Chapter 191

Chapter 191: Chapter 191

Lena’s POV

We came as two, and somehow left as three. Anna was driving, and since Gemma was in a wheelchair, giving her a ride on the way was only normal.

"I can call a car. I do it every day," Gemma said, lifting a hand like she always did, already waving us off.

Anna looked at me. I looked at Gemma. That glimpse through the door, those scars I’d seen, still burned in my mind like a brand.

"Lena." Gemma’s voice dropped. "What you saw in there... please don’t tell Dominic."

There was a silent plea in her eyes, raw and heavy.

I nodded.

"Thank you."

She refused to let us take her, and we didn’t push it.

In the car, Anna shot me a quick look. "What did you see?"

I shook my head.

"Alright, I won’t ask." Anna eased the car into traffic. "But that girl is carrying something serious. Whatever it is, she’s terrified Dominic will find out."

I stared out the window. If Dominic saw those scars, he would lose it.

He would burn the whole damn world down just to find the person who hurt her. Gemma knew that better than anyone. That was exactly why she didn’t want him to know.

If I had never shown up, the one taking care of her should’ve been Dominic. And she wouldn’t have had to hide from the man who would move mountains for her without blinking.

On the way back, Dominic called. His tone was hard, sharp enough to cut. I told Anna I wasn’t staying for dinner and turned back toward the estate.

The second I stepped inside, I saw him standing on the balcony. He turned, hands buried in his pockets, his face cold enough to freeze the room.

"My mother gave you a check."

I hadn’t expected him to find out that fast.

"Yes."

"You took it."

"Yes."

"What exactly are you trying to tell me?" His voice was controlled, but the pressure behind it was brutal.

"I’m trying to tell you I agree to end the contract."

His pupils tightened in an instant. My voice stayed even, my face blank, every word landing like proof of the one thing he least wanted to hear. "So for that money, you’re just giving up?" He let out a cold laugh, his words biting. "You really don’t know how to negotiate."

I sat down. "With that money, I can live however I want. What’s so bad about that?"

"What do you want to do?"

I met his eyes. "That’s my business."

"Haven’t I treated you well?"

His fists were clenched inside his pockets. I could see the shape of his knuckles pressing against the fabric.

"No." I admitted that much. "You’ve treated me very well."

"Then why?"

"Because being good to me isn’t enough." I looked straight at him without blinking. "I want love. Do you love me, Dominic?"

Something flickered in his eyes. Some emotion flashed deep down and disappeared just as fast.

"Isn’t treating you well the same thing as love? Love fades. After it fades, what matters is how a person treats you."

"I know all that. But I still want to hear you say it." I didn’t look away. "Dominic, let’s end the contract. I mean it."

His jaw locked. His gaze searched my face like he was trying to find a crack, any sign that I was bluffing, that I was just talking big.

But he found nothing.

"Fine. If you want to leave, then leave."

My chest tightened. I nodded. "Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow." He walked to the door, didn’t even change his shoes, didn’t look back, and slammed it shut behind him.

I let out a long breath, like I’d been holding it in my lungs for months.

It was over. He had finally agreed.

I went into the bedroom and packed what was left. Most of my things had already been moved back to my apartment. What remained fit into one bag.

I carried it out to the roadside and called a cab.

Anna came running out from the gates of Blackstone Ridge, breathing hard, and grabbed my hand before I could get in.

"What are you doing?" she gasped, almost too out of breath to get the words out.

"Going home. Dominic came to see us. He told Daniel you’re ending the contract."

Anna looked at the bag on the ground, then at my face. "I knew something was off today. Why are you doing this?"

"It’s what his mother wanted. And honestly, I’ve wanted this for a long time too. Dominic’s the one who kept holding on."

"Then let him hold on." Anna’s voice turned thick, like she was fighting tears. "He doesn’t want this, Lena. When he came to us, he looked like his whole world had collapsed. A man as proud as him would never come asking for help unless he had no other choice."

"Anna, listen to me. Dominic and I were always going to end sooner or later. Better one sharp pain than dragging it out forever."

"You told me to trust Daniel. You told me to stop running. How is this any different?"

"The difference is Daniel loves you, and Dominic doesn’t love me."

Anna stared at me, like she was trying to catch the lie on my face. I gave her nothing. My expression stayed calm, steady, unreadable.

"Can you really just walk away like this?"

I picked up my bag. "I’ll be fine."

She didn’t stop me. She just stood there by the road, arms hanging at her sides, watching me get into the cab.

I moved back into my tiny apartment. It felt bigger than I remembered. Or maybe I was the one who had somehow become smaller.

The next morning, I took the day off.

When I got to the estate, Dominic was already there waiting.

"The contract is over." I looked him straight in the eyes. "I’m setting you free."

The second the words left my mouth, it felt like something deep in my chest had been torn open.

My hands curled into fists at my sides, but my face stayed calm.

It was over.

"Congrats." Dominic forced the word out through pain, his voice sharp as a blade. "You got what you wanted. Go cash your check."

I smiled a little. "Thanks for the reminder. No way I’m letting the bank keep even one day’s interest for free."

He didn’t look at me again. He went straight to his car and drove off.

I stood on the sidewalk, watching his car disappear at the end of the road.

This was all because of me. I pushed for this. I fought for this. I was the one who stood in front of him and said the words that cut the last thread between us.

That dull ache behind my breastbone shouldn’t have been there.

I didn’t go to the bank. I drove to the Voss family estate instead.

When I walked into the main living room, Celeste was there. The second she saw me, something in her expression shifted.

I set the check down on the table in front of her. "When Dominic and I made the contract, you already paid me more than enough. This check goes beyond what I was owed."

Celeste lifted a brow. "You agreed to that contract for money in the first place. Now I’m giving you money to leave. Why refuse it?"

"I did accept the contract for money. I’m not going to pretend otherwise. But ending it is something I’ve wanted for a long time. Dominic was the one who refused to let go. Your check just gave him that last little push. Now that it’s done, this belongs back with you."

"Returning it won’t make me respect you more."

I smiled. "Good thing I’m not here asking for your respect. This started as a deal. Now the deal is over, and everyone got what they wanted. That’s all."

Celeste looked at me for a long moment, deep and unreadable. It seemed like she wanted to say something, but held it back.

"Take care, Luna Celeste."

I didn’t wait for her response. I left the estate and stopped on the road outside the gates.

Dominic’s car appeared at the far end of the street. As it drew closer, it slowed. The window slid down.

His face was tight, drawn. His eyes met mine and stayed there for two seconds. Then the corner of his mouth lifted into a bitter, silent smile.

And then he drove away.

I stood there, watching his taillights fade farther and farther down the road, and I couldn’t make sense of that smile at all.

Was he mocking me? Pitying me? Or saying goodbye?

I turned and walked toward the bus stop.

I’ll get through this. I’ve survived worse than this before.