Chapter 75
Dominick was sleeping soundly.
When Stephanie woke up, it was already around six in the morning, and the faint light of dawn was already seeping through the hospital window. She thought, “For most people, this time is still early, but…
She looked over at Dominick, who was lying beside her, with a complex expression, and continued to ponder, “Dominick usually wakes up Carly, it’s rare for him to sleep so soundly. He seems exhausted. There was the company’s annual celebration yesterday, and then the Randall and Isaac case. Dominick must have had a rough night.
As Stephanie gazed at his face, which was so close to hers, a strange emotion welled up inside her.
Dominick was lying so close. She could hear his breathing steady, saw his chest rising and falling, and smelt that uniquely cool and detached
scent of his.
He was sleeping soundly with his right hand naturally wrapped around her waist. She couldn’t help but think that this cold and dangerous man was sleeping so unguardedly beside her.
It was as if, at that moment, Dominick belonged to her.
Stephanie’s cheeks suddenly turned a bit red, and she lowered her head, avoiding looking at him, and muttered under her breath, “What am 1 thinking?”
Afterward, she lowered the guardrail on one side of the hospital bed as she couldn’t help but complain inwardly, ‘I really don’t understand why Dominick wouldn’t go back to Wellington Villa to rest but insists on sharing a hospital bed with me.”
Stephanie knew she would never understand what Dominick was really thinking, as he harbored too many secrets, his mind weighed down with burdens too heavy to share.
She moved a little closer to the edge of the bed and gently removed his hand from around her waist.
Stephanie couldn’t pinpoint exactly when, but it had become a habit for Dominick to hold her as they slept.
However, as Stephanie carefully lifted his right hand, she abruptly paused.
“He’s injured,” she murmured, looking somewhat surprised.
There was a deep wound in the palm of Dominick’s right hand as if it had been cut by wire, and it had now clotted into a scab. This was in stark contrast to his muscular and impeccable hands.
As Stephanie stared at the wound in his palm, she felt a bit uneasy.
She reached out with her other hand, almost as if compelled by some unseen force, and her fingertips couldn’t resist lightly touching the clotted blood on Dominick’s hand.
Stephanie wondered, ‘This must be painful…”
aze was very fo
Her gaze
very focused as if she was deep in thought.
Just then, a deep voice suddenly sounded beside Stephanie. “What are you thinking about?”
Caught off guard, she nervously replied, “When when did you wake up?” Stephanie’s face flashed with embarrassment as she casually let go of Dominick’s hand.
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Chapter 75
He replied, “Just now.” His voice sounded a bit hoarse as if he had caught a cold.
Dominick didn’t seem to mind Stephanie’s petty actions. He glanced at the clock on the wall, his brows slightly furrowed, as if feeling that waking up at six in the morning was a bit late.
He quickly threw the covers back and pressed his right hand against the bed frame as he got up
Upon seeing that, Stephanie almost instinctively said, “Don’t put pressure on the injury on your hand…”
Dominick sat up straight on the bed and turned to her with a puzzled look. His deep eyes then lit up as he noticed a hint of concern on Stephanie’s face,
He raised his eyebrows slightly, his gaze on her becoming even more intense. “What’s the matter?” His hoarse voice took on a more bewildering tone.
Stephanie’s cheeks turned red, and she pressed her lips together before speaking somewhat awkwardly. “Your palm is bleeding”
Dominick then lifted his right hand. When he saw that the wound in his palm was bleeding again, he didn’t seem to mind much.
He got up from the bed and changed the subject “About last night…
“Last night’s incident won’t happen again.” Dominick stood upright, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at Stephanie.
He spoke in a low voice as if he were making a promise.
Stephanie’s expression froze, and she stared up at Dominick, who was looming above her.
She didn’t speak again, but her heart felt more unsettled.
Stephanie realized that Dominick was reassuring her.
She knew that Dominick was not a man of sweet words and promises. However, Stephanie also knew that his words were more comforting than any promise because he always kept his word.
Stephanie sat silently by the bed while Dominick went into the bathroom to freshen up.
Soon after, there was a knock on the door, and Vincent asked, “Are you guys awake?”
He had brought some clothes over, which Dominick changed into directly in the bathroom. Unlike those delicate young heirs with germophobia, Dominick could endure hardships better than special forces soldiers.
Dominick changed into an expensive, dark blue tailored suit that made him look exceptionally dashing and formidable, his eyes exuding a chilling presence. As he tied his tie, he walked out and asked, “What’s the situation?”
“Due to last night’s incident with Randall and Isaac, along with the extensive media coverage, the Innovate Group has taken a big hit, and the stock market will definitely be affected…” Vincent reported the situation truthfully. He then laughed as he continued, “Your aunts have been on a high since last night, enthusiastically inviting all the major shareholders of your company. I think this morning’s meeting will be quite spectacular, so be careful, Dominick…”
Vincent thought, “Dominick’s aunts were already dissatisfied with his sudden return to the country and taking over as CEO. Now that this incident has happened, they will definitely add fuel to the fire, eager to remove him from the CEO position‘
However, Dominick’s expression remained indifferent, as if he didn’t take his aunts seriously at all.
He straightened his clothes and headed straight for the door.
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Chapter 75
Stephanie then watched Dominick’s retreating figure while suppressing an emotion in her eyes.
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She pondered, ‘So he’s facing opposition from Stella and others at the company. For someone who immediately took over the position, it’s definitely not easy to have the existing senior management yield‘
“Why that dazed look, Stephanie? You don’t need to worry too much,” Vincent teased with a chuckle. “Dominick will handle the company‘ affairs, and even if he’s not the CEO of the Innovate Group, he would still treat you and your children well..”
Stephanie’s expression then turned awkward.
Meanwhile, Dominick hesitated for a moment outside the room and looked back at her on the hospital bed.
“Watch over her. Don’t let her leave the hospital before I come back,” he instructed the bodyguard at the door and left without further delay.
Inside the room, Stephanie clearly heard Dominick’s stern command, and her face scrunched up. She thought, “He’s not letting me go out again.”
After Dominick left. Vincent plopped himself onto the chair beside the hospital bed and crossed his legs like a boss. Then, Vincent grabbed an orange, peeled it, and snacked on it while teasing her, “Stephanie, Dominick is keeping you indoors for your own good. Of all the women I’ve met, you’re the most troublesome.”
Stephanie decided not to hold it against him and began to ask, “About last night..
Vincent flatly refused. “Don’t ask. If Dominick doesn’t want you to know, I won’t tell y
l you.”
He then added coolly, “However, I don’t think Randall and Isaac are going to have an easy time.”
Stephanie’s expression turned complex. “Are you guys are planning to…”
“What do you think we’re going to do?” Vincent put down the orange he was holding and looked at her thoughtfully. “Stephanie, do you think we would bully the weak and that we are sinister and dishonorable?”
Stephanie didn’t speak, her face turning somewhat embarrassed under his gaze.
But that was exactly what she had assumed. Stephanie thought that with the power of the Wellington family, those Dominick wanted to deal with would naturally find it hard to escape.
“Let’s not even start with the incident in the underground parking lot last night when Randall suddenly attacked with a gun. Just the fact that
Isaac took you
and Jessica away last night is already a criminal offense, and Isaac also blew up the abandoned factory at the north of the city. Dominick and dozens of others nearly died there… Vincent’s voice suddenly grew colder-as he spoke.
He continued, “Stephanie, you see him as dangerous, just like everyone else does. But however dangerous he may be, he has always been more patient with you…
Vincent mused, “Otherwise, why would I be sitting here chatting with you? It’s only because Dominick asked me to keep you company. You have never really tried to understand him, yet you already started avoiding him.”
He added, “Stephanie, not all love needs to be expressed in words.”
Stephanie’s expression then froze after listening to Vincent’s reproachful tone, and she was somewhat puzzled.
He then inexplicably felt a surge of anger on behalf of his friend. “Do you even know how much Dominick cares about you?”
Although Vincent didn’t know what Dominick was thinking, it was clear to everyone that Dominick was truly anxious last night. He cared about Stephanie, and there was no doubt about it.
Chapter 75
sitting on the hospital bed, was tense all over. She looked utterly astonished, as if she had heard something utterly
Stephanie, who was sittin unbelievable.
Vincent scolded her in frustration, “Stephanie, your intelligence is beyond saving! Even Jessica is wiser than you. Dominick likes you….
“He likes you! Can’t you feel it at all?”