Chapter 114 It Is Only Acting Seeing that Dominic remained silent and looked somewhat gloomy, I could not help grumbling inwardly.
Whatâs up with him now? Wasnât everything all right earlier? Why do I feel a sense of coldness radiating from him?
I waited for a little while, but he still did not say anything. âDominic, did you hear what I said?â
When Dominic looked at me, it seemed as if there was a smoldering glint in his dark eyes.
Huh? I was stunned for a moment, wondering what I had done to anger him.
âLetâs go back out,â he finally said.
I breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that he did not object to my request. As such, I would take it that we had a verbal agreement.
Yes, we should go back out. Weâve been in the room for almost twenty minutes.
The moment I placed one hand on the doorknob, he took my other hand.
I froze, then decided to let him hold my hand. Holding hands was still within the acceptable range of actions.
I opened the door and said with a bright smile, âDad, Mom.â
Dad looked at me sternly and said, âI almost thought that you werenât planning on coming back out.â
I chuckled. âIâm sorry, itâs my fault. Dominic and I are indeed back together, but I didnât mean to keep it from you. We just got back together not too long ago, so I wanted to wait until things are a little more stable before telling you.â
As expected, Dadâs expression relaxed when he heard that. Mom smiled.
She walked to me and took Dominicâs and my hand in hers. âWith Dom looking after you, your dad and I wonât have to worry about you as much.â
I felt the urge to sigh. Even after five years, my parentsâ liking for Dominic had not lessened. In fact, it seemed like it had only grown.
If it had been some other guy who was half-naked in my house, they probably would not have let it slide that easily.
Dominicâs face broke into a tender smile that I had not seen in a long time. âDonât worry. Iâll take good care of Lian. We have let go of each other once before, and I wonât let the same thing happen twice.â
When I heard those words, my heart began racing.
Taking a few deep breaths discreetly, I reminded myself that we were only acting. No matter what sweet nothings Dominic uttered, I should not take them seriously. Alas, my parents were utterly charmed by Dominic.
Since we had managed to cover things up, I did not want the conversation to continue revolving around Dominic and me.
I pulled Mom over to the couch and asked, âWhy did you come here so suddenly? You didnât even give me a call beforehand.â
If you had called, all this wouldnât have happened.
Mom smiled as she replied, âYour dad came to give a speech at a nearby university, so I decided to accompany him. Besides, it would give us a chance to see you.â
I said rather gloomily, âYou still shouldâve given me a call. I couldâve gone to pick you up. What if you came all the way here and I wasnât home? Wouldnât that have been a waste?â
My dad piped up, âWe came with a few other teachers, and we did try to call you when we arrived. You were the one who didnât even bring your phone out with you, yet you have the nerve to say that we didnât call you. Check your phone and see how many times we have called. Youâve always been careless since you were little. Fortunately, Dom was home. Otherwise, we wouldnât have been able to get in.â
Surprised, I ran my hands over my pocket, then searched my handbag that I had tossed onto the coffee table. So, I really didnât bring my phone with me.
At that moment, Dominic walked over and gave me my phone. âYou dropped it in the bedroom while you were changing.â
âOh,â I mumbled as I took the phone, shooting him a displeased look.
If he knew I didnât have my phone and found it on the floor, why didnât he answer Dadâs call? If he had, we wouldnât be in this mess!
Dominic seemed to guess my thoughts because he explained that he had not known my phone was in the bedroom.
He had been in the living room all the time and did not realize anything. It was only after my parents arrived and told him that they had been trying to contact me that he found my phone.
It sounded reasonable and logical, but I was still unhappy.
As for my parents, they kept telling Dominic that it was no big deal. They even told him not to worry about it.
Tsk! If itâs not a big deal, then why blame me for not answering the phone?
Seeing them so biased toward Dominic was making me feel uncomfortable. Whoâs your biological child here?
I glanced at the time. Since it was almost five oâclock, I changed the topic and said, âDad, Mom, are you hungry? Why donât I take you out for dinner and book a hotel room for you?â
âNo need to bother about a hotel. The school has arranged our accommodation. Letâs go for dinner.â
I nodded. Then I gave Dominic the clothes I had bought and told him to go and change.
Although I still felt uneasy around Dominic, I could not help being captivated by his handsomeness when he stepped out of the bedroom in his new outfit.
And it was not just me. Even Mom stared at him admiringly.
With his good looks, well-built physique, and that exorbitantly priced outfit⦠Hmm, not too shabby.
When we were outside, I was about to hail a taxi. However, Dominic said that he had brought his car.
Dominic and I led the way while Mom and Dad trailed a few meters behind us. I was not sure if they were doing it on purpose, but at least it gave me a chance to talk to Dominic without being overheard.
âWhen did you get someone to send a car? Isnât your phone missing? I searched everywhere for it last night, but I couldnât find it.â
He glanced at me, then said lightly, âI drove here.â
I gazed up at him in surprise for a few seconds. âYou drove here? When? Last night?â
He gave a grunt of acknowledgement.
His response made my blood boil. Without thinking twice, I grabbed his arm and scolded furiously, âAre you crazy? You drank so much last night, yet you drove here yourself? Do you have a death wish?â
Dominic looked down, his gaze falling on my hand that was grabbing his arm. Then, he asked in an indifferent tone, âWerenât you the one who wanted me to die sooner? Why are you saying all this now?
Have you come to care for me?â