nile, his rome still polit


    Vespera watched Dominic smile, his rone still polite, yet amreeping numbness spread across her scalp. A deep sense of dread settled in.


    die was doomed.


    His reaction, along with the dark circles under his eyes fromck of sleep, told her everything she needed to know he had seen the message.


    Her smile froze at theers other lips, and she couldn''t bring herself to meet his gaze.


    Looking down, she coughed awlowardly. "I slept well....... I just had a bit to drinkst night and got pretty tipsy-everything was a bit of a blur."


    She let out an awkwardugh


    Dominic''s expression turned cold, the trace at amusement fadingpletely. His gaze sharpened, unreadable, but carrying a weight that made her stomach twist Alcohol isn''t an excuse."


    were out of


    at control,


    Vespera swallowed. "It really is! Drinking messes up my vision. My hands were m


    She scrambled for aparison "Like I was possessed."


    Dominic scoffed. "keep making excuses."


    Vespera blinked


    With a face full of sincerity, she tried to wear on her life. "I swear it was a slip of the hand!"


    Even if she had been half-asleep, there was no way she would be dumb enough to call him that. There was only one exnation-herbrain and fingers had been lenmpletely out of sync.


    Dominic seemed too tired to listen to her excuses. "No need to exin further. If you can slip up with your hands this time, next time it''ll be your mouth. You can''t do something and not own up to it, Ms. Gildon."


    His look was downright usmory-like she was some heartless woman trying to y dumb after taking advantage of him.


    Vespera felt like she was having a cardiac arrest.


    She couldn''t understand why he was malding it sound like she did it on purpose.


    She wasn''t suicidal enough to mess with him like that?


    Gerard and Raymond exchanged confused nces.


    They were puzzled. Vespera had mentioned she was heading straight to the office, yet here she was, appearing out of nowhere!


    They were left confused, trying to plece together what was happening, but it just wasn''t adding up. None of the conversation made sense to them.


    Dominic picked up a napkin and wiped the corner of his mouth. "So, Ms. Gildon, did youe all this way just to say good morning? And to discuss your little slip of the hand?"


    As he spoke, his fingers casually tapped the table near his phone.


    Vespera''s heart nearly jumped out of fiercest


    He knew why r was here. He knew she hade here to delete the message.


    Without missing a beat, ale ced a small box of strawberry cheesecal on the table. "This cake is really good. I bought it for you. No other reason. Goodbye." Without waiting!


    1 for a responde, she turned and bolted.


    Dominic called out to her, "You''vee all the way here, don''t just leave Come back."


    Vespera hesitated for a moment before slowly turning around and walking back with a forced stalle.


    Dominic had Haymond open the cake andcing it over. He took a small bite, then pulled out his phone and started snapping pictures.


    As he continued taking pictures, le clicked his tongue and said, "Ms, Gildon,e here and take the pictures for me.


    Getard and Kayisund, who wear walching: .bullpuzzlesk.


    Vespera hade to delived lie cake in the moming, which was already mnusual. What struck them as ever stranger was that Dominic, after tasting the cake,


    Hoceeded to take photos of il


    Vespera immediately sensed th


    was up to something. She could almost feel the scheming nature of these wealthy businessmen.


    The moment she had his phone in her hands, a sudden inspiration struckler. This


    was a golden opportunity to erase the evidence.


    As long as the message was gone, she could deny ever sending it. She quickly opened his WhatsApp.