Chapter 196: Smart woman

Dominic had spent years believing a lie.

Not a fabricated one.

Not one someone had deliberately fed him.

But a lie nonetheless.

He had thought Elena Steel had walked away from him.

That she had chosen something else, someone else, over what they had.

And now?

Now she was standing in front of him, telling him that the only reason she left was to keep him alive.

His grip tightened at his sides, his breathing controlled but just a little too measured.

Elena was still watching him, her expression composed, but he could see it—the weight in her eyes, the exhaustion of keeping this secret for so long.

She had never stopped caring.

And that was worse.

Because it meant everything he had told himself to move on, to hate her, to forget her—

None of it had ever been true.

Outside, the hallway was dead quiet.

Because no one knew what Dominic was going to do.

Zayn, who had been enjoying the drama up until now, actually looked serious.

Liam had stopped fidgeting.

Even James had set his coffee down.

Seraphina and Damon exchanged a glance.

Because they all knew Dominic Hale was not a man who handled things like this well.

And yet—he wasn’t saying anything.

And that?

That was more dangerous than if he had started shouting.

Elena sighed, rubbing her fingers against her temple.

"You’re really not going to say anything?" she muttered.

Dominic’s jaw tightened.

"What do you want me to say, Elena?"

Elena exhaled sharply.

"I don’t know, Dominic," she said. "Maybe something other than standing there and looking at me like I just tore apart your entire worldview."

Dominic let out a short, humorless laugh.

"That’s exactly what you just did."

Elena’s eyes flickered.

"Do you think it was easy for me?" she asked, voice quieter now. "Leaving? Walking away? Pretending like none of it mattered?"

Dominic finally moved.

Not much.

But enough.

"Was it real?" he asked, voice lower now. "Any of it?"

Elena didn’t hesitate.

"Every second."

And that?

That was the worst part of all.

Because now Dominic didn’t know what to do with that.

Liam sighed.

"Someone should go in there," he muttered.

Zayn smirked. "You volunteering?"

Liam considered it.

Then shook his head. "Hell no."

James, arms crossed, glanced at Seraphina. "You’re the least dramatic out of all of us. You wanna step in before someone gets murdered?"

Seraphina took a slow breath.

Then—"Nope."

Damon smirked. "Smart woman."

Dominic exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair, finally letting himself look at her—really look at her.

"You should have told me," he muttered.

Elena’s lips pressed together.

"You wouldn’t have let me leave."

Dominic didn’t deny it.

Because she was right.

And that?

That was the problem.

Finally, he exhaled.

"You’re back now," he murmured.

Elena tilted her head. "Is that a problem?"

Dominic held her gaze.

And then—"I don’t know yet."

Elena smirked slightly, though there was something unreadable behind it.

"Well," she said, turning toward the door, "I guess we’ll find out."

And just like that, she walked away.

But the difference now?

This time, Dominic knew she wasn’t running.

And that?

That changed everything.