Crushed Affections (Dominic and Bella)

The uproar ended when Victor finished his phone call and returned.

Dominic stood up, adjusted his clothes, and coldly watched Victor lecture his son, "I was only gone for a few minutes, and you couldn't behave. You're a bastard!"

Sean wiped the blood from the corner of his lips and glared at Dominic before leaving without saying anything.

Victor was helpless when it came to his son. He sighed and apologized, "I'm sorry, Dominic. My son didn't grow up with me, so I've never been able to control him. He's the second biggest mistake of my life."

Dominic had no interest in learning what was his first mistake. He smiled faintly and said, "It's hard to manage someone like him. If there's a chance, I'll help you to teach him a lesson. I have other things to attend, so I'll skip lunch today." Victor didn't push, and he had someone send Dominic out while apologizing repeatedly.

While this incident wouldn't affect their business relationship, it did ruin Dominic's mood, particularly Sean's statements.

He drove to Bella's apartment and looked at the building she lived in but had no intention of getting out of the car.

When Dominic connected the details of Sean's presence at Bella's home to what he had stated, he began to wonder whether the child was indeed his. But he wouldn't ask Bella because doing so would undoubtedly result in a conflict. For the entire week, he didn't visit Bella.

She didn't mind, but Lia was upset about it. "Regardless of how much money he gives, it's not as genuine as turning up in person. Dominic's enthusiasm sure cooled off quickly."

Bella chuckled and said, "Honestly, he shouldn't come. I feel uneasy around him and anxious that he'll change his mind and fight me for the child."

"If that happens, you should force him to marry you. What he has will become yours after you marry. So, there's nothing to be afraid of." Lia promptly proposed a strategy.

But imagining Dominic's temper, it wasn't hard to envision constant bickering and fights in their married life together.

The thought made Bella's skin crawl. "Dominic and are destined to clash. If we stay together, there will never be peace. Compatibility matters, no matter how much you like someone. And besides, he doesn't even like me. Marriage shouldn't feel like a jail sentence. I can't just go along with it because of a child. An unhappy marriage will affect the child too."

Suddenly, Lia seemed to remember something and took out a bright red box. "Oh, Felix heard you were pregnant. He didn't have time to visit, so he asked me to bring a gift for the baby." Bella hesitated before accepting the box and opening it. Inside was a small and delicate gold pendant.

She felt the gift was a bit too much. "Please return it to him. I've always felt guilty toward him..."

Lia sighed. "Oh, come on. In matters of love, there's no need to talk about guilt. You just weren't meant to be f you can't be lovers, you can at least be friends. He understands that

better than you do, so what's making you so uncomfortable?"All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Bella grinned but didn't answer. Accepting even the smallest gesture from someone you couldn't reciprocate feelings for only created a debt that could never be repaid.

That afternoon, Dominic had

someone deliver a selection of

imported fruits, all of which had been carefully picked and ensured to be safe for pregnant women. It was evident that he had put some thought into it.

Bella knew she couldn't finish it all by looking at the amount of fruits, so she packed some for Lia to take home, not wanting to waste them.