Chapter 126: He pulled her closer and kissed her like ......

Aria wrapped her arms around Dominic and held him tight, like she did not want to let him go. It had only been an hour since they became husband and wife.

The wedding happened quickly, just like Indra wanted. Five days after they returned from Indonesia, they got married in America. It was small, with only Indra, Jun, Harry, and Jun’s father present.

Dominic had never invited that man. He still did not understand how he ended up at the wedding.

Aria did not think about any of that at first. She stayed behind him, holding him while he stood in front of the mirror.

“What is wrong?” she asked softly. “Why do you look so tense?”

Dominic met her eyes through the reflection. A faint smile touched his lips before he shook his head.

Aria did not believe him. She moved in front of him, lifted her hands to his face, and made him look straight at her.

“I know something is bothering you. Do you want to talk about it?”

Dominic let out a long breath. Then he took her hand and led her to the bed, helping her sit down.

“He came today,” Dominic said.

Aria just nodded, already knowing who he meant.

“He even congratulated me on getting married,” Dominic continued, his voice low. “Do you know how much I wanted to punch him? I really wanted to. But I stopped myself. I did not want to ruin anything between him and Jun. If I did that, Jun would start asking questions. And it looks like he still does not know that his father has another son with a different woman.”

“I am glad you did not do that,” Aria said gently.

Dominic nodded. “I thought about it too.”

“What did you talk about after that?” she asked.

Dominic leaned back slightly, trying to remember. “During the event, I told you I was going to the bathroom, right?”

Aria nodded. She remembered clearly. He had been gone longer than expected, and she had started to worry.

“I saw him there,” Dominic said. “He stopped me and started talking.”

Dominic looked at Aria, his eyes dark with something heavy.

“The first thing he said was sorry. That word alone made me angry. I asked him straight why he walked away from my mother when she was pregnant with me.”

Aria held her breath.

“And you know what he said?” Dominic continued. “He did it on purpose. When he was with my mother, he was already with another woman. They were even engaged. He did not want to leave her because his family would have kicked him out and taken everything from him.”

Aria covered her mouth, stunned.

So it was true. Dominic and his mother were abandoned. And the woman his father chose… was Jun’s mother.

“Even though he kept saying sorry,” Dominic went on, “I can not accept it just like that. Just like that, he walked away from me and my mother.”

Aria pulled him closer, hugging him tighter as she felt his voice change.

“He knew my mother was pregnant,” Dominic said, his voice rough now. “He knew, and that was exactly why he left her. He rushed into his marriage with that woman. He is a fucking bastard, Aria. I hate him. And then he begged me to call him father. I… I…”

His words broke. His eyes filled, and that was enough for Aria to understand how deep it hurt.

She took a slow breath, trying to stay calm for him. She held his hand and used her other hand to wipe his face gently.

“I know this is hard,” she said softly. “Very hard. You grew up without a father, and now you finally know why. Anyone would feel angry. I feel angry too just hearing it. But we can not keep holding on to this forever. We just got married. Right now, I want you to think about us. About me.”

She paused, brushing her thumb along his cheek.

“He may be your father, but if thinking about him only brings you pain, then leave it for now. Forget it for a while. When you feel better, we can talk about it again, slowly.”

Dominic shook his head.

“We do not need to talk about it again,” he said firmly. “I have already cut him off. I told him not to look for me anymore. We both have our own lives now, and I want to keep it that way. I do not want his selfish actions to hurt Jun. I went through it, but Jun should not.”

Aria smiled and nodded. Then she pulled him into a gentle embrace.

“Come on,” she said softly. “Let us take a bath first. My father is going back to Jakarta tonight, so we need to have dinner with him before he leaves.”

Dominic nodded. He leaned in and kissed her before leading her toward the bathroom.

Later that night, after dropping Indra at the airport, they returned home. It was already ten.

Aria held his arm as they walked into their apartment, leaning close to him. Neither of them felt sleepy, so they went to sit in the living room.

She rested her head on his arm and lifted her left hand, staring at the ring on her finger. The wedding band Dominic had placed there earlier.

“I still can not believe we are married,” she said softly. “When I first met you at the apartment, and my mother said you were her boyfriend… I felt something I could not explain.”

Dominic turned to face her. “What do you mean?”

Aria nodded slowly. “I kept thinking… why did she meet you first? Why not me?”

Dominic raised a brow, a teasing look in his eyes. “So that was love at first sight?”

Aria could not answer. Her face warmed, and she lightly hit him in embarrassment.

“Do not say it like that,” she complained.

“Why did you not tell me back then?” Dominic teased. “Maybe I would have thought about not marrying your mother.”

“What?” Aria snapped, eyes wide. “So she would not kill me? No way. What happened before was already enough to scare me. I was lucky you were there. If it had been earlier, you would have taken her side since I was still in Indonesia.”

Dominic laughed, clearly enjoying her reaction.

“So if I had married your mother,” he asked, pointing at her heart, “what would have happened to you?”

Aria looked down. “I would have been sad.”

Dominic stared at her, his gaze deep, then leaned closer until his lips hovered near her ear.

“And how did you feel the first time I took your virginity?”

Aria’s face turned red instantly. Heat rushed through her as memories filled her mind.

“I still remember the way you looked,” Dominic murmured.

Aria quickly covered his mouth with her hand, then climbed onto his lap, hiding her face against him.

“Stop bringing it up. It is embarrassing,” she muttered.

Dominic laughed softly.

“So what about now?” he whispered. “Can we call tonight our first night again? I am not sleepy, and I want you. I want to be inside you and hear you call my name.”

Aria lowered her head, unable to meet his eyes. She did not say anything, but the way she leaned into him said enough.

She wanted him too.

Dominic did not wait any longer. He pulled her closer and kissed her like he had been holding himself back all day.