously recording every penny in the ledger. She was just $100,000 away from repaying the Millers for raising her.

Money was the only way she could repay them and Dominic. She aimed to clear the debt before leaving and starting anew; a relief for both of them. His peace of mind depended on her departure.

The next day, Bella's alarm jolted her awake. She quickly got up, washed, and prepared breakfast.

The maids at Miller Manor had left when Dominic departed, leaving Bella to care for the vast house. Now that he was back, someone had to cook.

She prepared breakfast and set the table, but Dominic didn't arrive on time. She realized he might be suffering from jet lag. As the food grew cold, she mustered her courage, knocked on his door, and called out, "Breakfast is served." There was no answer.

She knocked again. "Go away!" he yelled.

Used to his demeanor, she shrugged and returned to the dining table. While eating, she considered weekend part-time jobs.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps. Dominic descended the stairs, looking irritable—clearly having woken up on the wrong side of the bed.

He was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, his hair neatly combed. His striking features, seemingly sculpted, never failed to attract attention.

Bella was captivated; even the coldness in his gaze held a certain charm. He made suits look exceptionally good. Three years later, her crush remained.

To avoid conflict, she put down her fork and stood. "I'm going to be late for work. I'll do the dishes later."

Noticing his askew tie, she instinctively reached to straighten it. Dominic grabbed her wrist, pulling her close. Their breaths mingled.