Chapter 12
Sophia’s POV:
I stared at the screen, my fingers trembling as I typed out the message. The picture was attached—a damning piece of evidence I’d saved for moments like this. Below it, I wrote in a sharp, no-nonsense tone:
"If you don’t recognize me within five minutes, I’ll upload this picture to my social account with the caption: ‘My sweet bunny.’ You know what that means. And so do those who know you." I pressed send. A dark thrill bubbled in my chest, though it was laced with an undeniable twinge of fear. What would he do when he saw it? Would he come storming in, fists clenched and temper blazing? Probably. Dominic wasn’t the type to take threats lightly, especially not ones with teeth.
He had no idea I could pull something like this off. Every time he looked at me, I could see the assumptions in his eyes, straightforward, predictable, harmless. How laughable. Today, for the first time, he’d realize just how wrong he was.
It wasn’t long before I heard footsteps pounding through the hallway. After a moment, I saw his secretary coming towards me. A smile spread on my lips.
“Ma’am, I’m so sorry for the wait. Sir was in a meeting. Please, come this way,” his secretary said with an apologetic smile. I followed her to Dominic’s cabin, barely holding back my anger.
“Why didn’t you answer my call earlier?” I asked sharply. The secretary scratched the back of her neck nervously.
“I... must not have seen it.” She avoided my gaze, and I knew she was lying. She gestured for me to sit. “Please wait here, ma’am. Sir will be with you shortly.”
An hour passed, and my patience was wearing thin. Sitting there felt suffocating, so I stood and began pacing. My eyes landed on a shopping bag on Dominic’s desk. Curiosity got the better of me, and I peeked inside.
A stunning diamond ring sparkled under the light. I slipped it onto my finger without thinking. It fit perfectly, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Wow… how beautiful,” I murmured.
But when I tried to take it off, it wouldn’t budge. Panic set in as I tugged and twisted the ring, but it remained stubbornly stuck.
The door opened suddenly, and there he was—Dominic, glaring at me.
“You? What are you doing?” His voice was sharp, and his eyes narrowed as he took in the sight of me fumbling with the ring.
Caught red-handed, I straightened and met his gaze, refusing to back down.
“What does it look like, Dominic? I came to meet my daughter. But clearly, you’ve been avoiding me.” His jaw tightened, but I could see a flicker of frustration—or was it guilt? I couldn’t tell. All I knew was that this confrontation wasn’t over.
“Since when were you planning all this?” he demanded, his voice low and growling like a predator cornering its prey. His dark eyes bore into mine, unrelenting. “And how many pictures do you have saved to blackmail me with?”
I swallowed hard, stepping back instinctively. He’s angrier than I thought.
“That’s all I have,” I said quickly, trying to sound innocent. But Dominic wasn’t buying it. He took a sharp step forward, his movements quick and calculated, like a lion closing in on its wounded prey. My heart pounded as I retreated further.
“And what about that tweet?” His voice dripped with accusation. He leaned closer, one hand resting on his pocket, the other pointing an accusing finger at me like an investigator grilling a suspect.
“I didn’t—” I stammered, but I stepped back too far and felt the edge of the sofa hit the back of my knees. I lost my balance, toppling awkwardly onto the cushions. My legs flailed in the air as my torso sank onto the lower part of the couch.
“Ah!” I yelped as I landed. Dominic didn’t even flinch. He crossed his arms, looking down at me like I was an amusing inconvenience.
“I’m not helping you up,” he said coldly.
“I didn’t post that tweet,” I muttered defensively from my awkward position. “It wasn’t me.”
“Who else could’ve done it?” he asked, his sharp gaze locking onto mine. “No one else even knew about the divorce. And the rest of it? The affair rumors with Ria? Convenient timing, don’t you think?” I glared up at him, annoyance bubbling to the surface.
“What do I know about that? Ask someone else.” He raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting suddenly. “Speaking of last night,” he said, his tone deceptively calm, “who was that boy you were out with?” That question hit me like a slap.
“First, pick me up,” I snapped, gesturing at my ridiculous position on the couch. “Unless you want me to stay like this for the whole interrogation.”
“It’s better for you to fall like this,” he said, his voice cutting like a blade. “Better than falling out of my sight completely.”
His words stung, sharper than I’d expected. I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my composure.
“And yet you’ve already fallen,” I said, my voice trembling with a mixture of defiance and hurt. I forced a sad smile onto my face as I met his gaze.
It wasn’t a smile meant to reassure him. It wasn’t even meant for him. It was for me—a bitter, self-deprecating smirk. What a fool I’ve been it seemed to say. How many times have I poured my heart out to someone who couldn’t even see its worth?
Dominic stared at me; his face unreadable. For a moment, I thought I saw something flicker in his expression—regret, maybe, or hesitation. But just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by that same cold mask he always wore.