Dominic glanced at me awkwardly after hearing that. There was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, as if he was weighing his options.
He clearly wanted to leave me behind, but at the same time, he seemed to realize that doing so might not look appropriate in front of others. Even a Don had to mind appearances when soldiers and associates were watching.
After a brief pause, he said, "Bianca, why don't you come along to the estate gathering?" His tone was casual, as if he were offering me some kind of favor.
In the past, I was never allowed anywhere near his operations. Even when I brought him meals at the social club, I had to wait outside like a stranger, letting his trusted aide come out to take the food so I wouldn't disturb his work.
This invitation, if it could even be called that, was something unprecedented. A rare "kindness" from him.
I took out a tissue and gently wiped the blood from my forehead. My movements were slow and steady, as if nothing could disturb me anymore.
Then I looked up slightly and replied in a calm voice, "Okay."
I arrived completely soaked, my clothes clinging to my body, my hair dripping with rainwater. I must have looked utterly disheveled standing there in front of everyone, out of place and embarrassing. The Valente vineyard estate was warm with candlelight and low conversation, and I stood at the entrance of it like something the storm had dragged in.
Dominic didn't even try to hide it. The moment we entered, he deliberately quickened his pace, walking ahead of me and putting distance between us. It was as if he was afraid people would realize I was with him, afraid of being associated with someone like me.
When Serafina saw me, her lips immediately curled into a pout of displeasure. Her expression was subtle, but the disdain in her eyes was impossible to miss.
As I stood there, I overheard Dominic lean closer to her and whisper in a low voice, "I don't feel sorry for her. I just want to embarrass her."
He let out a faint, almost amused breath before continuing, "I want everyone to see that without me, she's worse off than a dog."
Those words should have hurt. They should have pierced straight through me. But surrounded by the mocking, curious, and judgmental stares of the people around me, I felt… nothing.
Maybe I had already been hurt too many times. Maybe my heart had long since gone numb.
I raised my hand calmly and asked a passing server for a blanket. Wrapping it around myself, I walked over to the sofa and sat down quietly, watching the crowd move about as if I were just an observer, detached from everything.
Associates laughed, capos talked, men toasted glasses of dark wine. The atmosphere was lively, but none of it had anything to do with me. I simply sat there, still and silent, as if I didn't belong in that world anymore.
Just then, my phone rang. It was Adriana.
Her voice came through the line, steady and efficient. She told me she had already contacted several operations overseas for me and that I could go for interviews anytime I was ready. Her words were direct, but beneath them was a kind of quiet support.
I felt a faint warmth in my chest, something I hadn't felt in a long time. I was just about to respond when suddenly, a hand landed on my shoulder.
Startled, I turned my head and saw Dominic standing behind me. His brows were slightly furrowed, his expression carrying a hint of suspicion.
"Who are you talking to?" he asked, his tone sharp. "What interview? Where are you planning to go?"
I met his gaze for a brief moment before answering casually, "Telemarketing."
At my reply, the tension in his expression slowly eased. His frown relaxed, and a trace of satisfaction appeared in his eyes. His signet ring settled against his thumb, still.
"That makes sense," he said lightly. "Your own family doesn't even want you anymore, so where could you possibly go?"
He glanced toward the window and added indifferently, "The rain has stopped. There's nothing for you to do here. Go home."
Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he reminded me, "When you get back, don't forget to wash my coat."
I didn't respond. Instead, I quietly took off the coat he had given me earlier and tossed it onto the sofa beside me.
