Chapter 54 Mrs Blackwood
Chapter 54 Mrs Blackwood
The next morning, Liora woke early and headed downstairs, intending to prepare breakfast as she usually did but when she reached the kitchen, she froze.
Rachel was already there.
The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air.
“Oh, you’re up,” Rachel said casually without turning around. “Wait a bit, breakfast will be ready soon.”
Liora blinked in surprise. “I’m sorry to trouble you, Doctor Rachel.”
Rachel waved her words away dismissively. “It’s nothing. I used to make Dominic’s breakfast for him all the time and this isn’t anything new.”
Liora paused. “You did?”
“Of course,” Rachel replied smoothly. “I’m his personal doctor, didn’t you know?”
Her gaze lingered on Liora’s face, searching carefully for signs of jealousy, insecurity or anything she could use but Liora simply nodded, her expression calm and unguarded.
“In that case, thank you for taking such good care of my husband’s diet,” she said sincerely.
Rachel’s smile deepened, but there was something sharp beneath it now, something calculating. It was a trap laid carefully, bait disguised as kindness but Liora didn’t see it.
“I heard you’re a medical student,” Rachel continued lightly. “That must be difficult, make sure you keep working hard.”
“I will,” Liora replied, her eyes bright with quiet determination. There was confidence in her voice, steady and genuine.
After breakfast, Dominic prepared to accompany Liora to school as he usually did but before they could leave, Rachel spoke again.
“You should stay home today,” she suggested calmly. “We need to continue the treatment.”
Liora didn’t hesitate.
“Mr. Lawrence can take me,” she said quickly, turning to Dominic with a reassuring smile. “You should focus on your recovery.”
Her words were gentle but firm, filled with trust and unwavering support and just like that, she placed his health above everything else.
For once, Dominic Blackwood found himself at a rare loss for words. His usual sharp retorts and carefully measured tones faltered as he watched Liora move with the quiet decisiveness that always both exasperated and fascinated him.
“So you’re just going to leave like that?” he asked, his voice betraying the faintest edge of incredulity. It was more curiosity than reproach, though.
Liora’s lips curved into a small, polite smile, her eyes briefly flicking to him, yet she gave nothing of the fiery passion that might have stirred his protective instincts. This was the moment when, in private, she would have indulged him in a lingering goodbye perhaps a kiss that would send warmth straight to his chest but today wasn’t that day. Mara, her ever-watchful friend, was standing nearby, just as she had been yesterday, alert and poised.
Shyly, Liora patted Dominic on the shoulder. The movement was innocent, almost sisterly, entirely unlike the intimate gestures of a wife. Yet the warmth of it lingered in Dominic’s mind, teasing him with the memory of what could have been.
“You can do it!” she said encouragingly, her voice light, almost teasing, before turning sharply and walking away, as if to prove a point about her independence.
Dominic stifled a laugh, a rare sound he rarely allowed himself. It was incredulous, because he knew the situation was absurdly trivial and yet the effect it had on him was anything but.
Rachel, standing a few feet away, couldn’t hide the tension in her hands. Her fists clenched instinctively, knuckles whitening as she observed the flicker of amusement that crossed Dominic’s face. “Ms. Hale is… quite charming,” she said, her voice measured, but it couldn’t quite mask the sting of irritation.
“She is,” Dominic admitted, his gaze softening in a way that rarely surfaced around anyone. “But technically… you should call her Mrs. Blackwood.”
Rachel raised a perfectly arched brow, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “Don’t you despise that name?” she asked playfully. “Or should I stick with Mrs. Dominic?”
Dominic allowed himself a moment to consider the question, the tilt of his head thoughtful. “I don’t mind that either,” he said finally, his tone neutral but tinged with a hidden warmth.
Rachel irritation throbbed quietly beneath her composed exterior, yet she maintained her polite smile. “Dominic,” she said, her voice smooth but sharp, “I’ll be around you both for some time. I think it’s better if I relax a bit around her. I wouldn’t want your wife to feel forced to stand on ceremony keeping distance and being overly formal, you know?”
Liora, ever respectful and gracious, had a natural tendency to give others more consideration than they might merit. She inclined her head slightly, acknowledging Bella’s intentions. “Of course,” she said, her voice gentle yet firm. “She seems very capable, and I appreciate the thoughtfulness. I’ll treat her with the respect due, but I won’t be overbearing either.”
Dominic watched her, his mind calculating as always, noting the calm strength beneath her soft exterior. “She is young,” he added, almost as an afterthought, “but astonishingly diligent. Look out for her too, will you?”
“I will,” Rachel replied smoothly, her voice composed, though her thoughts churned silently beneath the surface. Her demeanor gave nothing away, but her eyes flicked briefly toward Liora, measuring, analyzing, and silently preparing for the inevitable clash of wills she anticipated.
Dominic allowed a subtle exhale, watching Liora’s back as she walked away. Even in her measured politeness, there was a quiet bravery, a determination that drew him in and made him protective in ways he did not often allow himself to feel. He straightened, composed as always, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips a smile that few had the privilege of seeing.