Chapter 62 

I had nothing to do in the mansion. 

For some weird reason, I missed Dominic. 

Not that I would ever tell him that. 

It was stupid, really. He wasn’t even nice most of the time. He was controlling, arrogant, and had a god complex the size of this mansion. But after spending so much time around him arguing, pushing his buttons, having him push mine his absence felt… strange. 

After last week, staying by my side through the whole situation felt…different. It really shouldn’t have. 

But now it does and there is nothing I can do about it. He was taking care of my family. He was feeding me. I love in a good house. I should be glad. 

At least I would die in luxury. 

I groaned, flopping onto the couch in the lounge, staring up at the chandelier like it might entertain me. 

“You look miserable,” Julian’s voice cut through the silence. 

I turned my head to see him standing by the doorway, a smirk playing at his lips. 

“Because I am,” I muttered. 

He laughed, walking in and plopping down next to me. “Dominic gone for a few hours and you’re already lost?” 

I rolled my eyes. “I’m just bored.” 

He raised a brow, studying me. “Hmm. Bored, or secretly pining for my brother?” 

I snorted, sitting up. “Not a chance.” 

“Right, he drawled, pulling his phone out. “Well, since you’re so bored, let’s do something fun.” 

I eyed him warily. “Fun?” 

Julian grinned, unlocking his phone. “How about a trip down memory lane?” 

Before I could ask what he meant, he turned the screen toward me. 

It was a photo. 

Of Dominic. 

But not the Dominic I knew. 

This one was younger, maybe in his early twenties. He still had that sharp, commanding presence, but his face was slightly softer. Less… ruthless. 

And standing next to him? 

A woman. 

Blonde. Gorgeous. Laughing as she clung to his arm. 

I frowned. “Who’s that?” 

Julian’s grin widened. “Ah, Victoria.” 

My stomach dropped. 

“Wait, Victoria Victoria?” 

“The one and only.” 

I scowled at the screen, not sure why it irritated me. “She looks different.” 

“Well, this was before she married Mikael and had all that surgery done to her face to look like plastic,” Julian said, flipping through more photos. “Back when she thought she’d be the one standing next to Dominic for life.” 

1 scoffed. “Yeah, that worked out well for her.” 

Julian smirked, “You sound a little jealous.” 

I choked on air. “I do not.” 

He laughed, scrolling further. “Alright, what ab Successfully unlocked! 

Another photo. Another woman. 

This one had dark hair, piercing blue eyes, and an obnoxiously perfect smile. 

I crossed my arms. “And who’s this?” 

1/4 

Chapter 62 “Dahlia.” 

I blinked, “Dahlia?” 

Julian leaned back. “She was… intense.” 

I wrinkled my nose. “Define intense.” 

He snorted. “She tried to stab him once.” 

My eyes widened. “Excuse me?” 

“Oh yeah,” he said casually. “She was madly in love with him. Then she was just mad. He was dating her before Victoria. And she went crazy once she found out.” 

I stared at the screen, my emotions twisting in a way I didn’t like. 

It wasn’t jealousy. 

It wasn’t. 

I didn’t care about Dominic’s past relationships. 

I didn’t care about the women who had been in his life before me. 

But something about seeing those photos–knowing these women had touched him, kissed him, had been close to him- bothered me. 

A lot. 

I forced my voice to stay even. “And what happened to her?” 

Julian shrugged. “Oh, Dominic made sure she’d never come near him again.” 

I hesitated. “Meaning…?” 

He smirked. “Meaning she left the country and never came back.” 

I swallowed. “Right.” 

Julian studied me for a moment, his smirk knowing. “You sure you’re not jealous?” 

I huffed, looking away. “Of course not, I just think that maybe Dominic killed or something.” 

“Uh–huh. Whatever makes you sleep at night.” 

I scowled at him. “Why are you even showing me these?” 

He grinned. “Because it’s fun watching you pretend not to be affected and I’m testing you to see what you really feel..” 

I glared. “You’re annoying. This doesn’t cure my boredom at all..” 

“Just admit that you’re jealous and I would leave you alone.” 

“I am not.” 

He just chuckled, scrolling through more photos, completely amused by my suffering. 

I was just about to snatch the phone from his hands when- 

The door swung open. 

I turned my head- 

And froze. 

Nico stood in the doorway, his sharp gaze flicking between us. 

And his smirk? 

It sent a shiver down my spine. 

“Well, well,” he drawled, stepping inside. “Am I interrupting something?” 

“Not really, no.” 

Julian shot me a grin. “Oh, she’s lying. She’s been very interested in Dominic’s past. Specifically, his ex–girlfriends.” I glared at him. “I was not interested. You were just being annoying.” 

Nico raised an eyebrow, strolling in like he owned the place. “Ex–girlfriends, huh?” He smirked. “Dahlia, I assume?” Julian laughed. “She had the best reaction when I told her Dahlia tried to stab Dominic.” 

Nico let out a chuckle, shaking his head. “That was a fun time.” 

I scowled. “Why are you both acting like it was entertaining?” 

Nico shrugged, dropping into a chair. “Because it was.” 

Julian grinned. “Dahlia was wild. She was obsessed with Dominic. Like, obsessed obsessed.” 

2/4 

Chapter 62 

I frowned. “So, what? She thought she could own him?” 

Nico smirked. “Exactly. And when she realized he wasn’t the type of man who could be controlled, she snapped.” 

I narrowed my eyes. “And she actually tried to stab him?” 

Julian nodded, still grinning. “Oh, yeah. Right in the chest too. But Dominic was faster. Took the knife out of her hand before she could even blink. Fear women. They are…crazy.” 

I shivered. I could picture it. Dominic, calm as ever, taking control of the situation like he always did. 

I hated that it impressed me. 

I cleared my throat. “And what happened to her after?” 

Nico leaned forward, his gaze sharp. “Dominic warned her to leave and never come back. And when that didn’t work, he made her disappear.” 

I swallowed. Looking at Julian who bit his lips. 

“He killed her?” 

Nico’s smirk widened. “I mean you won’t find her anywhere in the country anymore.” 

I exhaled, rubbing my arms. Yeah…she is definitely dead. 

Julian laughed. “Oh, come on, Aria. You’re looking at us like we just told you a horror story.” 

I glared at him. “Because it is a horror story.” 

Nico smirked. “Jealous, Gattina?” 

My jaw clenched. “No and don’t call me that. Only Dominic calls me that.” 

“Ooohhhhh and yet she says she isn’t jealous.” 

I looked at Julian snarling at him. 

Julian snorted. “That was way too fast.” 

I scowled at both of them. “You two are insufferable and annoying. Go away please.” 

Julian smirked. “We try.” 

I rolled my eyes, ready to end this ridiculous conversation, but then- 

Nico tilted his head slightly, his smirk fading just a bit. “Julian.” 

Julian turned to him, raising a brow. “What?” 

Nico’s eyes glinted with something unreadable. “I think you’ve annoyed her enough.” 

Julian blinked. “Oh? And you haven’t?” 

Nico’s lips curved, but there was something sharp about it. “I just think she’d prefer to have a real conversation now.” 

Julian raised his hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. I’ll leave you two alone. Just don’t let Dom see, unless he would be pissy again and take it out on me.” 

I furrowed my brows. “Wait, I didn’t-” 

Too late. 

Julian had already gotten up, stretching dramatically before strolling toward the door. “Try not to scare her away, Nico,” he teased before stepping out. 

I exhaled, suddenly feeling way too aware of Nico’s presence now that we were alone. 

He leaned back in his chair, studying me. “He’s not wrong, you know.” 

I crossed my arms. “About what?” 

His gaze flicked over me, amused. “That you were jealous.” 

I groaned. “Oh my God. Not you too.” 

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Relax. It’s natural to be curious.” 

I rolled my eyes. “I wasn’t curious.” 

He smirked. “If you say so.” 

I huffed, not wanting to continue this conversation. “Did you want something?” His smirk lingered for a second before his expression turned a little more… serious. He tapped his fingers against the armrest, his eyes darkening just slightly. 

“Can I…” He hesitated, something unusual flickering in his gaze. “Tell you something?” 

3/4 

Chapter 62 

I stiffened slightly, sensing the shift in his tone. 

Something about the way he said it–about the way his expression changed–made me feel like whatever he was about to 

say… 

It wasn’t going to be something I could ignore. 

I crossed my arms around my chest. “What do you want to say?” 

Nico leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His expression was unreadable, but there was something calculating in his eyes, something that put me on edge. 

He tilted his head slightly, watching me carefully. “Do you ever wonder why Dominic keeps you around?” 

I frowned, my arms tightening around myself. “Excuse me?” 

He smirked, but it wasn’t playful. It was slow, almost amused. “You think he cares about you, don’t you?” 

I blinked, my stomach twisting. “What-” 

“Dominic doesn’t care, Aria.” He said it so smoothly, so casually, like it was a fact rather than an opinion. “He owns.” 

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening. “That’s not-” 

“That’s exactly what it is,” he cut in, his voice lower now. “You’re a pawn to him. A distraction at best, a tool at worst.” 

I shook my head, my heart pounding. “No.” 

He chuckled. “Oh, gattina,” he murmured, his voice smooth, almost pitying. “You really think you’re different?” 

I clenched my fists. “He saved me.” 

Nico laughed. “Because you belong to him. Not because he cares. I just needed you to be reminded about that. I have known him for the longest and I can hit my chest and tell you he is nothing but a bastard.” 

4/4