Page 97 of Between Love & Ruin

I need to know the thinking behind her words. Especially words as cruel as she spewed that day.

“But it looks like there’s not much left of him to be ruined. As much as I know him, he is going to do the job himself, but the reason would still be you.”

“If I wasn’t certain you hated me, I would believe the words you just said to be true. But I trust him, and I trust our love, and I know nothing of that sort is going to happen.”

She searches my face for a sign of something. Hesitation? Insecurity? I don’t know. But I am certain she won’t find anything like that.

Because Sienna from a few months ago might have felt like that. But the one standing in this room—still wrapped in the soft cocoon of Dominic’s love—would never feel that.

“Let’s see how long it lasts.” She drops her glass on a passing-by waiter’s empty tray before moving to leave.

I sigh in relief, thinking she’s finally leaving me the fuck alone. But then she turns on her heels, and I barely stop myself from groaning.

“Ask him what your family did to his. Ask him about your past. And if he won’t tell you, come to me.”

“What?”

Did my family do something to his family?

That doesn’t make any sense.

“You heard me,” she says casually, but a wicked smile—most evil I have ever seen—comes across her face. “Ask him the truth. You trust him, right? Then do what I say, but if he doesn’t, I will help you. But on one condition.”

I narrow my eyes skeptically.

“What condition?”

“You will leave him the second you get to know the truth. I don’t care what happens afterwards—but you’ll do it. I need this company. I have given it years of blood, sweat, and tears. I will be damned if it goes down the drain over his fixation with you.”

“And if I don’t?” I ask, hot rage bubbling inside of me.

She has some audacity thinking she has any say over our relationship.

“Then I will make sure your dream movie never makes it to the screen. And it won’t just be a loss to you, it will be a loss to your publisher and your dearest Aisha Kapoor. I will make sure of it.”

She winks at me and saunters off, and I am left reeling back from her words.

From across the room, I meet Dominic’s gaze. He raises his eyebrow in question, and I pass him a small smile.

But the question still lingers in my mind—what truth is Dominic hiding?

And if what Myra said is true, will he tell me?

The most important of all—what of our relationship will remain?

* * *

“Hey,” Dominic says as soon as he comes near me. He already looks tired from socializing. I try my best to give him a soft smile, but the doubts and the fears Myra planted in my head make it impossible to. “Are you okay?”

He cups my face in his palms, and I let out a breath, leaning into his touch. For now, I can let it go.

For now, I can forget her words and try to be just here in his embrace.

“Yes,” I tell him, a small smile on my face. “I am just a little tired.”

“Let’s go home then.” He takes my hand in his, and I take a moment to just look at how meant to be they look.

I nod, letting him lead me outside. It’s only when the fresh, cold air of NYC hits my face am I able to breathe a little better, a little freely.