Why did she left?

"What happened to her now?"

The moment Sophia stepped down the stairs, Dominic's eyes locked onto her. Her red nose, glistening eyes, and trembling lips painted a picture of suppressed emotions. He instinctively wanted to ask her what was wrong. But before he could say a word, she turned and hurried outside, leaving him frozen in confusion and disbelief.

For a few seconds, Dominic couldn't fathom what had just happened. How could she, the hostess of the party, walk out of a house full of guests, especially on his birthday? His jaw tightened, and his fists clenched in frustration. Just as he was processing her unexpected exit, he felt someone approach.

A pair of arms wrapped around him cheerfully. "Happy Birthday!" The familiar voice made him freeze for a moment before pulling back to see Ria grinning at him.

"You?" he muttered sharply, his tone slicing through her excitement. Ria’s joy faltered.

"It’s done. You could’ve at least called me yourself," she added in a playful tone, leaning closer to whisper near his ear.

"I didn’t call you," Dominic said flatly, his voice edged with irritation. Ria blinked, caught off guard by his blunt response. She glanced around, suddenly self-conscious.

"Then why invite me just to humiliate me like this?" she whispered, clearly embarrassed. Before Dominic could respond, another voice interrupted.

"Oh, Ria! I’m so glad you came!" Ella chirped, practically skipping toward them. Her enthusiasm seemed oddly out of place. She embraced Ria warmly, smiling brightly as if nothing unusual was happening. Dominic didn’t need long to figure out what had happened. Of course, Ella had been the one to invite Ria. His sister’s meddling always left him with a headache.

He took a deep breath, trying to mask his frustration. On one side, Sophia had stormed out of the party over something as trivial as a suit her father gifted him. On the other, Ella had taken it upon herself to invite his ex-girlfriend, knowing full well how much their grandmother disapproved of her.

Feeling trapped between two fires, Dominic pressed his lips together and quietly left the hall, letting the weight of the situation settle over him. As Sophia’s car exited the main gate, another car was pulling in, their paths crossing without either noticing the other.

The new arrival caused a stir the moment he entered the party. Women whispered and sighed, stealing glances at him as he walked confidently into the hall. His striking features, charisma, and the power that came with being the sole heir to the renowned IP company turned heads immediately.

Ella’s eyes lit up the moment she saw him. This was why she had dressed more boldly tonight, her smokey eye makeup accentuating her fair complexion. She had been counting on his presence, knowing he had recently returned back after his father’s surgery.

With full confidence, she stepped forward, placing herself directly in his path, hoping to catch his attention. But as she looked at him, her heart sank. He glanced her way, but his gaze slid past her as if she wasn’t even there. Without hesitation, he walked by, leaving her standing there, her expectations crumbling. While Ella was left stunned, Dominic’s face lit up with joy.

"Oh wow, what a surprise present!" he exclaimed, hurrying forward to greet the newcomer.

They two embraced warmly, their laughter and easy camaraderie filling the space. It was clear they shared a strong bond, one that stood in sharp contrast to the tension brewing elsewhere in the house.

Dominic, and Rook had been childhood friends. They grew up together, studying in the same school, college, and university. Despite the years that had passed, their bond remained unbroken. 

Rook and Dominic had been away for two years, traveling abroad for his father’s surgery. Unfortunately, he missed Dominic’s wedding but had sent a thoughtful gift in his absence. Now, back home, Rook decided to surprise his old friends. 

“So, what about you, Rook?” Dominic teased, leaning in with a sly grin. “Any wedding plans? Is someone special on your mind?” Rook chuckled softly, his eyes lighting up.

“I’m not in a rush to get married. But, well… there is someone,” he admitted, his face glowing with excitement. 

“Really? Who’s the lucky lady?” Another friend asked eagerly, while Dominic listened just as intently. Rook’s gaze seemed to drift into a memory.

“She’s beautiful,” he began, a hint of admiration in his voice. “But it’s not just her looks. She’s brave, too. I met her at the hospital. You know how much I love nature, right? One night, I was on the rooftop, taking pictures of the moon. She thought I was taking her photo instead and came straight up to me, snatched my phone, and checked it thoroughly. I was stunned by her boldness! When she saw there were no pictures of her, she handed it back and left.” 

As Rook narrated the story, a charming smile danced across his face. His admiration for the mysterious girl was evident. 

“What’s her name?”

“I don’t know…” Rook admitted with a shrug. 

“Where does she live?” Dominic inquired curiously. 

Rook sighed. “I don’t know that either.” 

“Well, what does she look like?” He pressed with a teasing smile. 

Rook’s eyes sparkled as he described her. “She’s fair, not too tall or short—just up to my shoulders. She has the most beautiful, thick, black hair and a round face. Her style is simple but captivating. And her eyes…” He paused, almost lost in thought. “Her eyes are magical. But it’s her hands that I can’t forget—delicate, with long, graceful fingers. They’re absolutely mesmerizing.” 

“Alright, we get it!” James interrupted, laughing. “You’re smitten.” 

The friends exchanged knowing smiles. But Dominic’s mind wandered elsewhere. As Rook spoke of delicate fingers, an image of Sophia’s hands surfaced in his thoughts. Her hands were one of the things Dominic admired most about her. 

“You know, Rook,” James said, nudging Dominic with a grin. “Dominic’s wife sounds a lot like your type.” 

“Oh, speaking of which,” Rook said, turning to Dominic. “Where’s your wife? I’d love to meet her.” 

“She… had some errands to run,” Dominic replied, his voice tightening. Despite his efforts to remain calm, a flicker of suppressed anger surfaced, noticeable to his friends. 

“What kind of errands make someone leave their own house party?” James questioned, frowning. 

“It must have been important,” Rook said quickly, trying to ease the tension. But James pressed on, undeterred. 

“She just wants a divorce,” James said bluntly, leaving Rook in shock. 

“Divorce? Dominic’s wife wants a divorce?” Rook asked, disbelief evident in his tone. Dominic, of all people—the most charming, wealthy, and serious of their group—was facing marital problems? It was hard to imagine. 

“Couples fight. She has a habit of overreacting,” Dominic said, glaring at James. His tone carried a warning, as though daring anyone to say more. Rook sensed the growing tension and quickly diverted the conversation.

“Hey, look, Ria’s coming over,” he said, gesturing toward her.  As Ria approached, the music in the background grew louder, drowning out any lingering discomfort. She greeted the group, but an older man’s voice called out before they could continue. 

“Dominic, son…” It was Sophia’s father. Dominic turned but pretended not to hear, walking away without a word. 

"Why are you here? Have you lost your senses?"  Ria had been roaming around the upper floor, curious to see Dominic's house. Suddenly, a firm grip pulled her hand and yanked her into a room. 

Before she could react, she found herself face-to-face with Dominic. His intense gaze bore into her as he grabbed her arm and began questioning her in a low, angry voice. 

"What was I supposed to do?" she shot back, her voice trembling, her eyes red with emotion. "Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to hear about your marriage? You married and even had a child. I get that it was all for business, but it crushed me!" 

Her tone was shaky, her heart clearly heavy with pain. 

"Give me some time... but don’t do things like this," Dominic said, his grip tightening slightly as he shook her arm. "You shouldn’t have come here. What were you thinking?" 

"Please don’t be angry," she whispered, her voice breaking as tears began streaming down her face. Without warning, she leaned into him, resting her head against his chest as her sobs grew louder. 

Her tears dampened his coat, and Dominic froze, feeling her warmth so close to him. He hesitated but found himself slowly raising his hand, ready to place it on her waist, intending to comfort her. 

But before he could, the bathroom door creaked open. Both Ria and Dominic turned in shock. Standing there was an older man, his expression awkward yet serious. 

"Sorry, son... I had a stomachache and used the washroom," the man said, avoiding their eyes. 

Ria quickly stepped back from Dominic, creating some distance. Dominic, however, looked like he’d been caught red-handed. He rubbed his forehead, trying to gather his thoughts, his guilt evident. 

"Uncle, it’s not—" he started, but the man cut him off with a wave of his hand. 

"No need to explain. I’m leaving," he said, his tone restrained but his anger apparent. His face was flushed, but his voice remained calm as if suppressing his emotions. 

"Who was that?" Ria asked, noticing the tension etched on Dominic's face. 

"Sophia's father," Dominic replied absentmindedly, already heading toward the door. 

"Are you afraid of Sophia?" she teased, trying to lighten the mood. 

Dominic paused for a moment, but instead of responding, he shook his head and walked out. 

Jealousy flared in Ria’s chest. Her gaze landed on the wedding photo sitting on Sophia’s side table. In the picture, Sophia stood beaming in her bridal gown.  With a deliberate swipe, Ria knocked the frame to the ground, watching it fall with a loud crash. Her teeth clenched as she stormed out of the room, fury burning in her eyes.