Chapter 23
The sea lashed incessantly against the rocks as the sound of waves echoed in the air.
Lola lay motionless on a lounge chair, silently gazing at the azure sea and sky outside. She was no longer in the black professional suit she wore three days ago but in a long white dress. On the luxurious mat on the ground lay shards of glass, speckled with traces of blood.
“How is she?
“Mrs. Sinclair has not eaten for three days?”
A deep, familiar voice came from the doorway, tinged with a hint of fatigue.
Lola’s eyes flickered. She tightened her grip on the glass shard in her hand, discreetly concealing it in her sleeve
The door opened and a tall figure entered slowly. He glanced at the blood on the floor, his eyes focusing sharply, then frowned at the sight of her wounded feet. His gaze landed on her cold and distant posture as he opened his mouth as if to say something, but he ultimately remained silent.
“Mr. Sinclair, I wanted to dress Mrs. Sinclair’s wounds, but…”
Seeing Dominick frown at the sight of the woman’s bare feet, a lady nearby hurried forward to explain Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
She never thought a woman’s gaze could be so frightening. It was indifferent, distant, and seemingly filled with intense hatred. Day after day, she would deliver food with fear and trembling, seizing the moments when Lola was distracted by staring outside to clean up the glass shards on the floor.
“It’s okay, go get the first aid kit,” Dominick instructed calmly.
The lady nodded quickly and retreated.
Dominick stepped forward, but the moment his foot touched the balcony, the woman, previously lost in a daze, suddenly leaped from the lounge chair, lunging at Dominick with the shard of glass in her hand.
“Dominick, go die!” Lola’s eyes were bloodshot, filled with loathing.
Dominick didn’t move and simply watched as the glass tip pierced his shoulder. Blood quickly flowed out, but he just calmly glanced at the wound and then looked away, lifting his head to gaze at the woman before him. He smiled faintly and spoke indulgently.
“You’d have to stay alive first in order to kill me.”
“Let me go.”
Lola looked at the man in front of her, her voice weak.
The mental torment these past few days had pushed Lola to the brink of collapse. She hadn’t eaten for three days, and the effort she had just exerted had drained all her strength. As her words faded, Lola’s grip on the glass shards loosened, and she collapsed.
Dominick quickly caught her body, cradling her in his arms. His eyes filled with pain and concern.
The glass shard was still embedded in Dominick’s shoulder, his clothes quickly staining red with blood. The air was thick with the smell of blood, and it was unclear whether it was Lola’s or Dominick’s
“Mr. Sinclair?” A woman carrying a medical kit approached, her eyes widening in shock at the sight of the glass shard in Dominick’s shoulder.
“It’s fine.”
Dominick responded calmly, then carried Lola to the nearby bed.
Aher placing Lola on the bed, Dominick turned to take the medical kit from the woman’s hands and instructed, “Go prepare some food.”
Warm sunlight streamed in from the balcony, carrying a gentle warmth with it. Yet, the room felt chillingly cold. A breeze drifted in, stirring the sheer curtains at the balcony entrance, adding an eerie silence to the room, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop
Dominick sat by the bed, carefully cleaning the cuts on Lola’s hands caused by glass shards.
“If you don’t let me leave, I’ll kill you one day.”
*Kill you, to accompany our child in death!”
Lola lay pale on the bed, looking up at the man before her and speaking coldly.
Dominick’s hands paused briefly before he smiled, gently tucking a few strands of hair from Lola’s forehead behind her car and saying indulgently. “Fine.”
Watching the smile in Dominick’s eyes, Lola turned her head to look out the window once more.
Dominick first tended to the wounds on Lola’s hands, applying medicine and wrapping them in gauze. He then turned to her foot injuries. Though they were freshly cut, the bleeding had clotted, leaving only a series of small, but horrifying cuts.
After dealing with the wounds, Dominick’s forehead was beaded with sweat, his face pale as death.
Glancing at Lola staring blankly out of the window, Dominick picked up the medical kit and headed to the bathroom.
Without any anesthetic, Dominick simply looked at the mirror and pulled out the shard of glass embedded in his shoulder. As the glass came out, a wound that was not wide but deep was revealed. Blood gushed from the wound, quickly staining half of Dominick’s shoulder red….
When Dominick came out of the bathroom, Lola was still staring out the window.
“Sir.” A woman stood at the door, calling out in a hushed voice.
Seeing the tray in the woman’s hands, Dominick took it and approached the large bed.
Considering Lola hadn’t eaten anything these past few days, the woman had prepared only light, nutritious oatmeal and simple dishes.
Dominick scooped up a spoonful and blew on it, but before he could bring it to Lola’s mouth, she raised her hand and knocked it over
“Lola, don’t push me.”
Dominick’s eyes darkened as he abruptly picked up the bowl of oatmeal and took a big gulp. With one hand, he pinned Lola’s hands above her head, and with the other, he firmly grasped her chin, leaning down to press his lips against Lola’s parched ones.
Lola, struggling against the man so close to her, tried to fight back.
With little strength left, Lola soon found her lips pried open by Dominick, who sent the oatmeal into her mouth, forcing her to swallow. Upon seeing Lola finally swallow the food, Dominick let out a sigh of relief, his gaze softening as he looked down at her.
“So, will you eat on your own, or shall I continue to feed you?”
This time, Lola didn’t speak, and she simply stared weakly at Dominick
Compared to the lifeless, resentful Lola from before, the lively anger in her now unexpectedly warmed Dominick’s heart. He couldn’t help but lean down and tenderly kiss her lips again.
“Such a good girl.”
Caught off guard by Dominick’s actions, Lola was stunned, her brows furrowing slightly
Dominick rose from the bed, scooped up another spoonful of oatmeal, and offered it to Lola. Hesitating, she opened her mouth and ate i
17:05 Sat, 15 Jun GB.
Dominick was donned in just a white bathrobe after getting out of the shower earlier. Because of Lola’s struggle, the wound that had been property dressed reopened, staining the robe with fresh blond and leaving a vivid red mark on his shoulder, But Dominick seemed oblivious to it. He just patiently continued to feed Lola the catmeal.
As Lola finished the bowl of oatmeal, Dominick took a piece of tissue to wipe the stains from Lola’s mouth as he spoke in a gentle tone, “I’m going to get changed, then I’ll bring you to watch the fireworks,”
Lola’s gaze swept over Dominick’s shoulder, looking as though she did not hear him. She turned her head away, looking outside again.
Dominick didn’t mind. He smiled, stood up from the bed, and walked out of the room.