Crushed Affections (Dominic and Bella)

Chapter 5 Her Heart Would Skip a Beat

Bella slowly began to regain her senses, opening her eyes to meet the deep gaze of the man before her. She had thought he would be asleep at this hour.

The morning light shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting dappled shadows across the room. The soft golden glow landed perfectly on Dominic, lending a gentle warmth to his usually stern features. He looked so captivating that she couldn't look away. Bella was completely entranced. Whether she was five years old or nearly 25, every time she looked at him, her heart would skip a beat.

"Aren't you a cardiologist? What were you doing in the gynecology department?"

Dominic suddenly changed the topic, asking about the day before. Why had she been in the gynecology department with Mandy?

Bella was a bit confused. Clearly, her exhausted mind couldn't keep up with his.

Suddenly, darkness crept into her vision. Panicking, she broke free from Dominic's grip and grabbed onto the staircase railing. "Let's talk later. I'm too tired and need to rest."

Without waiting to see his expression turn angry, she numbly made her way back to her room.

the time, but for the first time ever, she had been the one to let go of

...

her alarm jolted Bella awake. She reluctantly opened her eyes, still enveloped in a heavy

curled up in bed forever, but she couldn't. She had a private piano lesson to teach that afternoon. It was a

only regaining her usual composure when she noticed that Dominic

walking on eggshells around him, careful not to provoke his irritation. But honestly, had there ever been a single day, or even

to this particular job. After a half-hour car ride, she arrived at an upscale neighborhood. The residents here were wealthy,

the door of the employer's house, she rang the bell. Soon, a woman in her 40s opened the door. "You must be Ms.

need to be patient. When she finally met her student, Bella couldn't help but

young. Are you sure you can play the piano? "This piano was my mother's. It's not only expensive but also of great sentimental value. Do you really think you're qualified to touch it with those claws of yours?" Yvonne's rude comments caught Bella off guard. She glanced at her own slender fingers and replied

The

Yvonne with anything too complicated, so she played a simple, improvised piece. Yvonne's expression shifted

chose. I'll leave her in your hands now. I have some other matters to

a name. It's an improvised piece, just... the burst of emotion I feel when