Chapter 874
Feeling desperate, Domenic had a slip of the tone.
Swallowing hard, he explained, “The entertainment industry is a battlefield.
Your company has been in a mess lately.
I’m just worried about you.
”
Lindsey scoffed, finding it ridiculous.
“You’re worried about me? Your idea of worrying is to grill me the moment you come back? And what gives you the right to question me? Have you seriously never lied to me?”
Domenic’s eyes clouded, and his heart sank.
He had hidden his true identity from Lindsey after all.
Who was he to question her?
There had been a question burning in Lindsey’s mind for a while.
But with Domenic away on business, she kept it to herself.
Now, with everything out in the open, there was no need to hold back.
So she just blurted it out.
Locking eyes with Domenic, who seemed to be dodging the question, Lindsey pressed on, “I found out at Carole Larson’s engagement party that her fiancé is the CEO of Vitality Group.
You mentioned Carole is your cousin, and it struck me that both you and the CEO have the same last name, Walsh.
So, what’s the connection between you two? What exactly have you been keeping from me?”
Domenic felt a jolt of shock and hesitated.
Should he reveal his true identity to Lindsey? Yet, he quickly dismissed the thought.
Lately, his family had become a battleground.
Rupert was always on the lookout, ready to pounce at any sign of weakness.
The Vitality Group was also in turmoil, having just lost quite a few major projects.
To make matters worse, his grandfather was ill and couldn’t take any additional stress.
Bringing Lindsey into this chaos seemed like a terrible idea.
Domenic feared it might worsen his grandfather’s condition or, worse, that Lindsey might suffer somehow.
And then there was Carole.
What would Lindsey think if she discovered his supposed engagement to Carole?
The mere thought made Domenic shudder.
He couldn’t bear the thought of losing Lindsey and felt compelled to shield her from anything that could cause her pain.
After much deliberation, he concluded that involving her before resolving these issues was out of the question.
“I don’t know anything about Carole’s engagement.
I hardly know her.
We only met briefly when she returned, and you saw us together that day.
After that, I got wrapped up in work and haven’t seen her since.
And as for any ties to the Walsh family, it’s purely coincidental.
There are so many people with the Walsh surname.
”
Lindsey eyed Domenic with a hint of suspicion.
She used to take his word as truth, but today, there was a flicker of evasion in his gaze that she had never noticed before.
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Lindsey stayed quiet.
She wasn’t concerned with her mother’s or brother’s disapproval, nor was she swayed by Sumner’s accusations and speculations.
All she wanted was to be open and truthful with the person she loved, without holding anything back.
She blamed herself for not being upfront with Domenic, but she wondered if he had been entirely truthful with her.
Seeing the doubt in Lindsey’s eyes, Domenic pulled her close, kissing her hair and whispering, “A lot has happened in my family recently.
An uncle of mine passed away, and my grandfather fell ill because of the blow.
I’m just too scared.
I can’t lose you.
”
He had managed to remain stoic through his family’s tragedies because he had buried his pain deep within himself.
To the outside world, he could appear cold and ruthless, but with Lindsey, he allowed his defenses to fall, revealing his vulnerability.
Lindsey’s eyes widened in surprise, not realizing the extent of the turmoil Domenic had faced in such a short time.
She didn’t know the finer details of his family struggles, but from the bits he shared, it was clear he grew up in a harsh environment, devoid of care and love.
His parents had died early, and his relatives were hostile.
His grandfather was the only family who cared about him, albeit strict and rigid.
This helped her understand why Domenic had been hesitant to bring her home or introduce her to his family.
After enduring such significant personal upheaval, it made sense that Domenic had sought her company.
But when he needed her most, she had lied to him about her whereabouts, choosing instead to stay with Sumner.
Now she could understand why he was so upset.
Reflecting on this, Lindsey’s feelings of guilt surged.
She resolved to let go of her anger and stop dwelling on Domenic’s discreet inquiries into her activities.
She wrapped her arms around him, resting her chin on his broad shoulder, and whispered gently, “I’m sorry, Domenic.
I didn’t know about these things.
Actually, Sumner helped me that day, so I agreed to treat him to dinner as a thank you.
He took me to that grill, and there happened to be a meteor shower.
I never expected it to unfold like that.
”
Domenic’s voice was tinged with a sullen tone as he asked, “Then why were you hugging him?”
Caught off guard, Lindsey paused, trying to piece together her response.
Finally, she murmured, “It was a complicated moment, but it wasn’t what you think.
Can you trust me, please?”