Dominic did not ask any further. He casually removed his coat and placed it on the sofa. His gaze fell on the cake on the table, and he paused, his eyes lingering there for a moment.
“Yesterday, the birthday wish you made was...” he began hesitantly.
Looking at the probing in his eyes, Valerie replied lightly, “Well, since no one knew it was my birthday, it was a bit awkward, so I just made a joke. I didn’t expect everyone to take it that way. Sorry about that.”
Dominic sighed in relief.
“So what was your real wish?”
“I hoped for my mom and dad to have good health and for all their dreams to come true.”
It was a simple and heartfelt wish.
Dominic felt a soft tug at his heart. He reached out to lightly rub her nose with his hand and gave her a small smile. “You’re so filial. Your wish will surely come true.”
Valerie agreed with the sentiment.
She would find success in marriage. She would stay by her parents’ side and care for them until they grew old.
For the next few days, Dominic seldom left the house. During this time, he noticed that many things had gone missing from the house and brought it up several times.
“Where did the couple-mugs you bought go?”
“They broke a few days ago.”
“That tie you gave me—where is it now?”
“I’m not sure. It probably got blown away when I hung it out to dry.”
These were trivial, insignificant items, and Dominic didn’t pay much attention to them.
Valerie always brushed off his questions with excuses, offering her reasons before quietly compiling a long list of must-try local foods and snacks to enjoy before leaving the city.
Over the years, she had adopted a strict vegetarian diet to maintain her figure, and she hadn’t truly indulged in a feast without restraint for a long time.
Her efforts to preserve her appearance hadn’t brought her the kind of love she had hoped for.
Dominic didn’t like her, no matter if she was beautiful or plain, overweight or slim, with makeup or without.
The beauty she had sacrificed her health to maintain amounted to nothing in his eyes—and even less in Camilla’s.
The birthday cake had awakened a suppressed hunger within her, and it brought clarity to her. She came to realize that happiness wasn’t only about romantic love.
Food, flowers, the care of friends, and the concern of family, were all essential pieces of life.
She shouldn’t let one thing blind her to the others.
Valerie began going out more often, and Dominic took note of this. He stopped her one afternoon as she prepared to leave.
“Heading out again? Where to this time?”
“West side of the city. Eating out.”
“Meeting someone? Do you want me to drive you?”
He asked her casually, his gaze drifting toward the unending downpour outside the window.
Valerie shook her head as she bent down to put on her shoes.
“Not meeting anyone. I want to try some Japanese food. No need to bother—you don’t have to drive me.”
Dominic looked at her in surprise.
He remembered that she ate very little at each meal to maintain her weight so why had she suddenly developed such an appetite recently?
But it would be good if she ate more. She was too thin.
At the thought, he realized he had nothing to do that afternoon. He stood, grabbed his coat, and walked over to her.
“Come with me. It’s raining outside. I’ll give you a ride.”
Valerie hadn’t expected him to say that. She paused, momentarily startled.
The rain continued to fall harder, and the streets were almost empty. The ground was slick, and Dominic gripped the steering wheel tightly, instructing Valerie to take his phone out and plug it in to charge.
She followed his instructions, and as soon as she connected the charger, the screen lit up with an unread message.
[Hey, Dom, bar gathering tonight. Are you coming? Cam’s here too.]
Valerie glanced at the message and was about to pretend she hadn’t seen it when she heard Dominic’s voice.
“Reject it. Just say I’m taking you to try Japanese food and we’re busy.”
She turned her head slightly and caught the fleeting displeasure that showed on his face.
Valerie understood. She quickly typed a reply, sent the message, and just as she did, the phone rang.
It was Camilla.
Dominic saw the caller ID, and the corner of his lips instinctively twitched, though he hesitated about whether to answer it.
After several seconds, he finally pulled up at the roadside and took the phone.
“I already told you—”
“Dom, a group of guys just asked for my contact info. They were touching and harassing me, and I was so angry that I threw a bottle at them. Now they’ve trapped me in the bar. Come get me, please.”
