Chapter 5 - The Man Who Was Afraid to Love HerFor two weeks, they searched.
No Eleanor.
No Mason.
No key.
Selena barely slept.
Dominic stayed near her.
He didn't say much.
He didn't need to.
One night, Selena found him in the kitchen.
It was after midnight.
“You should sleep.”
“So should you.”
“I can't.”
“Neither can I.”
They stood in silence.
Then Selena said,
“I've been thinking.”
“Dangerous.”
She smiled faintly.
“I want the truth.”
“You deserve it.”
“Not just about my father.”
Dominic looked at her.
“About us.”
His expression became guarded.
“What do you want to know?”
“Why did you marry me?”
“You know why.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“Not the trust.”
His jaw tightened.
“Selena.”
“You could have protected me without marrying me.”
“Yes.”
“Then why?”
He looked away.
She touched his hand.
“Tell me.”
He finally spoke.
“When I first saw you, you were walking out of the Vale Holdings building carrying six folders.”
She frowned.
“That was months before the gala.”
“Yes.”
“You remember that?”
“I remember everything about you.”
Her heart beat faster.
“You were arguing with a security guard.”
“He wouldn't let me back upstairs.”
“Because you had forgotten your badge.”
“Oh.”
Dominic smiled.
“You looked furious.”
“I was.”
“I thought you were beautiful.”
Selena stared.
“You did?”
“Yes.”
“Then why were you so cold?”
“Because I knew who your father was.”
She frowned.
“And?”
“I knew what could happen to you.”
“So you avoided me?”
“Yes.”
“Until the gala.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“Because Mason was standing too close.”
She blinked.
“You were jealous.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
She laughed.
“You absolutely were.”
He smiled reluctantly.
“I had no right.”
“Probably not.”
“I thought you were happy.”
“I wasn't.”
“I know.”
She touched his cheek.
“You've protected me.”
“Yes.”
“You've respected me.”
“Yes.”
“You've never lied to me about wanting me.”
He looked into her eyes.
“I want you.”
Her breath caught.
“But I won't pressure you.”
She whispered, “Why?”
“Because the first man you loved made love feel like control.”
His voice softened.
“I won't become him.”
That was the moment Selena kissed him.
Slowly.
Tentatively.
Dominic froze.
Then he kissed her back.
There was no urgency.
No claim.
Only tenderness.
When they separated, Selena whispered,
“I think I'm falling in love with you.”
He closed his eyes.
“Don't say that unless you mean it.”
“I mean it.”
His forehead rested against hers.
“I've been in love with you for months.”
She smiled.
“You could have mentioned that.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of me?”
“Of losing you.”
She wrapped her arms around him.
“You won't.”
But the moment ended when Aaron entered the kitchen.
“Sorry.”
They separated.
“What?” Dominic asked.
“We found Mason.”
Dominic's face turned cold.
“Where?”
“Philadelphia.”
Aaron placed a photograph on the counter.
Mason stood outside a bank.
Beside him was Eleanor.
Selena stared.
“My mother is alive.”
May you like
Aaron nodded.
“And she's meeting Mason voluntarily.”
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