Chapter 20
Dominic drifted through a dream.
In this dream, he returned to the charity gala’s garden, bathed in perfect sunlight.
This time, he didn’t answer that fateful phone call. Instead, he stood beneath the tree, watching as the girl in white carefully returned the bird’s nest to its perch.
She gracefully jumped down, brushing dust from her skirt before looking up and meeting his gaze.
He approached her, his voice deep and gentle: “Hello, I’m Dominic Reed. I’d like to know you.”
The girl blinked, tilting her chin with elegant pride: “Oh? Why’s that?”
“Because you’re beautiful,” he smiled.
She made a dismissive sound, though the tips of her ears turned pink: “Since you’re so taken with me, I suppose I’ll do you the favor of letting you get to know me.”
He suppressed a laugh, finding her utterly adorable.
The dream unfolded naturally from there.
He pursued her, she “reluctantly” accepted his advances. During their courtship, he spoiled her endlessly while she curled in his arms, playfully demanding attention. Eventually, they stood at the altar, exchanging rings amid universal blessings.
He bent to kiss her, and she whispered with flushed cheeks: “Dominic Reed, you’d better be good to me forever.”
“I will,” he promised with a smile. “Forever.”
“Mr. Reed? Mr. Reed!”
The doctor’s urgent voice yanked him from his dream.
Dominic’s eyes snapped open to a stark white ceiling, the pain in his back and chest reminding him of the harsh reality-
No wedding, no love, only wounds and regret.
“Where’s Miss Reeves?” he asked hoarsely.
“In the garden,” the doctor replied.
Dominic ignored all protests, forcing himself out of bed and staggering toward the garden.
Sunlight bathed the flower beds, illuminating Ariana as she stood there, fingertips gently stroking a rose petal. Her profile in the light was breathtakingly beautiful.
12:50
He moved to approach her, but froze when he heard her laugh softly into her phone-
“Yes, I miss you too.”
Dominic’s blood instantly turned to ice.
Her tone carried a hint of shyness and affection, a softness he had never heard from her before,
“Darling,” she said tenderly.
Those one word stabbed into Dominic’s heart like daggers!
He rushed forward, seizing her wrist: “What are you doing?!”
Ariana startled, but quickly regained her composure, raising an eyebrow: “Talking to my husband. Is there a problem?”
“Don’t call him that!” His voice was raw, eyes burning red.
99 BloodT 1
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