The soft light of dawn seeped through the heavy curtains in Dominic's room. He groaned, pressing a hand to his temple as a dull ache throbbed in his head. His memories of the previous night were fragmented, like shards of glass scattered in his mind. He remembered drinking too much, seeing Bella dancing, and... kissing her.
Dominic sat up abruptly, his heart racing. His lips pressed into a thin line as he tried to piece it all together. "What the hell was I thinking?" he muttered under his breath, running a hand through his disheveled hair.
Determined to regain his composure, he dressed and headed to the dining room. The faint sound of upbeat music reached his ears as he approached, and his brow furrowed in confusion.
As he stepped into the dining room, the sight before him left him speechless. Bella, clad in a simple sundress, was spinning around with a mop in hand, her earbuds in place. She moved with carefree abandon, completely immersed in her own world.
Dominic leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching her with a mix of curiosity and exasperation. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips despite himself. She was a contradiction—innocent yet maddening, fragile yet fearless.
Bella turned, catching sight of him out of the corner of her eye. She froze mid-spin, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment as she quickly pulled out her earbuds.
"Good morning!" she chirped awkwardly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Dominic straightened, his expression shifting to one of stoic calm. "Good morning," he replied, his voice low. He hesitated for a moment, then added, "About last night"
Bella's eyes widened briefly, but she quickly masked her surprise with a mischievous smile. "Last night?" she interrupted, tilting her head playfully. "What about it?"
Dominic's brow furrowed. "You don't remember?"
Bella chuckled, waving her hand dismissively. "I went to bed early. what am I supposed to remember.
Her bold words left him momentarily stunned. His jaw tightened, and his piercing gaze locked onto hers.
"You're lying," he said flatly, stepping closer.
Bella took a small step back, her playful demeanor faltering under the weight of his intense stare. "I'm not lying," she said softly, her tone more serious now. "I didn't see you last night. You must be mistaken."
Dominic's eyes narrowed as he studied her. She was a terrible liar; he could see it in the way her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her dress and the way her gaze darted away from his.
But instead of pressing her further, he sighed and dropped into his seat at the table. "Fine," he muttered. "Forget it."
Bella exhaled quietly, relieved that he wasn't pursuing the matter. She quickly busied herself with setting the table, her mind racing. She wasn't sure why she denied the events of last night, but the thought of confronting what had happened and what he might feel about it was too much to handle.
As they ate breakfast in silence, Bella occasionally glanced at Dominic from the corner of her eye. His usual cool demeanor was intact, but there was something different in the way he carried himself. She wondered if he believed her or if he was simply waiting for the right moment to call her out.
Meanwhile, Dominic sat quietly, his thoughts swirling. He couldn't decide if Bella was genuinely unaffected or if she was deliberately messing with him. Either way, her denial only deepened the mystery that surrounded her, and for the first time, Dominic found himself unsure of how to proceed.