Chapter 155: Chapter 155 Do You Feel Anything For Dominic?
Elara
That whole disaster left me feeling suffocated. I walked out of the hotel and could finally breathe again.
Restlessness clawed at my chest. I felt trapped in my own skin. I didn’t want to go back to the office or home. Not yet.
Both places felt suffocating, full of reminders and expectations I wasn’t ready to face.
Finally, I pulled out my phone and called Hannah, needing to unload everything that had been building up inside me.
The recent chain of events felt like an avalanche I couldn’t escape from.
"Elara? You sound off. What’s going on?" Hannah’s voice immediately shifted to concern.
I found myself spilling everything.
My mother’s surprise visit and her meddling, the confrontation with Zack at Park Group, the way Dominic had stood by my side like some avenging wolf, the strange conversation afterward about his romantic preferences.
Words tumbled out faster than I could organize them.
"Wait, what?" Hannah’s voice shot up in disbelief. "You’re saying Dominic himself told you he doesn’t like men when it was just the two of you? Like, actually said those words?"
I rubbed my temples, trying to piece together that bizarre afternoon. "After we left Park Group that day, after we’d basically ripped Zack apart in front of his own board, Dominic took me back to our bedroom. He made this very deliberate point of explaining that he’s attracted to women. Said he even has some woman he’s been pining after for years."
"Yeah. But I’m not sure," I admitted with a bitter smile. "I spend half my conversations with him trying to decode whether he’s serious or just messing with my head."
"I can never tell which parts are real and which aren’t."
Hannah’s eyes lit up with an unusual gleam. "Okay, but Elara, hear me out. Is there any possibility that what Dominic meant was that he likes you? That he actually wants to marry you?"
"Hannah—" I started to protest, but she held up a hand.
"Don’t say it’s impossible," she cut off my denial before I could even form the words. "I’m serious. Look at me."
She reached across the small bar table and grabbed my hands, her grip warm and steady. ". Ask yourself this: why would Dominic marry you in the first place?"
"Were there really no other alliance options for an Alpha like him?"
"Think about it logically," she pressed, her voice gaining momentum.
"Or are you telling me he threw himself into a contract marriage just to mess with Zack? Because if that’s the case, I’d start wondering if he’s actually into Zack instead."
Hannah’s expression turned fierce, almost protective.
"And most importantly," Hannah gripped both my shoulders, her expression deadly serious, "babe, you deserve to be loved."
"Don’t put yourself down. Don’t spiral. Don’t second guess everything."
The words hit me like a physical blow.
My chest tightened and I felt that familiar sting behind my eyes."Do I?"
But I was terrified.
The fear was bone deep, carved into me by years of disappointment.
I was terrified of being let down again, of discovering it had all been my pathetic imagination.
I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly cold despite the warm bar air.
"Hannah, you don’t understand," my voice came out smaller than I intended.
"I can tear apart assholes like Zack all day long. But falling for my contract mate? That’s emotional suicide, Hannah."
"Think about how this whole thing started - I mistook him for my blind date! Then we rushed into this contract marriage for all the wrong reasons. "
"I’d rather keep my distance than find out I was just convenient timing. When duty calls and he needs a ’proper’ Luna for political reasons, I don’t want to be the fool who thought a contract mistake could turn into forever."
Hannah studied my face for a long moment, then seemed to change tactics.
Her voice gentled, becoming less cheerleader and more therapist. Hannah shifted gears, dropping the motivational speech approach. "Then let me ask you this: do you feel anything for Dominic? Even the tiniest bit?"
Author
Elara and Hannah were sitting in a booth while a live musician played and sang on the small stage.
Not far from their booth, a shadow lingered. The figure’s keen hearing picked up every word, fingers pausing mid motion on a silver lighter, as if waiting for an answer.
Elara shook her head. "I don’t know. Maybe a little fondness, but that’s all it is.Not enough to build a relationship on."
The man pocketed his lighter and turned away.
Elara hadn’t been drinking, but Hannah had knocked back quite a few.
The alcohol scent clung to her from sitting near her friend.
"Hannah, let me take you home."
Hannah waved her off. "No need, I already called my ride! Don’t worry about it, Elara!"
"Can’t risk running into that asshole Zack!" She giggled, words slurring. "I didn’t protect you before, but I’m damn well protecting you now!"
Elara was deeply touched.
What happened between Zack and her during their secret relationship had nothing to do with Hannah. Hannah had no reason to feel guilty.
But Hannah didn’t see it that way.
Especially after Elara agreed to marry Dominic, Hannah’s guilt had intensified.
She thought Elara deserved so much better than marrying some closeted gay guy.
Thank God Dominic was treating her far better than Hannah had ever imagined.
Elara waited with Hannah until her ride arrived. Even drunk, she was still looking out for her.
"Elara, get in. We’ll drop you off first, then I’ll head home."
Elara didn’t argue, warmth spreading through her chest.
