Chapter 131 One Hundred & Thirty One
Dominic didn’t waste time. He pulled out his phone, gripping it tightly as he called.
“Mom,” he said when she answered, his voice low and serious. “We need to talk. Now.”
There was a short pause. Then her voice came, sharp as always. “No hello? Is it that urgent?”
“It is,” Dominic said, jaw tight.
Another pause. Then she sighed lightly. “Fine. Come to the house.”
Dominic ended the call immediately. His mind was racing….. Steven’s words, Brian’s face, Izzy’s voice. Everything felt tangled and wrong.
This wasn’t business anymore.
This was personal.
He grabbed his keys and left.
His car pulled up in front of the Steele estate. The place looked as perfect as ever, but Dominic didn’t care.
He got out and walked straight to the door.
Miranda opened it herself, her eyes scanning him carefully.
“Well… this is unexpected,” she said smoothly. “You sounded serious. What is it?”
Dominic stepped inside without hesitation.
“I want the truth,” he said immediately. “About Izzy. About Brian. About everything you’ve been hiding.”
Miranda’s lips curved slightly, but her eyes stayed cold. “Ah… so you finally know about the child,” she said calmly.
Dominic’s fists clenched. “Stop playing games. Did you know I had a son?”
She stepped closer, her voice softer… but still sharp. “Dominic… you never asked. I thought you’d figure it out eventually. That girl… she was always trouble.”
His eyes darkened. “Enough. I know you’ve been hiding things. I want answers. Now.”
Miranda held his gaze for a moment… then spoke.
“Fine,” she said. “Izzy came to me and threatened me. She said if I didn’t give her money… she would abort the child.”
Dominic froze.
“What?”
“That’s the truth,” Miranda continued. “You don’t know her as you think. She’s desperate bitch … that’s the kind of person she is.”
Dominic shook his head slowly. “No… Izzy wouldn’t do that.”
Miranda didn’t hesitate. “You’re wrong. That’s why I stepped in. That money? It was to stop her.. to protect my unborn grandchild”
Dominic ran a hand over his face, struggling to process it. “So… the money was for that?”
“Yes,” she said firmly. “She’s bad news. I’ve always told you that. That’s why I want her out of your life… and out of the company.”
Silence filled the room.
“I can’t believe this…” Dominic muttered. “Izzy…”
Miranda placed a hand lightly on his arm. “You don’t have to deal with this alone,” she said. “Lawyer Ortega is here right now. We can start the process… get your son away from her. File for custody.”
Dominic didn’t move.
Her words sat heavy in his chest… but something about them didn’t feel right.
He knew his mother too well…
He slowly looked up at her, eyes sharp now. “You already have a lawyer here?”
Miranda didn’t hesitate. “Of course. I prepare for things, Dominic. Unlike you.”
That made his jaw tighten.
“Or…” he said slowly, stepping away from her, “you were already planning this.”
Miranda’s expression didn’t change, but her eyes flickered… just for a second.
“You’re overthinking,” she said smoothly. “I’m helping you.”
Dominic let out a short, humorless laugh. “Helping me? Or controlling the situation? Bring manipulative as usual”
“Watch your tone,” she warned, her voice dropping slightly.
“No,” he snapped, turning to face her fully now. “You’ve been controlling everything for years. My life. My choices. And now my son?”
Miranda’s patience thinned. “I’m trying to protect this family.”
“By lying?” Dominic shot back.
Silence.
That one word hung between them.
Miranda straightened, her voice colder now. “Be careful, Dominic.”
But he didn’t back down.
“Did you even think to tell about Izzy’s pregnancy,” he asked, his voice quieter… but more dangerous. “Or is this another one of your lies ?”
Miranda held his gaze, unblinking. “Why would I lie about something like that?”
“Because you hate her,” Dominic said immediately.
That hit.
A flicker of irritation crossed her face.
“I don’t hate her,” Miranda replied. “I see her for what she is. A gold digger ”
Dominic shook his head slowly. “No… You never knew her. You judged her. You hated her mom”
He ran a hand through his hair, pacing once.
“Something’s not adding up,” he muttered. “Izzy would never have asked for money. Never
As she acted like she wanted anything from me. And now suddenly she was threatening you?”
Miranda stayed silent.
That silence… said more than words.
Dominic stopped pacing. Looked at her again.
Hard.
“Tell me the truth,” he said. “Did she really say that?”
Miranda’s lips pressed together. “I already told you what happened.”
“That’s not an answer,” Dominic snapped.
Tension filled the room.
Then….
A voice came from behind them.
“Maybe I should explain.”
Dominic turned sharply.
Lawyer Ortega stepped into the room, adjusting his glasses, his expression uneasy like he’d been listening longer than he should have.
Miranda’s eyes flicked to him, a warning hidden beneath her calm.
But Ortega nodded then
He looked at Dominic.
“Mr. Steele…” he began carefully, “there are… details your mother may have left out.”
Dominic’s heart dropped.
Slowly, dangerously, he turned back to Miranda.
“Left out?” he repeated.
Miranda didn’t speak.
Didn’t move.
And that silence told him everything.
His voice dropped, cold and controlled.
“Start talking.”
Lawyer Ortega hesitated for a second, glancing at Miranda.
Her eyes were sharp. Warning.
But Dominic stepped forward, his presence heavy, his voice cold.
“Don’t look at her,” he said. “Look at me. And tell me the truth.”
Ortega swallowed.
“The money…” he started carefully, “was real. Miss Izzy did come to take the money to take care of the child.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened. “And?”
Ortega exhaled. “But she didn’t threaten to abort the child.”
Silence.
Thick.
Deadly.
Dominic’s head snapped toward Miranda.
“What?”
Miranda didn’t answer.
Didn’t even try.
Ortega continued, his voice low. “She came because she needed help… but not like that. She was already pregnant. She wasn’t trying to get rid of the baby.”
Dominic’s chest rose sharply. “Then why the money?”
Ortega hesitated again… then said it.
“She wanted to leave.”
That hit harder.
“Leave?” Dominic repeated.
“Yes,” Ortega nodded. “She said she didn’t want to stay around… not with everything going on. She asked for enough to start over somewhere else.”
Dominic’s fists clenched.
“That’s it?”
Ortega looked at Miranda again… then back at Dominic.
“She also said… she didn’t want you involved.”
The words landed like a punch.
Dominic stepped back slightly, as the ground shifted under him.
“She didn’t want me…?” he muttered.
Miranda finally spoke. “You see? She was planning to run away with your child. And you’re standing here defending her?”
“Stop,” Dominic snapped.
His voice was louder now. Rough.
“Just stop talking.”
Miranda went quiet.
Dominic turned back to Ortega. “Did she say why?”
Ortega nodded slowly. “Yes.”
Dominic’s eyes locked on him.
“Say it.”
Ortega hesitated… then spoke.
“She said you’d never choose her.”
The room went still.
Dominic’s breath caught.
“She said… You always chose your family.. Your mother.” Ortega added quietly. “And she didn’t want her child growing up feeling unwanted.”
A long silence followed.
Dominic looked down, his hands clenching slowly at his sides.
Every memory… every moment… every choice…
It all came rushing back.
Then his head lifted. Slowly.
And this time…
The anger wasn’t just there.
It was burning.
He turned to Miranda.
“I don’t believe you both .”
His voice was calm. Too calm.
“You always twist everything… making her look like the villain… just so I wouldn’t be with her.”
Miranda’s expression hardened. “We have no reason to lie..
“That’s enough!” Dominic snapped, stepping closer.
“Don’t you dare raise your voice at me! All I did was take care of you.. " You ungrateful brat” she shot back.
The words hit… but didn’t stop him.
Dominic laughed once. Short. Sharp.
“Wow, mom… I’m the ungrateful child.. then you’re the mother who fucking ruined my life.”
Miranda held his gaze. “I did what I had to do for you and I don’t regret it..”
That was it.
Dominic turned away, already pulling out his phone.
“This conversation is over.”
“Dominic…”
“No,” he cut her off, not even turning back. “You’ve done enough.”
He started walking toward the door.
“I’m going to find her,” he said. “And when I do…”
He paused. Just for a second.
“You'd better pray she hasn’t suffered because of so much for all that you did.”
Then he walked out.
Leaving Miranda standing there…