Chapter 189: Chapter 189 Say It Again
Author
Nancy really didn’t want to bother Elara. But she didn’t have a choice.
She just moved back to the city and barely knew anyone.
The so-called "experts" she found online were all fake. Some of them probably just had a license and called it a day.
She figured Elara might know someone real. Someone who actually knew what they were doing.
She couldn’t ask her adoptive parents about this. Friends were her only option.
"I’ll ask around," Elara said. "But I do know someone from grad school who works in this field. Her mentor has a pretty solid reputation around here."
"Thank you so much, Elara."
Elara laughed softly. "We’re friends."
"Okay, Elara. But please. Keep this between us."
Elara nodded. "Of course."
Elara reached out to her contact and sent Nancy the professor’s information.
Then she drove to the police station.She didn’t expect to see Nadia there.
The officer looked at Elara with an apologetic smile. "Your mother brought a settlement agreement. I know you don’t agree with it. But as Sophie’s aunt, she has legal standing."
"About the ring. We checked the receipt you gave us. It’s part of a pair, so the individual value is around a hundred and fifty thousand. That’s a significant amount. We could press charges. The video clearly shows the theft happened. But they already returned the ring."
Elara knew what he meant. The punishment would probably be lighter. Maybe nothing at all.
"She also confessed," the officer said.
Elara looked at Nadia coldly. "Officer, she and I cut ties a long time ago. We even put it in the newspaper."
"By blood, you’re still mother and daughter."
"Fine. I understand. Thank you, officer. Just handle it by the law."
Nadia saw the look in her daughter’s eyes. She knew this settlement agreement was the end of whatever was left between them.
Did she regret it? She couldn’t fight her father. And Sophie was her niece. She couldn’t just do nothing.
She knew she let her daughter down. "Elara..."
"Don’t." Elara’s voice was ice cold. "Seeing you makes me sick."
Pain hit Nadia’s chest. But she pushed it down. She still had her son. Losing one daughter was something she could live with.
Elara
I walked out of the police station feeling like shit. Dominic’s car was parked right at the entrance.
"You heard?" I asked.
"Yeah." He reached over and brushed his hand through my hair. "It’s fine. We’ll get new rings. "
"Don’t worry. I’ll handle the rest. Don’t let trash like that ruin your day."
I managed a smile. "Okay."
"Dominic," I whispered, my voice barely audible, "I think I’m falling for you even harder. What am I supposed to do about that?"
The words just slipped out. I felt exposed, vulnerable.
Dominic went completely still. I could feel the change in him, like the air itself had shifted.
Around us, the police station entrance was chaos. Street vendors calling out, people talking, car horns honking. But none of it seemed to matter anymore.
All I could focus on was the way Dominic was looking at me. Like I’d just said something that changed everything.
He couldn’t seem to help himself. His arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me against him. "Say that again."
I slipped my arms around his neck, my heart racing as I looked up at him. Word by word, I whispered, "I think I’m falling for you even harder."
Something wild flickered in his eyes. I could feel the tension in his body, the way his grip tightened on me.
His voice dropped to a rough growl. "Forget the rings. Let’s go home."
The suggestion was crystal clear.
Heat pooled in my belly as I remembered just how insatiable he could be. My knees already felt weak.
I leaned in playfully, brushing a kiss against the corner of his mouth. "How about we get the rings first?"
But his arm locked around my waist, holding me right where I was. "Let’s go home. We’ll get them first thing in the morning." His voice was rough, almost desperate. "I need you."
He opened the back door of the car and guided me inside, then slid in right behind me.
The privacy screen went up. We were cut off from the driver.The car suddenly felt really small.
The leather seats creaked as Dominic moved closer.
His thigh pressed against mine, warm and solid. I could smell his cologne mixed with the heat coming off his skin.
I knew the driver was still up front.
I should have been more careful. But I didn’t care.
