Chapter 80

The cocktail party buzzed, but Dominick and Marissa were missing. Dominick was deep in conversation with his mentor, while Marissa was nowhere to be seen. The gala fizzled without its stars.

Marissa, distracted, kept glancing toward the garden. Alexis nudged her. "Marissa, where's Dominick? Shouldn't you check on him?"

Before Marissa could move, a woman's shriek pierced the air from the garden. "Stop it! What the hell are you doing, Dominick, you disgusting jerk? Let him go!"

Marissa's eyes narrowed. She abandoned her drink and raced towards the garden, a whirlwind of questions churning in her mind: Why is Dominick with a woman? What are they doing?

Paisley, recognizing Emery's voice, felt a jolt of alarm. Did Emery run into Dominick? Are they fighting? The thought of their clash, once dismissed as improbable, now felt terrifyingly real. She bolted after Marissa, her slit dress no impediment to her speed.

Nathaniel smirked, following casually. "Hey, Ms. Sutton, checking out the drama? Count me in." He mused, Dominick keeps up appearances, but clearly enjoys his private moments.

The other guests, drawn by the commotion, were equally intrigued. The Vanderbilt heir's antics were irresistible gossip.

Paisley, fearing for Emery, tore off her heels. "How dare you hit her, you jerk! Let go! I said—let go!"

She burst into the garden, relieved to find Emery unharmed. But Dominick wasn't fighting Emery; he was brutally beating up Teddy. Fury ignited in Paisley. Without hesitation, she jammed her stiletto heel into Dominick's back, then shoved him away before delivering a stinging slap across his face.

Marissa and the others arrived to witness the spectacle. Gasps rippled through the crowd. Someone had actually slapped Dominick!

Alexis and the others were speechless. Is this woman insane? She actually slapped Dominick! Nathaniel, however, watched with growing amusement.

Dominick, face taut with shock and fury, spun to Paisley. "Did you just slap me, Paisley?" His voice was thick with disbelief and resentment.

Paisley glared at Teddy's bruised face. "Yeah, I slapped you. So what? You think you can just hit people?"

Dominick laughed, a harsh, incredulous sound. He pointed at Teddy. "You slapped me because of him? Seriously?"

"Scumbag?" Paisley's laugh mirrored his bitterness. "The only scumbag here is you."

Dominick's breath hitched. He raised his arm, then lowered it, frustration boiling over. "Paisley, are you blind? Can't you see those two?"

Paisley, momentarily stunned, turned to look at Emery and Teddy, confusion etching her face.

Dominick, seeing only a woman blinded by infatuation, his anger sharpened. "Are you really lowering yourself for this guy, Paisley? You have everything, and you choose him? And I'm the bad guy?"

Emery, supporting Teddy, shot Dominick a furious glare. "You're such a pig! What's wrong with you? Why are you attacking my man?"