minic's silhouette framed by

ration, she had struck Ethan, gambling everything. The image of her f

onsidering the commotion she'd caused in the r

loom. Embarrassed, Allison couldn'

," Dominic

nedly toward Dominic, stopping before him. She caught a whiff of his familiar pine sce

an with a smirk. "Well, Mr. Hopkins, since

esdropped on the altercation between

. His composure swiftly returned to him after a moment of fury, which

omantic interest but had dismissed them as unlikely. Yet, witnessing Allison's ca

d and reluctantly approached D

than addressed Dominic by his first name

ning to Allison, he inquir

eacher wanted me to come," Allison replied succinc

d with a slight frown, she caught Brad's eye. He wasted no time in introduc

serious, polished demeanor. Yet, Brad's relaxed att

n could finish her words,

lone, Brad was

ber. Reluctant at first, Allison decided to disclos

her back to the

room, Ethan followed suit, prompting those o

d them was not as expected. Instead of just Ethan and Allison,

ed Ethan, their eyes turning t

sat beside Allison as if it was the most natural thing. The

now wished he could disappear, grateful that

o one being in the mood for entertainment, they

ier, now became the center of attention at the d

her and wondered if Dominic had intentionally

ge hand enveloped her, pul

r scent, her breath halting as Dominic held her so close. His

eyes seething with

n and asked, "How's yo

Ethan instinctively tense, and he

t to dishonor your grandfather." Hi

deepening. She found herself unable to stop thinking abo

c escorted Allison out

t Ethan's expression remained dark and his complexion t

he c

en seeing Ethan?" Dom

ison hesitated before

t impossible for Allison to gauge his reaction. "Do

"No, I don't know." Despite her two-year relationship w

with a casual indifference, "His gran

the Hopkins families were close, yet she hadn't realized their ties ran this dee

ison, do you think I'd go against Ethan just b

han directly, nor any interest in ant

llison grasped his meaning. He tapped slowly on the

nails dug into her palms. She had been intimate with Dominic on two occasio

e. Staring directly into Dominic's eyes, she snapped, "I could have manag

seek him out after tonight. Their p

stop, Allison opened th

s something wrong with Miss R

gure. He had to concede that she still held an

the backseat door, and climbed inside. "I've been following you,

ison than met the eye. Dominic had stooped to assist her, yet

ght now, do you?" Dominic's voi

st got a call. Want to take a gu

glance and direct

get involved, prompt

onversation, Brad arched an eyebrow and prodded fu

nded nonchalantly, "She initiated the breakup with me. Why is

all. The word about your relationship with Allison must've gotten

h his girlfriend, Freya Ellsworth, in a fit of anger, would

xcessively, and everyone expected n

n appearance, the future