Chapter 194

Emery spun, ready to chase after the departing customers, but the manager had already locked the door. She took a deep breath, fighting her frustration. "What do you want?"

She knew. Dominick wouldn't be here unless it was about Paisley. "Let me be clear," she said, her voice sharp. "I'm not betraying Paisley. I won't tell you where she is. And if I have to, I'll quit." Her reputation in the custom gown business would carry her anywhere. With a swish of her gown and a click of her heels, she sat opposite him, eyes rolling.

Dominick studied her, a glimmer of understanding dawning. "Relax. I'm not asking for her location," he said quietly.

Emery blinked. "Then why are you here? I have a fitting at 10:30."

"I can find her myself," Dominick replied, checking his watch. "As long as she's in Harrowfell, I'll track her down. But I need to know something else." He shifted, trying to appear less intimidating. "Why did Paisley fall out with the Sullivan family?"

Emery frowned. "You were married to her for four years, and you don't know?"

He shook his head, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "She never told me."

"Did you ever ask?"

He paused. "Once, early in our relationship. She was hesitant, said she'd run away and cut ties. After that… I didn't push it."

"Good," Emery said, her tone cutting. "So why are you asking me now? Bored? It's been four years since your divorce. Suddenly interested in your ex-wife's family?"

"Because I did something stupid," Dominick confessed, briefly explaining his help to the Sullivans and Brittany, oblivious to the pain it caused Paisley.

A wave of anger choked Emery. "You shameless jerk!" she exploded. "Do you know what she went through with them? How biased her 'parents' were? She was lost at three, alone in the mountains, almost eaten by wild animals! Her grandfather found her, but she endured ten years of hell. At seventeen, she finally found her biological parents, only to discover they didn't love her—only Brittany. Every good thing went to Brittany. Every conflict, Paisley was punished. I'm starting to think her mother wanted her lost!"