After the other girl left, Dominic remained dumbfounded in the room. She was the knitter that Vivian loved and respected so much, but the way she talked and acted was rather odd. I don't know why she kept the towel on her head and didn't take it off.
At first he assumed that because she was afraid of him, he tried to talk as gently as possible. But then he realized that was not the reason. Or is she shy? This seems to make more sense since her appearance is rather disheveled, she seems to have spilled wine. After that, she was in a hurry to leave, so he didn't have time to talk to her anymore.
This woman used to make him sleepless for the past few days. Ever since he'd seen her back, he'd been dreaming about Esther all the time, about the years he and Esther had spent together. Meeting that girl here today, I really didn't expect it. He knew Vivian had invited her to this party, but he hadn't guessed that she was suddenly in his break room.
This reminded him of Esther even more. Because the first time she met Esther, she also entered his room by mistake, and her whole body was filled with the smell of alcohol, so drunk that she couldn't stay awake. This knitter, too, was suddenly in his room and she smelled of red wine all over her body.
When she found out that he was in the room, she seemed to be just looking for ways to leave as quickly as possible, as if meeting him was a terrible thing for her.
Aren't you the benefactor that saved her son? Why does she hate and fear him so much?
Because of that thought, he kept asking her about it so he could be with her for a while.
Dominic was also not sure if it was because he missed Esther so much these days, but when he saw a woman with a similar figure to her, he was so attracted. At close range, he even thought he was hallucinating because everything about that girl resembled Esther. The neck was white, the collarbone was sexy, and the fingers were long and slender. She really looks too much like Esther.
There was a moment when he wanted to reach out and pull down the towel on her head to see what the woman looked like, even though the possibility that she could be Esther was almost nonexistent. The thought was bold, but it was also too rude for her. So he pinned his hands behind his back.
Now, she's gone, but his mood hasn't calmed down yet.
"You're overthinking again, Dominic." He said to himself and laughed mockingly.
After getting dressed, he immediately went to his friends to enjoy a birthday party.
"Haha, there you are. The main character of tonight's party, Dominic Arnold. You've made us wait too long."
"Haha sorry for making you wait an hour. I'll pay attention next time." Dominic smiled seductively, many of the girls around him looked at him with passionate eyes and smiled.
"It's not an hour. It's four years." Rory Frank corrected.
Dominic smiled and nodded, which he couldn't deny he was right. It has been 4 years since he has attended any parties, nor even held a happy party with his friends like before. His friends have asked him many times, they understand that Esther Joan's death has caused a great shock to him, but they hope he does not lose himself and live alone like that.
"Hey, why's your vest stained with wine?"
Dominic suddenly noticed this and pointed to the dried red wine stain on Rory's shirt.
"Oh, it's a long story."
Rory sat cross-legged and recounted what had just happened. Dominic listened very attentively, not seeming to miss a single detail of the story Rory was telling.
"She's acting weird, like she's worried about something. She's frantic and hasty, looks like she wants to leave right away." Rory took a sip of his wine, then he seemed to remember something so he slapped his thigh hard. "Ah yes, you may not believe it but she looks familiar."
"Looks familiar?" Dominic raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, she's pretty, not a gentle mass beauty, nor a seductive beauty. How should I put it, she has a distinctly old-fashioned and radiant beauty." When it came to the woman who spilled the wine, Rory couldn't help but admire her beauty. Although he had only glimpsed her and couldn't even see her face clearly as she kept her head down and looking down at the ground, Rory was deeply impressed by her beauty.
"What does her face look like?" Dominic continued to ask, he seemed to have a thousand questions regarding the girl.
"I didn't look closely. I didn't pay much attention at the time, but she's kind of an outstanding beauty. I bet I've seen her somewhere but can't remember."
Dominic sighed, if Rory's memory had been a little better, maybe he wouldn't be in a bad mood like now.
"Everyone, it's time to cut the birthday cake."
Vivian happily approached Dominic, although her way of walking seemed funny, but no one dared to laugh at her. Because for them, after Esther Joan, Vivian Odette was the second woman Dominic publicly introduced to his friends.
She comfortably wrapped her arms around Dominic in the admiration and envy of the other girl.
"Dominic's taste is such pure and sweet beauty? Esther Joan and Vivian Odette are both like that."
"Hey, don't mention Esther Joan in front of Dominic. He doesn't want to hear about her."
"I thought Dominic would be faithful to only Esther Joan, but it turns out he's not. And I've heard Dominic never mentioned Esther Joan in front of Vivian and wouldn't allow anyone to do that either. Esther Joan is now a forbidden name. Maybe he's worried that Vivian will be jealous?"
The girls were whispering to each other, they didn't dare to talk too loud for fear Dominic or someone would overhear. Rumors are always exaggerated and far from the truth. Only a few of Dominic's close friends really understand how he's been feeling over the past four years.
Esther's grave is located in a secluded and clean place, receiving the morning sun and the freshest winds. No one is allowed to go there, except Dominic. He considers it a place reserved for Esther.
Many people think that when Vivian is openly with Dominic, it means that she is his woman. But the truth is not so. To Dominic, Vivian was an important woman, like a sister or a benefactor he wanted to treat well. Originally, he didn't care what people said about him, so he never explained it.
However, Vivian never took Esther's place in his heart.
The party went on quite happily, but Vivian noticed that sometimes Dominic would be dumbfounded and unfocused.
"Dominic, this is the dress that I flew all the way to Goderich to get it. How's that? Is it pretty?"
"Yes, it suits you very well." Dominic nodded, involuntarily observing the dress more attentively.
Vivian felt that Dominic was finally paying attention to her.
"Ah, that's right. My knitter sent you that birthday present. She left early because she wasn't feeling well.
Besides, she also wants me to thank you for helping her son."
"Hydrangea?"
Dominic took the bouquet from Vivian's hand. He is a billionaire, his friends are all rich people, so Dominic rarely receives such a simple gift. Except for his close friends who sent him gifts privately, everyone else didn't give him gifts, simply because they thought Dominic was too rich and he lacked nothing.
Originally, Dominic had never bothered to see who would give him a present or not. But suddenly receiving a small gift from someone he had only met twice was really surprising.
The girl was more thoughtful and kind than he thought, and that made his curiosity about her even more.
"By the way, what's her name? You've never mentioned her name before." Dominic asked.
"Ah, she's..." Just then, Vivian's phone rang, so their conversation was interrupted.
Vivian went out into the hallway to answer the phone, the wind blowing so cold that she shivered.
"Hello?"
"Do you want to die?" A man's voice rang out.
"Can't you just talk softly to me?" Vivian pouted.
"They met again. Did you do that on purpose?" The man seemed to hiss in exasperation over the phone.
"What are you saying, I don't understand?" Vivian plays with her nails.
"... Vivian, are you still pretending to be naive to me?"
"Okay. I'm sorry." Vivian stopped smiling, she realized the man's voice sounded harsh and understood that he wasn't joking with her.
"I remind you it's best to obediently do as I say. Stop doing what you want. I may not be able to kill you, but I can kill the person you love."
Vivian's face was thoughtful, her eyes were no longer cheerful and gentle, and instead were a look of hatred.
"I get it."