Chapter 246

Dominic pulled Vespera back and made a silencing gesture. Vespera blinked in confusion. He led her back into the living room and sat her on the couch. Leaning in close, he whispered in her ear, “It might be Lake.”

Vespera blanched in surprise. “What?”

There was no way Loke would be showing up at this hour. It just didn’t make sense. The thought of him being bored enough to seek a late-night conversation seemed completely unrealistic.

“I think—” Vespera started, but before she could finish, Dominic gave her another silencing gesture. His expression was serious, and she had no choice but to lean closer to him, whispering, “There’s no way it’s him.”

Don raised an eyebrow. “Want to bet?”

Vespera frowned. “I don’t want to bet.”

His words carried a playful yet dangerous undertone, like he was setting her up. Dominic eyed her carefully, clearly amused by her cautious demeanor. He couldn’t resist reaching over and lightly pinching her cheek.

He said, “You have no sense of adventure, do you? I haven’t even told you what the stakes are yet.”

With resolve in her eyes, Vespera quickly replied, “I don’t want to bet.”

“If you win, I tell you where Jade’s real grandmother went.”

Vespera’s eyes widened in shock. She was taken aback by how he knew that an elderly woman she had hired to lead them to the village wasn’t Jade’s grandmother.

Earlier that afternoon, Dominic had whispered in her ear that the woman in the courtyard wasn’t Jade’s grandmother. At the time, Vespera had her doubts about Jade, but she hadn’t been sure enough to make any conclusions.

“Will you be?” Dominic asked again.

Vespera hesitated, then asked, “What if I lose…?” She hesitated, wondering what would happen if she lost. She was afraid that Dominic would ask something unreasonable. Dominic seemed to read her thoughts and sighed. “Don’t worry. If you lose, all you have to do is take a walk with me downstairs.” She thought, “A walk? That was it?”

“Deal!” Vespera responded with confidence, as if she were all in, ready to put her chips on the table. She wasn’t afraid of a walk—she could handle a marathon if needed.

Dominic grabbed her hand, leading her toward the door. He gestured for her to take a look. Vespera took a deep breath, feeling the tension as she pressed her eye against the peephole. At this moment, whether Luke was outside or not was crucial—it would decide her victory, her honor. She had to win.

Vespera peeked through the peephole and saw a hotel staff member in uniform. There was no way it could have been Lake.

Dominic smiled affectionately, gently rubbing the back of her neck. “You’re that happy about winning…”

“Of course!” Vespera’s eyes were bright with excitement.

Dominic opened the door. “Mr. Reid, your friend asked me to deliver this bottle of red wine to you.”

“Thanks,” Dominic replied as he took the red wine from the staff member. The staff member glanced at Vespera behind him, then returned his gaze to Dominic before walking away with a smile. Dominic closed the door.

Vespera was curious. “Do you have friends staying at this hotel?”

Dominic looked at the bottle of red wine in his hand and lied nonchalantly, “Well, I should have one, I guess.”

Vespera blinked in confusion. She thought, “Should? What does that even mean? He doesn’t know?”

Dominic went to open the red wine. “It would be a shame not to drink the wine that was sent. Want a glass, Ms. Gidon?”

“No, no, I’m fine,” Vespera waved her hand. He didn’t press her. He took a glass and poured some wine into it.

Seeing that he was serious about drinking it, Vespera stepped forward to stop him. “You shouldn’t drink, Mr. Reid. What if there’s something bad in it?”

He had no sense of caution at all. The last time, when he drank the water that had been spiked with something at the resort, that was one thing—after all, no one had expected the bottled water in his room to be switched out.

“Chapter 240”

But this red wine was delivered so suspiciously.

“With you around, I’m not worried,” Dominic said.

“But Lam!” Vespera blurted out before she could stop herself. She froze for a moment, realizing what she had just said. Dominic’s expression turned playful as he watched her.