Chapter 14 

The following morning, I woke up to a soft knack on my door 

“Breakfast is ready,” Rosa said when I opened it, her voice warm but colder than before. 

She didn’t even look me in the eye. And just prepared clothes for me to wear. 

After bathing and stuff, I followed her down the hall. The tension from last night still lingered, but the memory of my conversation with Nico had eased some of the weight in my chest. 

It made me less grumpy and frustrated. 

When we reached the dining room, the smell of fresh coffee and warm pastries filled my nostrils and my stomach instantly growled. 

Dominic was already seated at the head of the toble, reading something on his phone. His presence, as usual, dominated the room. 

I hesitated in the doorway before stepping inside. He didn’t look up, but I could feel the sharpness of his awareness. 

“Good morning,” I muttered, sliding into a chair a few seats away from him. 

“Is it?” Dominic asked without looking at me, his tone clipped. 

Before I could respond, another voice broke the tension. 

“Ah, breakfast with the queen herself, Nico said, strolling into the room like he owned the place. 

I blinked in surprise as he plopped into the chair next to me, helping himself to a croissant from the tray in the center of the table 

Dominic glanced up, his expression shifting ever so slightly. “Nico.” 

“Dom,” Nico replied, his mouth full. “You always throw the best breakfasts. Where’s the champagne, though? What, no mimosas?” 

Dominic sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, but there was a faint glint of amusement in his eyes. 

It struck me how different Dominic seemed around Nico. 

He wasn’t relaxed exactly, Dominic De Luca was never truly relaxed, but there was a hint of ease in his posture, a flicker of humor that I hadn’t seen before 

e person? is he treating you like a 

Nico leaned back in his chair, flashing me a grin. “So, Aria, how’s life as Dom’s new favorite princess yet?” 

I snorted, picking at a piece of toast. “Not exactly.” 

“Shocking,” Nico said with mock surprise, nudging me with his elbow. “He’s usually so charming.” 

“Nico,” Dominic said, his tone a low warning. 

“What?” Nico said innocently. “I’m just making conversation.” 

“Make it somewhere else,” Dominic muttered, though his lips twitched like he was holding back a smile. 

It was strange, seeing him like this–almost human. Around Nico, Dominic wasn’t the cold, calculating force I’d come to know. He was… lighter. 

“So, Nico said, turning back to me, “did Dom tell you we go way back? Best friends since high school after I changed school though. New wealth and shit. We were an unstoppable duo.” 

“Unstoppable” Dominic echoed dryly. “That’s one word for it.” 

Nico ignored him, leaning closer to me. “You wouldn’t believe the stories I could tell you about this guy. Like the time he goi into a fistfight with the principal.” 

Dominic shot him a look. “You started that fight” 

“And you finished it, Nico said with a laugh, Teamwork, baby” 

I couldn’t help but smile. Tm guessing you two were troublemakers.” 

“Troublemakers?” Nico repeated, pretending to be offended. “I’ll have you know we were beloved by all. Right, Dom?” Dominic raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. 

“Nico dated the cheer captain and the male quarterback at the same time” Dominic said after a moment, his tone flat. 

My eyebrows shot up. “Wait, what?” 

“It wasn’t at the same time,” Nico protested, though the grin on his face said otherwise. “There was, like, a two week overlap. 

Chapter 14 

Dominic snorted, the sound startlingly close to a laugh. “You’re a mess.” 

“And you love me for it.” Nico shot back, winking at me. “What can I say? High school was my golden era.” 

I found myself laughing despite myself. “Sounds like you peaked early.” 

“Ouch,” Nico said, clutching his chest dramatically. “You wound me, Aria.” 

“She’s not wrong” Dominic said, smirking faintly 

Nico pointed a finger at him. “Careful, Dom. You’re supposed to be on my side.” 

“Not when you’re embarrassing yourself, Dominic replied, his tone lighter than usual. 

It was strange, almost unsettling, to see them like this. Dominic wasn’t the cold, commanding man who controlled every room he walked into. Around Nico, he seemed… real. 

“So, Aria,” Nico said, turning his attention back to me. “What about you? Were you a heartbreaker back in the day?” 

I shook my head, my smile fading slightly. “Not exactly. My high school years were complicated.” 

Nico tilted his head, his expression softening. “Complicated how?” 

I hesitated, glancing at Dominic, but he didn’t seem particularly interested in the conversation. His attention was back on his phone. 

“My dad was already having problems,” I said quietly, staring down at my plate. “Gambling, debts… it started when I was in high school. My mom was trying to keep it together, but it was hard. I spent most of my time working to help out.” Nico’s playful expression shifted, replaced by something more serious. “That’s a lot for a teenager to deal with,” 

I shrugged, forcing a small smile. “It is what it is.” 

“Still,” Nico said, his voice softer now. “That couldn’t have been easy.” 

I shook my head, blinking back the sudden sting of tears. “It wasn’t. But you don’t get to pick your family, right?” Nico didn’t respond immediately, and wherrl looked up, his gaze was steady understanding. 

“You’re tougher than you look,” he said finally, his tone gentle but firm. 

“Yeah,” I muttered, wiping at my eyes. “I guess so.” 

Nico reached across the table, sliding his handkerchief toward me. 

I guess I would be having a stock filled with his handkerchief. “Here. It’s clean, I swear.” 

I laughed weakly, taking it from him. Thanks.” 

Dominic’s voice cut through the moment, sharp and commanding. “Nico.” 

Nico raised an eyebrow, glancing at him. “What?” 

“You have things to do,” Dominic said, his tone leaving no room for argument. 

Nico sighed dramatically standing up and stretching. “Fine, fine. I’ll leave you two lovebirds to it.” 

“Nico,” Dominic growled, his eyes narrowing. 

“Relax,” Nico said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. He turned to me, grinning. “See you later, Aria. Try not to let Dom scare you too much.” 

I smiled faintly, clutching the handkerchief in my lap as he strolled out of the room. 

The silence that followed was heavy, and I could feel Dominic’s gaze on me. 

“What’s that?” he asked finally, his voice low. 

I glanced down at the handkerchief in my hands, my fingers brushing over the embroidered initials in the comer. 

“Nothing,” I said quickly, tucking it away 

“It didn’t seem like nothing,” Dominic said, his tone sharper now, eyes narrowing as he leaned forward slightly “It’s just a handkerchief,” I replied, forcing my voice to stay steady. 

Dominic’s jaw tightened, the faintest flicker of annoyance flashing across his face. He set his fork down with deliberate care, his eyes locking onto mine. “Why did you collect it? You could have asked me” 

I swallowed, suddenly feeling like a child being scolded. “Because I needed it and he offered. You didn’t.” 

His voice lowered, the edge in it unmistakable. “Hmm. Nico just doesn’t give handkerchief. You guys seemed close.” 

I bit my lip, my heart racing. “1… we talked last night. That’s all” 

“Talked,” Dominic echoed, his gaze piercing. “At what point during the night did you have a chance to talk with Nico? Considering your door was locked.” 

I froze. 

Dominic’s smirk was humorless as he leaned back in his chair his eyes cold. “Ah. So, you’re going to explain to me how you managed that, cara mia, or do I need to guess?” 

I stayed silent, my hands gripping the edge of the table 

“Let me make this easier for you” Dominic continued, his voice deceptively calm. “Who opened your door?” 

hesitated for a fraction of a second too long. 

“passed through the window, on my way back Nico opened it, I admitted quietly 

Dominic’s expression didn’t change, but the tension in the room thickened. He stood slowly, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt as he walked around the table toward me. 

“Window, I see You see, Ana” he said, his voice low and dangerous “There are rules here. And you’ve already broken more than one of them” 

I 

“Rules?” I repeated, forcing myself to look up at him despite the way my stomach twisted 

“Yes, rules,” he said sharply stopping beside me. “Do you think you can just do whatever you want because I haven’t punished you yet? Let me make something very clear.” 

He leaned down, his face inches from mine, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You belong to me. That means no sneaking 

around, no private conversations with Nico or anyone else unless I approve it. Understood?” 

I glared at him, my hands balling into fists. “You can’t control everything I do. I am a human, not a toy” 

Dominic’s lips curled into a dark smile. “Watch me.” 

He straightened, stepping back and gesturing for me to stand. “Get up.” 

I hesitated, but the look in his eyes left no room for argument. Slowly, I pushed back my chair and stood. 

“Now, kneel,” he ordered, his voice like steel. 

My 

y chest tightened as I stared at him, my pulse pounding in my ears. “What?” 

“You heard me.” Dominic said, his tone colder now. “Kneel. You want to test boundaries, Aria? Let’s see how far you’ll go.” 

I stood frozen, tom between anger and fear. But I knew that refusing him outright would only make things worse. Gritting my teeth, I lowered myself to my knees, the hard floor biting into my skin. 

Dominic stepped closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over me. My breath hitched as I realized how close he was, close enough for me to see the way his shirt strained against his chest, close enough to notice the heat radiating off him, “Good” he murmured, his voice softer now but no less commanding. This is where you’ll learn to listen.” 

His hand reached down, brushing against my cheek lightly before trailing under my chin. He tilted my head up, forcing me to meet his gaze. 

“You think you can defy me?” he asked, his voice a low growl. “Run to Nico, climb out windows, make your own rules?” 

“I wasn’t-“I started, but he cut me off. 

“Don’t lie,” he snapped, his thumb brushing over my lower lip. “You’re mine. And I will teach you what that means.” 

My cheeks flushed, heat rising as I caught sight of the unmistakable bulge in his pants. Was this man hypersexual or just completely insane? 

Dominic noticed where my eyes lingered, and his smirk deepened. “You don’t know it yet,” he whispered, his voice husky,” but you’ll crave this.”