Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Lies and a Kiss
Elara
Nadia froze, her expression shifting from smugness to shock. "What do you mean cancel the marriage? Elizabeth, stop making things worse!"
"You’re the one making things worse!" My grandma pointed at Nadia, her voice shaking with anger. "What have you turned your daughter into? Is she just a tool for you to move up in society?"
"Get out!"
"Leave now!"
Grandma got so angry her blood pressure shot up. She made such a scene that the nursing home staff quickly came over.
"Ma’am, you need to leave," one caretaker said firmly to Nadia. "Look how upset you made this old lady. If she gets sick because of this, we’ll blame you!"
"That’s right!" another staff member said. "Ms. Elara has been perfect for years. Her granddaughter visits all the time, but you only show up to cause trouble. Get out! If she needs a doctor because of this, it’s your fault!"
With all the staff against her, Nadia had to leave.
I quickly got blood pressure medicine and heart pills from Grandma’s bedside table. "Grandma, swallow this one slowly and let the other melt under your tongue," I said, rubbing her back gently. "Take it easy. Don’t let her upset you."
Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears as she took her medicine, but she was worried about me.
"Elara, I’m sorry," she said after she calmed down. "I always hoped you and your mother might get along better. I worried about who would take care of you when I’m gone."
She wiped a tear. "But today shows she’s not someone you can depend on. I promise to stick around as long as I can to help you, sweetie."
Her face showed worry. "But about this Wolfe boy... is what she said true? Does he really like men?"
I immediately got defensive. "No, grandma. Don’t believe her. Dominic is completely normal."
"Is he?" Grandma frowned. "The boyfriend in those photos you showed me before... he didn’t look like Dominic Wolfe." She looked into my eyes. "Marriage is serious, dear. Don’t hurt yourself for it."
Panic hit me hard. I couldn’t tell her the truth. She was too weak and already too worried.
I got desperate and called Dominic, putting him on speaker so Grandma could hear.
His voice sounded a bit stuffed up but smooth. "Hello, Elara?"
"Honey," I said, the word feeling strange, "I upset Grandma. Can you come help me make things right?"
There was a three-second pause that felt like forever before Dominic laughed quietly. "I’ll be right there."
While we waited, I made up stories about our romance, trying to convince Grandma we really loved each other. Her doubtful look told me she wasn’t buying it.
Then Dominic showed up, walking toward us confidently. He wore a simple black shirt that showed his broad shoulders. His silver watch and wedding ring caught the light as he moved.
"Sorry I’m late, Grandmother," he said smoothly, his lips forming that natural half-smile.
His dark eyes glanced at me, looking both polite and intense.
Grandma was much colder than at their first meeting.
"You’re here," she said without emotion.
Dominic sat next to me, his hand resting on my shoulder. "Grandmother, Elara sometimes can’t find the right words. If she upset you somehow, please don’t blame her."
This romantic act didn’t fool the old woman.
She asked him straight out, "Dominic, I liked you when we first met, but I heard something disturbing. Is it true you like men?"
"And if so, why marry my granddaughter?"
The air got thick with tension.
I froze, my face going white.
"Ah," Dominic said softly, understanding the situation. "Maybe I haven’t been clear enough."
His hand moved from my shoulder to my cheek, two fingers gently lifting my chin up. Before I could understand what was happening, he leaned down and kissed me.
This wasn’t a gentle kiss.
Dominic kissed me with clear purpose, firm and demanding. I felt his body heat against mine, making my heart race. When my lips stayed closed from shock, his tongue gently pushed them apart, making the kiss deeper with skill that made my knees weak.
I couldn’t move, shaking as my eyes closed. Every feeling went crazy. His smell overwhelmed my wolf completely.
My hands unconsciously gripped his shirt as something low in my stomach tightened with unexpected want.
Dominic’s breathing got slightly heavier, and I could feel his pulse quicken where our bodies almost touched.
When he finally stopped, his thumb stayed on my red cheek.
His eyes held mine for a moment longer than necessary, and I caught the flash of something heated there before he controlled it.
Then he turned to grandma with a perfectly calm smile. "Grandmother, do you still think I like men?"
The sunset lit up his sharp face, making his wedding ring shine with warm light. The way he looked at me seemed so real that even I wondered what was true.
Grandma blinked, finally looking relieved.
"I didn’t doubt you,Dominic," she said. "But Elara is so innocent. I was afraid someone might use her."
Dominic’s lips went up in a smile.
"She is innocent," he agreed. "But to be honest, she’s the one who bosses me around."
He pointed to where my hand had grabbed his shirt without thinking. "See? Your granddaughter is all over me again."
I pulled my hand back fast, my face burning hot. "I wasn’t!"
Grandma completely believed them now.
If Dominic had made fancy speeches about love, she might still doubt. But the caring look in his eyes when he teased me seemed real.
"Okay, I worried for nothing," she said. "Don’t hold it against me, Dominic."
Dominic shook his head. "I wouldn’t dare, Grandmother. Your granddaughter would punish me later."
Together, we finally got my grandma calm.
I told the caretakers exactly how to watch her health and call me right away if anything changed. Dominic gave them good money to make sure they’d help.
In the car, I couldn’t look at the man who had just kissed me so completely.
Dominic watched me with my ears bright red and leaned closer on purpose. "Luna Wolfe, are you upset about kissing a supposedly gay man..."
His voice got low and rough. "Or sad that our kiss wasn’t long enough?"
