Chapter 67

Chapter 67


The next few days blurred into a mix of preparation and strange calm. I was surprised at how normal everything felt despite the pressure of the upcoming wedding. There was a heaviness hanging over me, part nerves, part dread, and maybe a tiny part curiosity about how all this would play out. But instead of obsessing over it, I found myself being swept into the rhythm of everything Dominic had planned.

It was late morning when Dominic knocked lightly on my bedroom door before stepping in. He didn’t wait for a response—he rarely did these days. Not in a rude way, but in that annoying, familiar manner that said he’d gotten used to my space as much as I was adjusting to his.

“We’re heading out in an hour,” he said, tossing a small black box onto the bed. “Wear that.”

I raised an eyebrow, picking it up. Inside was a pair of gold earrings and a delicate necklace, the kind that looked simple but definitely wasn’t cheap. “Where are we going?”

“To check on the wedding decorations. I thought you might want to see them before the event planner gets too far ahead,” he said, stepping back toward the door. “And maybe grab some food afterward. You haven’t had anything all day.”

“Neither have you,” I muttered, but he was already gone.

I changed into a cream sundress and slipped on the jewelry, brushing my hair into a loose braid. There was no real reason to impress Dominic, but I still wanted to look decent. Part of me hated that I cared at all.

The car ride was quiet at first. I stared out the window, watching the city blur past as the driver took us to the venue. I thought about my father, back at the hospital, recovering slowly. He hadn’t said much after Hector gave his approval. He just gave me a small nod when we dropped him off, his eyes silently asking a thousand questions I couldn’t answer yet.

“I booked the ceremony space on a rooftop downtown,” Dominic said after a while, his voice cutting into my thoughts.

“A rooftop?” I turned to look at him.

He nodded. “It has a good view of the city. And privacy. I figured you’d want something quiet and not overly grand. But Hector still insisted on luxury, so I compromised.”

I blinked, a little stunned. “You… figured what I’d want?”

His jaw twitched like he regretted saying that. “Well, yeah. It’s your wedding too.”

A fake one, I thought, but I didn’t say it. Instead, I gave him a soft, “Thank you.”

The venue was everything he described—elegant but understated. The decorators were already halfway through setting up white and blush-colored floral arrangements. Round tables draped in ivory linen stood on the edges of the rooftop, while the altar was framed by a wooden arch wrapped in wisteria and fairy lights.

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered, stepping out of the elevator and into the open air. The sky was cloudy, but the view of the skyline took my breath away.

Dominic walked behind me silently, letting me explore.

A woman with a clipboard, obviously the event coordinator, came over, talking quickly about finalizing the seating arrangement and flower delivery schedules. I nodded through most of it while Dominic handled the logistics, correcting a few things she got wrong without looking at her. His focus was unshakable, like he was trained for moments like these.

As they talked, I wandered off to the edge of the rooftop, staring down at the city below. The wind picked up, tossing strands of my hair around my face. I felt small again. Not in a sad way, just reminded that I was one piece in something much bigger than I’d ever imagined being a part of.

After everything was approved and confirmed, Dominic suggested lunch. We ended up in a small Italian restaurant tucked between office buildings. It wasn’t extravagant like I expected, it was warm, inviting, with checkered tablecloths and the smell of garlic in the air.

We sat across from each other, eating pasta and avoiding heavier topics. It was the kind of lunch that might’ve been romantic if things were different. If our lives hadn’t been tangled in obligation and lies. But even then, there were moments where I caught him watching me. Not in a way that made me uncomfortable, but more like he was trying to figure me out.

“You hate tomatoes?” he asked, frowning as I pushed them to the side of my plate.

“I hate raw tomatoes,” I clarified. “Cooked, they’re fine.”

He nodded like he was taking mental notes. I didn’t ask why.

After lunch, we strolled through a nearby street market on impulse. It felt oddly normal, even with two security guards subtly trailing behind us. Dominic bought me a slice of strawberry cake from a food stall without asking if I wanted it. And when I tried to protest, he said, “You looked at it like it owed you money. Just take the cake.”

I laughed. The first real laugh in a while. He smirked but didn’t say anything else.

Back at the penthouse, I felt drained. It was strange how even a simple day out with Dominic could exhaust me—not because of him necessarily, but because I was always trying to stay balanced. To remember the rules of our arrangement. To protect my heart from getting too used to his unexpected kindness.

Later that evening, I sat on the balcony with a cup of tea, staring at the setting sun. I didn’t hear him come out until he placed a light cardigan over my shoulders.

“You’ll catch a cold,” he said, his voice low.

“Thank you.”

He stood there beside me, leaning against the railing. “We’ve got the fitting tomorrow. Your dress should be ready.”

I nodded. “And after that?”

“Dinner with the designer and then cake tasting. Hector added more things to the list.”

“Of course he did,” I muttered.

A pause.

“Eva,” he said, surprising me. “You’ve been… handling all of this better than I expected.”

I turned to look at him. “You thought I’d run away screaming?”

He shrugged. “I thought you’d hate me more.”

I smiled faintly. “You’re not so bad when you’re not being an arrogant jerk.”

He chuckled quietly. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

The silence between us wasn’t heavy this time. It was comfortable.

Just as I started to relax, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen, it was a message from one of the hospital nurses. My father’s tests were progressing well, but he’d asked to see me the next morning.

I tucked my phone away, staring into the sky. I knew I had a lot to worry about. A lot could go wrong without us intending to make it go wrong. I didn't know if I should be worried. I could screw this up and screw everything I have been working for. There was a lot of unsettling thoughts in my head.

But for now, I just sipped my tea and watched the city lights begin to flicker to life, trying not to think about what would come next.