Eliza grabbed Dominic's hand staring in his eyes."Erinque...We need to talk"She said as Dominic yanked his hand from her and said "I don't have anything to discuss with you..."He said coldly as he walked away but Eliza tripped on her steps and fell on Dominic as the glass fell from her hand shattering on the floor and Dominic fell on the ground as she was on him at the entrance of the restroom they stared at each other eyes for a while breathing heavily, Eliza forcefully kissed Dominic on the lips and strokes his long hair but Dominic pushed her away and can't stand the perfume from her hand stood up cleaning his mouth as he stood up"You're Drunk...."He said as Eliza fell to the floor staring at him and breathed heavily
"Oh and one more thing..... don't send me letters anymore anything we have is in the past, I'm a married man now and you should be happy with my brother like you've always been.... "He said as he turned away, Eliza watched him and stood up and blocked his way
"Can you at least hear me out?"Eliza said as she leaned closer to him as Dominic leaned against the wall and she placed her hand on the wall as she was facing him.
"Don't you hate her?...."She said as she asked Dominic as he stared into her eyes
"It's None of your business and you have no say over my marriage"He said as Eliza caressed his chest Dominic held her hand "Stop this instant !"He warned as she chuckled evilly "You mean this signed paper fake marriage of yours,Tsk Dominic wake up and.... Come back to me , Evangeline doesn't deserve you.... Everyone knows her affair with her bodyguard...I miss being in bed with you... "She said as she caressed his cheek, Dominic was irritated by her touch as she moved her hand away she slipped down the hand of her dress wanting to get naked in front of Dominic but Dominic gulped and stopped her from stripping herself and loosening her corset as she was already half naked in front of him
"Those days that I bedded you was over I can't do that again, you're no longer mine....."He said coldly as Eliza leaned close to him as their lips almost touched "You can.....I know you Miss me and your so called marriage isn't going well let's run away together or we could rule the country together and get rid of Evangeline. .. "
Dominic's hand shot up, grabbing her shoulders and holding her at arms length his expression hardened "Get dressed, This end here"He growled as Eliza's smile faltered her eyes glinting with a mix of anger and longing, the game wasn't over yet not on her mind.
Dominic's irritation with Eliza's words was palpable, his fists clenching as her voice grinded on his nerves. In a swift motion, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the restroom, his grip firm, his patience wearing thin. Once inside the dimly lit female restroom, he positioned her in front of the large mirror. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of their reflection—his intense gaze locked on hers, his figure looming behind her.
Without warning, Dominic's hand gripped her neck from behind, causing her to choke slightly as she gasped. The thin strap of her dress slid down her shoulders, exposing her bare breasts on the mirror. Her necklace—the one he had once given her—dangled between them, catching the light, swaying with the rhythm of her ragged breath.
Then, a small jar slipped from her dress and shattered on the floor, releasing a potent, sweet fragrance that quickly filled the air. Dominic's eyes narrowed as the scent hit him, recognizing it immediately—a powerful aphrodisiac. His senses began to blur, the room spinning ever so slightly. He inhaled sharply, his training as an assassin kicking in as he fought to resist the drug's effects.
"The perfume... it's an aphrodisiac," he realized, feeling his pulse quicken. He breathed heavily, his gaze lingering for a brief, conflicted moment on the reflection of her exposed body and breasts through the reflection The drug's effects were insidious, gnawing at his self-control, but he refused to surrender to it.
Dominic tightened his grip on her neck, causing Eliza to gasp for air. Leaning closer, his lips almost brushing her ear, he whispered coldly, "If I wanted to make love to you, Eliza, I would. But... Edward would do it better, wouldn't he? After all, he's your lover. You have his child." His words were like a knife, meant to cut deep.
He released her abruptly, stepping away from her and adjusting his coat, as though the entire scene disgusted him. "Put your clothes on and leave," he said flatly, wiping the lingering scent from his senses.
Eliza, undeterred, grabbed his hand before he could exit. Her voice cracked with emotion as she whispered, "I lost the baby, Dominic... I had a miscarriage." She held back tears, her grip tightening as she pulled him closer by his tie.
Dominic raised an eyebrow, momentarily surprised, but his expression remained guarded. Before he could speak, Eliza slid her hand around his waist, pressing her bare breasts against his chest. Her gaze was desperate as she stared into his eyes. "Dominic... just one more time... we could fix this together," she begged, her voice dripping with both seduction and pleading.
She wasn't letting go, her bare body pressed against him, her obsession driving her to the brink. Dominic, fighting the drug and his disgust, was already exhausted by her persistence. He exhaled sharply, the weight of the situation pulling him down. "Eliza, enough," he growled, his voice low with warning. But her obsession had already spiraled beyond reason, and Dominic knew he needed to get away before she pulled him any deeper into her web.
Evangeline walked toward the restroom looking for Dominic, following the directions given by a staff member. As she approached, a strange feeling gnawed at her, but she shook it off, telling herself it was just the wine. Entering the dimly lit female restroom, she froze at the sight in front of her. Dominic was standing with another woman, and she instantly recognized her—, the woman from the Rosebland tea party.
Without uttering a word, Evangeline clenched her fists so tightly that the glass cup in her hand shattered, shards falling to the ground. Her heart raced, though she didn't know why she wasn't comfortable. She resented this man, the one she was forced to marry. Why should she care who he was with? And yet, the sight of Eliza, half-naked, her hands placed suggestively on Dominic's chest, made something stir deep inside her.
The overpowering scent of Eliza's perfume hung heavily in the air, mingling with the tension. "This woman... I saw her at the Rosebland tea party... and last month... that love letter I found in the office," Evangeline thought bitterly, piecing it together. "Could she be the 'Rose of the Lake' who sent him that?"
Her eyes remained fixed on the scene, her mind racing, but her lips stayed sealed. She didn't know why she felt this way—why her chest tightened at the sight of another woman touching Dominic, a man she supposedly hated. "Why am I feeling jealous?" she wondered, her knuckles white from the force of her clenched fists. "What's her business with him...?"
She watched as Dominic pushed Eliza away, his expression as cold and detached as ever. It was only then that he noticed her standing there, her presence a silent storm brewing in the doorway. His face showed no emotion, but his eyes briefly flicked to the broken glass in her hand, noticing her tense stance.
Evangeline said nothing. Without meeting his gaze, she turned away, raising the remaining drink from the bottle to her lips. She was drunk, her thoughts clouded and spiraling. She walked off without a word, the sound of her heels echoing down the hallway. Dominic, unfazed, stepped past Eliza without another glance, following after Evangeline with a calm, deliberate pace, still holding the bag with her shoes in his hand. But by the time he reached the crowded hallway, she had vanished into the sea of people.
Eliza watched Dominic leave, her expression darkening as jealousy and rage coursed through her. Folding her arms, she scoffed, stomping her foot in frustration. "So, he follows her now?" she thought bitterly. A twisted smile crept onto her lips. "I think I need to teach Evangeline a lesson... but how?" she mused, narrowing her eyes, her mind spinning with plans. "She's going to be Duchess, but she resents Dominic. If I can just convince her to leave him..."
Eliza raised her dress, adjusting herself as she slowly composed her appearance, her mind already plotting her next move.
Later that night, Evangeline stumbled out of the hotel, her head spinning from the alcohol and her heart heavy with resentment. Her sore feet ached in her high heels as she made her way toward the waiting automobile. Her steps were unsteady, her movements sluggish. A concerned staff member quickly hurried toward her, trying to keep up with her drunken pace.
"Lady Evangeline... Master Dominic asked me to give you this. It should help you," the staff member said, holding out a paper bag. Evangeline took it, blinking slowly as she fumbled to open it. Her eyes widened when she saw what was inside— a pair of flat shoes. She felt a surge of annoyance, her grip tightening on the bag. How did he know her feet were hurting? And then her thoughts wandered to the woman she had seen with him earlier. She looked down at the wedding ring on her finger, her stomach twisting with anger.
"I guessed your size at a glance, Lady Evangeline," the staff added, her voice filled with excitement. "Master Dominic cares for you... you must be tired, and your feet must hurt as well!"
Evangeline sneered, unimpressed. "Cares for me?" she muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She tossed the bag carelessly to the ground, the shoes spilling out. The staff member stood there, shocked at her reaction, visibly upset as she stared at the discarded gift. Evangeline hiccuped, feeling the bitterness rise up in her throat as she swayed on her feet.
"This devilish man must think I'm a fool," she thought angrily. "So, I have my affair with Richard, and now he has his with that woman. Fair enough. But to act as if I'd fall for this nonsense—flat shoes! He's mocking me... nothing less from a Brusward." She chuckled darkly, almost losing her balance as her drunken giggles echoed in the night.
"I won't warm his bed tonight," she declared in her thoughts, her voice slurred but defiant. "I have work to do. Tell Dominic I don't want the shoes. And when he returns home, he should know I'll be too busy to care." With that, she staggered toward the automobile, gripping the door handle with trembling fingers.
"This man... he plays the good guy for everyone else, but behind that pretty face, he's the true villain," she thought bitterly as she struggled to open the car door. "Quite the opposite of Richard,He saw through my weaknesses like they were nothing, just like when he shoved me in the garden, making me look foolish. And here I am, unable to hide anything from him. But that's fine. The anniversary is near, and I'll achieve my goal. Let him play his games."
The staff, watching nervously, called out, "Lady Evangeline, are you alright?" Concern laced her words, but Evangeline waved her off dismissively, hiccuping again.
"I'm fine, perfectly fine," she replied, her voice almost manic as she chuckled. Her mind raced with thoughts of betrayal and revenge, but at the core of it all was the gnawing frustration that Dominic always saw through her. He was no Richard—no matter what she did, Dominic always seemed to be two steps ahead, reading her every move like a book.
Gripping the door, Evangeline finally managed to swing it open, still staggering as she climbed in. "Let's get going to the palace, now!" she barked at the driver, her voice sharp. "Leave this instant!" she commanded, her tone harsh and unstable.
The driver, clearly rattled by her sudden outburst, stammered, "Uh, okay, ma'am," and reached for the ignition. Just as he was about to start the engine, a voice rang out through the night, cutting through the tension.
"Stop!" came the familiar voice, freezing the driver in his tracks. Evangeline turned slowly, her bleary eyes widening as recognition dawned on her, her drunken haze momentarily lifting at the sound of that voice.
Dominic's voice cut through the air, stopping the scene in its tracks. "Are you forgetting we only brought one automobile here?" he asked, his tone calm yet firm as he walked toward the vehicle. His hands were casually tucked into his pockets, but his eyes flicked to the shoes scattered on the ground. "Caleb won't be coming with us—he'll be staying at the hotel tonight with Mr Jenkins."
Evangeline clenched her fists, her glare piercing through the haze of her drunkenness. Her emotions bubbled to the surface—anger, resentment, and the alcohol mixing dangerously with her fragile health. The world around her seemed to spin as she groaned, pressing a hand to her head, her body swaying from the dizziness. Just as she was about to collapse, Dominic swiftly caught her by the waist, steadying her before she could hit the ground.
Her breathing grew heavy as she leaned against him, her hands finding his shoulders for support. The warmth of his body mixed with the intoxicating fragrance of his shirt—a scent that lingered in her senses, making her heart race and her head swirl even more. Her flushed cheeks deepened as her thoughts wavered, her gaze drifting to his lips, suddenly overcome with a reckless desire to kiss him. She hiccuped again, her breath uneven, but just as quickly, a flash of memory hit her—Dominic with that woman earlier.
The anger flared within her once more. Without thinking, she leaned in and bit his neck, hard, her teeth sinking in with the fury of betrayal. Dominic groaned, wincing in pain, but held her tightly by the waist, refusing to let her fall. His grip firm, he bore the sting of her bite, the tension palpable between them.
Then, Evangeline's face twisted as her stomach lurched. Dominic barely had time to react before she barfed all over his shirt. He stiffened, his face twisting in disgust as she finished. Her body, weakened and drained, slumped against him, and she collapsed once more. Without a word, Dominic scooped her up in his arms, her limp body heavy with exhaustion.
He glanced down at his ruined shirt, shaking his head before ordering a nearby staff member. "Get me a new shirt," he demanded, his voice sharp but controlled. Another staff member hurried over, carrying his forgotten jacket as well. Dominic carefully placed Evangeline into the car, her unconscious form now resting quietly against the seat. He picked up her discarded bag and tossed it into the boot of the vehicle, his expression unreadable as he looked at her one last time before climbing in beside her.
Once he was settled next to her, he buttoned up the new shirt, the scent of the previous one still lingering faintly in the air. He closed the car door with a firm click, then ordered the driver, "Drive off. Take the rear gates."
The driver nodded and obeyed, steering the car smoothly onto the street as they sped away into the night, leaving the hotel—and the chaos—behind them. Dominic sat quietly, casting a glance at Evangeline's unconscious state beside him. Despite the tension, his face remained emotionless, the only movement being his hand slowly resting against the seat between them, unsure of whether to reach out or stay distant. The only sound was the steady hum of the car as it moved through the streets.