Chapter 11: Chapter 11

THIRD POV

Dominic sighed as he left Scarlett’s room. He would explain everything to Scarlett if he could. But not yet because he must first protect his family.

Dominic was taken aback when he noticed Sophia waiting for him. He ignored her, but she didn’t stop bothering him.

“What are you doing over there?” asked Sophia. He would rather not look at the woman.

“It’s none of your business,” said Dominic as he walked down the stairs, but Sophia followed him. He was irritated because the woman was following him. She always impedes his every move.

“It is! I am your fiance” Sophia exclaimed, still following Dominic.

Dominic exhaled and looked at Sophia. “Keep in mind, you’re just my fiance,” he said.

Dominic went outside the knights’ mansion to his parents’ house, since he was sad when he got home to his house because his wife was not with him. And he might recall their memories.

But Sophia stopped him as he was about to open his car door.

“Are you leaving? I'm still here!” Sophia exclaimed. He closed his eyes and faced the woman, knowing that avoiding her would only make things worse.

“What do you want? I’m tired, Sophia,” said Dominic, making Sophia even more annoyed.

He just stared at Sophia, waiting for her to say something, and clenched his fists because he blames her for his wife’s leaving. He just shook his head and sighed.

“W-wait… Dominic, what did you talk about? Did you get back together?” asked Sophia, while nervous.

He gave her a blank stare. “So what? You aren't concerned about that. You know what you are to me, Sophia, and you also know who I love between you and Scarlett; you can’t change that,” said Dominic, Sophia's eyes widening, and she slapped him, but he didn't care.

Because Dominic is tired of hearing what she has to say, and he is also tired of being with Sophia.

“She cheated on you! She went with someone else!” Sophia exclaimed. Dominic frowned and smacked her hand away, grabbing her jaw.

“The lies are enough, Sophia. I will never listen to you again. It’s a waste of five years that I listened to you. I hope my wife never left me,” Dominic stated before releasing Sophia's jaw. “Stay away from me,” he added, as he was about to open the door of his car when Sophia pulled him in and kissed him.

Dominic’s eyes widened as he grabbed Sophia’s shoulders and pushed her away from him. He wiped his lips. “Damn it! Aren’t you ashamed?” Dominic exclaimed. Sophia smirked at him.

“I know you want me! You want my body, right? That’s why you could fool my sister because you know I’m better than her,” Sophia smirked as she moved closer to Dominic, who pushed her away.

“Ha… Since I fell in love with her, I haven't looked at anyone else. I am no longer attracted to others,” said Dominic as he looked at her. “I committed a sin because you made me drunk. Do you remember how you blackmailed me to break Scarlett?” asked Dominic, shaking his head, and he was about to get into his car when Sophia’s sayings stopped him.

“All right, go back to her. She has no more power in this family, and I will be the queen of this palace,” Sophia smirked. Dominic’s eyes widened as he turned to face the woman. “And Scarlett? She’ll just be my slave, which I’ll manipulate, just like I do the Knights,” she added. Dominic clenched his fists and gripped Sophia's arm tightly.

“Do nothing to annoy me, Sophia. I can tell the chairperson everything you did!” said Dominic, tightening his grip on Sophia's arm.

Sophia winced as she looked at him. “F-ck you! Let me go.” screamed Sophia, but Dominic wouldn't let go of her arm.

“You haven’t done what Scarlett has done, you’ll remember that, and I love Scarlett, not you,” said Dominic. He went into his car and slammed the door shut, hitting the steering wheel in frustration. “Don’t make the mistake of touching my family, Sophia. I will kill you,” he whispered as he grabbed the handbrake to start the car.

Dominic knows well that he is the father of Scarlett’s children. Especially when the kids approached him and greeted him as “daddy.” He just wants to make sure he can try to make up to his family for all of his mistakes.

Dominic clenched his grip on the steering wheel. “Wait for me, Scarlett; I will do everything in my power to protect you because I love you…”

***

When Dominic left her, Sophia stomped in anger. “F-ck. I’m not letting you two get back together,” she whispered, staring at the path Dominic took to leave their mansion.

She also knew Dominic would still come to her, and all she needed to do was remove the hindrance from her path. Her men were so stupid that she gave them the order to kill Scarlett.

Sophia clenched her fist and was about to walk away when she was startled by someone jumping from the tree.

“Rios?” she exclaimed in surprise at her male cousin's name, but she averted her gaze because her cousin might have overheard what she and Dominic were discussing.

“I’m going to sleep, but you're making noise,” Rios yawned.

Sophia was stunned and bit her lip, simply exhaling a sigh of relief. “I’m sorry,” she said, smiling, knowing Rios couldn't possibly know her secrets.

Rios smirked as he raised his eyebrows at Sophia. “I knew it. There was wild grass,” said Rios, as Sophia was taken aback. “Oh, you seem stiff there? Do you know who I’m referring to?” asked Rios, laughing. Sophia simply clenched her fists and took a deep breath before looking at her cousin to hide her nervousness.

“No, of course not; I do not know who you’re talking about, Rios,” said Sophia, laughing to relieve her nervousness.

She is aware of her cousins. Rios is the most mysterious because he only moves in secret. He’s like Carter Knight, in that Sophia does not know what her cousins are thinking. She must be careful with them.

“Rios—” Sophia came to a halt when she noticed Rios smirking while staring at her. Sophia could look away as the thumping in her heartbeat became more intense.

“Hmm…” Sophia backed away as she looked again at Rios, who was already close to her. “My name is Rios Knight, and who are you working with?” asked Rios. Her eyes widened, and she could not move from her position.

Because she was nervous, she swallowed and laughed. “W-what are you talking about?” asked Sophia. Rios simply smirked and hummed as he approached his car.

Rios turned to face Sophia, who was speechless. “I just hope the Knights don't find out your secrets because you don’t know who your family is,” Rios smirked. “And Venice? She’s even worse than you,” he added, getting into his car and making a noise with the engine until thick, dark smoke poured out.

Sophia coughed and turned to face Rios’ car. She simply clenched her fists and returned to the mansion. “Argh!!”

***

Dominic went straight to the kitchen when he arrived at his parents’ house. He got some wine, drank it right away, wiped his lips, and sat down.

Dominic had not expected to hear all of that from Scarlett, nor did he expect his wife to be aware of what had happened. He couldn’t even explain himself because he knew Scarlett was mad with him.

He messed up his hair and returned to the drinks. However, he noticed his mother approaching his place.

“What are you doing, son—Oh?”

Dominic avoided his mother because he would rather not talk to her. Especially since his mother was the reason he was forced to propose to Sophia; his mother also assumed Sophia was his girlfriend and said it is not good to see if they have a child and are not yet married.

He shook his head and drank some more liquor.

“How is she?” Dominic's mother, Ashley Stone, inquired, smiling.

Dominic also asked his mother, “To whom are you referring?”

Ashley frowned in response to Dominic’s reaction. “Of course, your fiance,” said Ashley.

Dominic smirked and simply drank. “Ha…” he says, shaking his head. “She’s nothing more than my fiance,” Dominic explained as he sipped his drink. He does not know what to do or how to make amends with his family. Scarlett was disappointed by what he had done, especially now.

Ashley just stared at her son because it was only now that she saw him in trouble again, and it had been 5 years since she had seen him so down.

“Austin, do you have a problem? Did you and Sophia fight?” asked Ashley, but Dominic remained silent, so Ashley sighed, thinking her son and Sophia had a fight.

“TSK. Talk about it, okay?” asked Ashley. “You’re not married yet, but you're already having problems.” Dominic just smirked at his mother and shook his head.

He is acting this way not because of Sophia, but because of the woman he loves.

Dominic turned to face his mother. “Please leave me alone, Mom,” he begged. Ashley smiled as she raised her hand.

“I'm just saying, Austin, I don't want Sophia to get hurt. She’s a wonderful person, unlike her sister…” Ashley explained. Dominic was taken aback by what he had heard and clenched his fists, which Ashley noticed and raised her eyebrows because Dominic's mood had changed.

“What? Sophia told me, her sister is a rebel girl, TSK. TSK. She's ruining their family’s name. Sophia is a good girl, unlike that girl. She’s a lovely and responsible daughter,” Ashley winced because she didn't like Scarlett after what happened at the engagement celebration. “What was her first name again? Scarlett? I forgot about her,” Ashley laughed. When she heard a broken bottle, she was surprised and turned to face Dominic.

“Austin! What are you doing?” Ashley exclaimed as she picked up the shattered bottle.

But Dominic didn’t stop there. He also kicked the chair. “What are you saying, mom?” asked Dominic, startling Ashley, who turned to face her son and set aside the broken bottle.

“What’s the matter with you? I don’t like the tone of your voice!” she exclaimed. Dominic glared at her, startling her.

Dominic yelled, “Repeat what you said!”

Ashley was taken aback and almost backed away because of her son's emotions. She couldn’t figure out why her son was upset, and she didn’t say bad things because everything she said about Sophia’s sister was true.

Ashley had known Scarlett since then, but because of the tragedy that had troubled the Knights, she didn’t get to know her well, and she had forgotten about the younger daughter of the Knights.

Ashley gasped loudly and focused her attention on Dominic. “Sophia told me she went with a man and got pregnant; she was an absolute disgrace to her family—” Ashley was taken aback when Dominic punched the table. Her eyes widened as she approached her son. “Austin…” Dominic simply pushed her away.

“You know nothing about her, mom,” Dominic stated. “Don’t say that to Scarlett!” Dominic yelled, punching the table again, and Ashley screamed because Dominic's hands were bleeding.

“What’s wrong with you, Austin?” asked Ashley, approaching her son to take his hand, but Dominic simply shook his hand.

“The woman you refer to as a rebel is my wife, mom, the youngest granddaughter of the Knights,” said Dominic as he wrapped a towel around his hand. Ashley was surprised by what she heard from her son. “Please excuse me,” he was about to leave the kitchen when he remembered something. “Don’t listen to Sophia. She’s the one you don’t know,” he said as he walked up to his room.

He slammed his bedroom door shut and went straight to the bathroom, grabbing a towel. He examined himself in the mirror and gripped the sink tightly. “You don’t know Scarlett to talk like that,” he whispered as he walked over to the sink to wash his hands.

“I'll atone for all my sins, Scarlett.”