Chapter 7
Dominic canceled all his work commitments to care for Emma in the hospital.
He personally fed her, applied her medication, and even checked during the night to ensure she hadn’t kicked off her blankets.
Yet Emma remained consistently detached.
On the day of her discharge, Dominic, thinking she must be feeling cooped up, arranged an extravagant celebration for her recovery.
The ballroom gleamed with gold and crystal, champagne towers reached toward the ceiling, and elegantly dressed guests mingled with drinks in hand, their envious whispers filling the air.
“Mr. Chase absolutely worships the ground she walks on…”
“I heard all these gifts are limited editions, some even secured through charity auctions where he outbid everyone…”
“Emma is so incredibly fortunate…”
Emma stood amid the crowd, her face devoid of any happiness.
Dominic finally couldn’t take it anymore and pulled her into a quiet corner, asking softly: “Still angry?”
His thumb caressed the inside of her wrist, his tone cajoling: “I swear, I genuinely grabbed the wrong person in that
moment.”
‘What will it take for you to forgive me? Baby, tell me and I’ll do anything, okay?”
Emma looked at him, suddenly smiling: “Alright then. Fire Stella.”
Dominic’s expression tightened, his tone softening: “Her family struggles financially, her parents are ill. Why be so
harsh?”
Emma simply gazed at him silently.
Just moments ago he’d claimed he would “do anything,” yet at the first mention of Stella, he immediately
backtracked.
As she was about to speak, Dominic’s phone suddenly rang–it was Stella.
From the other end came her desperate sobbing: “Mr. Chase… help me! Someone hired thugs… they’re going to
assault me…”
Dominic’s face drained of color: “What? Where are you right now?!”
Just a Stand In?! My Billionaire Hubby’s OTHER Wife.
in the call had alremity
Kimmm, where te biella? the voice was tense bur
imma’s haut contracted painfully.
de didn’t trust her. He didn’t even need to investigate bed direndy decided due was tucked thes
her voice trumblers “You suspect me?”
It’s not auspicion?” He insanged his temples. “the just said on the phone that someone was trying to let her
Soy Emma’s voice wavered. “You think I did 17”
Dominic paused briefly, then said quiely: “I didn’t say that, but the situation is urgent..?
One phone call and you’re this frame?” Emmm suddenly laughed, though her eyes remained ice cold, “Donante hase, what nanetly is your relationship with her?”
His
Ils frown deepened: “This is literally life or death. You’re choosing now to be jealous?”
Jealous?” Emma’s voice was barely mudible. “You think this is jealousy?”
Dominic took a deep breath, trying to soften his tones “Emma, there’s truly nothing between us, but she could be in langer right now. Please tell me, did you ”
It wasn’t me,” Emma cut him off, each word like a knife wound. “I’ll say it one last time: 1 don’t know where she is, nd I didn’t send anyone after her!”
cominte stared at her, the agitation in his eyes growing increasingly evident.
ime ticked by, but Stella’s phone remained unreachable,
inally, he lost all patience, grabbing Emma’s wrist with enough force to nearly crush her bones: “Emma, 1 told you ve already punished her! Why are you still doing this? Destroying a girl’s dignity is the lowest form of revenge. I on’t have time for these games tell me where Stella is NOW!”
mima winced in pain but stubbornly repeated: “I don’t know! No matter how many times you ask, I DON’T KNOW!”
cominte snapped completely
Emma! It’s like I never knew you at all!”
With that, he violently released her.
CRASHI
Emma stumbled backward, her lower back slamming against a table edge, her forehead striking a sharp decorative ridge Blood immediately streamed down.
Panicked screams erupted: “Mr. Chase! Emma’s hurt!”
But Dominic ignored them completely.
He stormed out without looking back, making calls and barking orders: “Check all security footage! Find Stella’s last known location!”
Emma leaned against the table, slowly rising to her feet.
Blood trickled down her temple, warm and sticky, yet she felt no pain.
After all, compared to her shattered heart, this injury was nothing.
She stared blankly at Dominic’s retreating figure, then laughed softly.
How would he care about her?
His mind and heart were consumed with Stella, just as they had once been consumed with her.
People frantically surrounded her, trying to help her to the hospital, but she gently shook her head, pushing away their hands and walking out of the ballroom alone.
BOOM!
Just as she exited, a tremendous crash sounded behind her.
Emma turned to see the golden plaque reading “Dominic Chase Loves Emma Forever and Always” had fallen, splitting in two on the floor.
She looked at the broken plaque and suddenly laughed out loud.
As she laughed, tears streamed down her face.
Huh. Dominic Chase, your “forever and always” turns out to be so very brief.
20:27 O
