Chapter 15
Dominic’s POV:
“Ella… Ella...” My voice was loud as I stormed into the house, slamming the door behind me. "Ella!" I shouted her name, my voice echoing through the halls as I scanned the hall with a fiery gaze.
“What’s wrong, Dominic? Why are you shouting like that?” Mom rushed into the living room; her face etched with worry.
But I couldn’t even respond. My pulse was racing with anger. My anger was scorching and my face was flushed as if flames were about to burst out of me. I ignored her question and stormed toward the stairs, my boots thudding loudly against the wooden floor.
“Ella! Get out here!” I yelled again, my voice thundering like a storm. Hearing my voice, Ella appeared quickly at her door, startled.
“What’s wrong, brother?” she asked, looking confused. I dragged her in front of me by gripping her arm tightly before she could say another word.
“What’s wrong?” I hissed, shaking her arm in frustration. “You dare ask me that after what you did? How could you accuse my wife of theft? And send the police to her house?” My voice echoed through the hallway, my words were sharp and filled with disbelief. Ella’s eyes widened, and for a second, she looked stunned, but then she started to cry, fake tears I knew all too well.
“Brother,” she whimpered, looking down. “she stole my ring.”
“Stole your ring?” I repeated, my voice dripping with rage. “Just a ring? That’s your excuse for humiliating her? For dragging her name through the dirt?” Before I could lash out further, my mother rushed to the top of the stairs.
“What’s going on, Dominic? Why are you screaming like that? The whole staff is watching this madness!” I glared at her, barely able to contain myself.
“You’re asking me this? Your darling daughter sent the police to my wife’s house over a stupid ring, and you expect me to be cool?” I spat in anger. My mother sighed, waving her hand carelessly.
“Oh, Dominic, calm down. It’s just a misunderstanding. Why are you creating a scene just for a girl whom you wanted to divorce?”
“A misunderstanding?!” I roared, my voice trembling with frustration. I turned to Ella, who was still pretending to cry and pointed a finger directly at her.
“Listen to me, Ella, and listen well. You will go and apologize to Sophia. Do you understand me? Apologize, or I swear, you will regret it.” Ella’s crocodile tears vanished in an instant, replaced by a stubborn, defiant glare.
“I’m not apologizing to her!” she snapped, stomping back into her room. My mother, as usual, was quick to side with her.
“Dominic, leave her alone,” she said, shaking her head as though I were the one in the wrong. “It’s just a ring. Why are you taking her side? This is all Sophia’s fault anyway. That girl has no place in your life.” I turned on her, fury blazing in my eyes.
“Mum, your hatred is blinding you,” I said through gritted teeth, trying to keep my composure. “I won’t let you or Ella destroy my wife over your petty grudges. She’s my wife, and I’ll defend her no matter what.”
Without another word, I walked away, my anger simmering but unresolved. The door to my room slammed behind me, the sound echoing in the silence of the house. My fists clenched, my jaw tight—I couldn’t believe my own family had stooped this low.
I paced the room, throwing a few things around in frustration. My mind was spinning. Sophia wants me to divorce her and Ria, she was unaware of my marriage and now Ella’s actions—it was too much. All I wanted was peace, but instead, I was caught in this endless war between my wife and my family. How did it come to this?
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the fire that still burned in my chest. My gaze fell on the crib in the corner of the room. There she was, my little innocent daughter, sleeping peacefully as if nothing in the world could disturb her. For a moment, my heart ached. She didn’t deserve any of this chaos. None of it. She was away from her mother, this was unfair to her.
Walking over quietly, I leaned down and gently lifted her into my arms. She stirred, her little face scrunching up for a second, but then she relaxed against me, her warmth pressing into my chest. She was so small, so fragile. I sat down on the edge of the bed, cradling her close, and let out a shaky sigh.
“You don’t even know what’s happening around you, do you?” I whispered, my voice soft now, almost trembling. “All this shouting, all this anger... and here you are, sleeping like the world is perfect.” Her tiny fingers curled against my shirt, and I felt a lump rise in my throat.
“You’re the only thing that makes any of this worth it,” I murmured. “You’re my reason to keep going, my reason to fight. Just for you, she will come back, I promise.”
She blinked up at me then, her big, curious eyes locking onto mine. For a second, the weight of everything disappeared. It was just me and her, and nothing else mattered.
“You’re so perfect,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “So pure. And I’m going to make sure it stays that way. You’ll never know pain like this. Not if I can help it.” I gently kissed her forehead, holding her even closer. “I don’t care what it takes—I’ll protect you, little one. From everything. From everyone. Even if I have to fight the whole damn world.”
She made a soft coo that tugged at something deep inside me, and I couldn’t help but smile. It was small and faint, but it was real.
“You have no idea how much strength you give me,” I told her, brushing a finger over her cheek. As she nestled against me, I felt the storm inside me begin to settle. The anger, the frustration—it was still there, but holding her, it didn’t feel as overwhelming. She was my anchor, my reminder of what mattered.
I closed my eyes, resting my cheek against her tiny head. “Don’t worry, sweetheart,” I whispered. “I’ll fix everything. For you and your mom. I’ll make sure you both have the life you deserve. That’s my promise to you.”