Chapter 38: A Debt You Can Never Repay

Bella’s eyes widened as she looked at Dominic. She met his intense gaze before quickly looking away.

“I-I’ve been saving up since you left abroad,” she said. “After all, I owe you and your family so much; I can’t just leave it at that, right? I’m still a little short, but I will pay you back the rest every month. Did you receive the money I sent last month?”

Dominic’s expression hardened as he realized she was clearly trying to avoid the issue. “I’m not asking for your money. Do you honestly think you can repay what you owe me with just money?”

Bella fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, her head bowed. She murmured, “I know… it’s not about the money, but this is all I can do. If there’s anything I can help with, please let me know. I’ll do my best to make it up to you until you feel I’ve repaid you.”

He wasn’t sure if he was more angry or amused by her words. “Until you’ve repaid me? You’ll never be able! The only use I have for you is in bed.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she was speechless. Even though it was true, the truth made her feel awkward and embarrassed.

Feeling the need to leave, she spun on her heel and scurried away. “I’m going to bed. You should get some rest, too…”

Bella had just opened the door when she heard a loud noise from above. Before she could investigate, Dominic yanked her back. In the blink of an eye, a potted plant crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.

The potted plant, a spider plant hanging high from the eaves, had apparently been knocked down by the strong winds that night.

A wave of fear washed over her. Had she stepped out just a moment earlier, she might have been seriously injured.

When she snapped back to reality, she realized she was nestled in Dominic’s arms. His towering frame and firm chest made her feel incredibly safe. He was holding her tighter than ever before, and his breathing had quickened noticeably.

She looked up and met his deep, ocean-like eyes, feeling as though she was being pulled into a whirlpool. Her mind went blank as he inched closer.

Bella felt a little panicky as she felt his warm breath on her face.

Suddenly, he let go. “Go get some rest.”

Bella nodded before carefully walking around the shattered plant and returning to her room. Closing the door behind her, she pressed her hand against her heart, attempting to slow its rapid beating. Had they almost kissed?

Looking back, even when he was drunk and intimate with her, he hardly ever kissed her. So, it was highly improbable that he would do so while sober. It was probably just a primal instinct.

The next day, while Bella was freshening up, she noticed Leonard repotting the fallen spider plant. He looked at it regretfully and sighed, “Well, whether you make it or not is up to you now. I’m afraid my gardening skills are rather limited.”

Bella, who also loved plants, hadn’t had a chance to tend to it last night. “I’ll fix it up later. And you’re right, your skills could use some work.”

Leonard flashed a mischievous grin. “I saw you bolting out of Dominic’s room last night. I was standing right there, yet you didn’t even notice me. What exactly were you two up to?”

Bella, splashing water on her face, splashed some on him. “Go away, I’m busy!”

Leonard didn’t move. He wiped the water off his face and grinned. “Come on, don’t be shy. We’re all adults here. I’m leaving today, and who knows when I’ll be back. Don’t miss me too much, okay?”

Bella was about to retort when it hit her—once he left, it would just be her and Dominic…

(The promotional text for FindNovel.net has been removed as requested.)