Chapter 2
The sound of the door lock turning woke nie from my unintended nap on the couch.
“Riley?” Dominic entered carrying something. “Why are you sitting in the dark?”
“I passed a new bubble tea shop on my way home. Thought my sweet–tooth girl might want some.”
The sweet scent drifted toward ine, but my eyes were fixed on his shirt collar–on the lipstick mark, crimson as blood, taunting me.
I couldn’t help but laugh as I took the tea.
“What’s funny?” Dominic asked.
“Nothing, just thinking about how long I’ve been played for a fool.”
Hearing this, his brow furrowed, but before he could respond, his phone lit up.
The screen notification displayed clearly: “Honey“. And that wasn’t me.
My hand trembled, spilling hot tea on my pajamas.
Dominic rushed to grab napkins, his phone clattering to the couch. But he quickly locked the screen.
Pretending I hadn’t noticed, he smoothly changed the subject: “My assistant mentioned you went to the penthouse today?”
I quietly sipped my bubble tea, gently stirring it, curious to hear how he would try to explain his way out of this.
“Then you must have seen that the penthouse isn’t suitable for recovery,” he said calmly. “Regina will be moving in with us the day after tomorrow.”
The stirring motion of my hand suddenly stopped, my heart seemingly skipping a beat.
I suddenly realized how pathetic I was, still foolishly believing he would feel guilty.
“The master bedroom is spacious, perfect for her recovery,” he said casually, adjusting his cufflinks. “You can move to the guest room for now.”
Taking my silence for consent, he continued.
“Also, there’s a charity gala this month. The Thorne family is auctioning some collectibles–I’ll send you the list later.”
“But Regina wants to go, and she mentioned wanting to wear that Dior dress you just bought a few days ago…”
“She can have it all!” I interrupted with a forced smile. “The patient comes first.”
His expression faltered briefly.
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Attempting to Steal My World? Easy! My Rebirth Comes with a Playbook
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Chapter 2
His expression froze slightly, then he smiled as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, leaning down to kiss
- me.
I turned away, his kiss landing on empty air.
“Riley.” He sighed with displeasure. “Are you still upset?”
“Everything I’ve done has been for you,” he said, massaging his temples. “Would you rather have cut ties with your family completely? Shouldn’t you appreciate my sacrifice?”
What sacrifice?
Sacrificing the chance to legally marry his dream woman?
Or sacrificing private nights with her in the penthouse?
“Yes,” I heard myself respond mechanically. “I should be.”
Those simple words pleased him. His expression softened as he turned toward the bathroom.
The shower roared to life, and his phone lit up again.
I stared at the flashing screen, then reached for it against my better judgment.
Regina’s messages flooded in:
[Dominic, my last wish is to have a world tour honeymoon with the boy I’ve loved since forever]
[Look, I made the itinerary myself.]
I opened her file, turning through page after page.
A sunset suite in Santorini.
Candlelit dinner beneath the Eiffel Tower.
Breakfast for two on a Venetian gondola.
All the places he’d promised to take me but never did….
Suddenly, my fingers trembled uncontrollably.
All these years, I was just a cheap stand–in, fed the same promises, the same sweet nothings, filling the void left by his unattainable true love…
I remembered our rushed “wedding“-no ceremony, no honeymoon, just a family dinner at the Thorne mansion.
He hadn’t even bought me a bouquet.
Instead, he’d solemnly promised a grand ceremony someday.
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Attempting to Steal My World? Easy! My Rebirth Comes with a Playbook
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That promise was repeated often, always dismissed because he was “too busy.
Yet now, this perpetually busy man found time to participate in every detail of wedding preparations and honeymoon planning with his “news bride“…
So time could be made after all–1 just wasn’t worth making it for.
1 locked his phone and returned it, my fingertips ice cold.
When Dominic came out wrapped in a towel, I was about to throw away my unfinished bubble tea.
“Riley!” He wrapped his arms around my waist from behind. “Let the housekeeper handle that. Didn’t you text me earlier about having a big surprise?”
I forced a smile, unconsciously touching my stomach: “I was just kidding!”
