Crushed Affections (Dominic and Bella)

Chapter 157

Chapter 157 He's Not Coming Back

Seeing Lia's determination, Bella felt a bit more at ease.

When the rain finally let up, Bella drove back to Miller Manor. As she passed by Dominic's bedroom door, she couldn't help but slow down.

His door was left open. Sylvia had mentioned it was to air out the room. If no one stayed in there, the air would get stale.

Everything seemed to be moving along as usual without any major changes. It was just like the past three years when Dominic wasn't around. There was no Pudding to greet her at the door either as she had left with Dominic too. More than a month had passed, and Dominic hadn't called or texted Bella even once. Countless times, she had opened their chat window, only to close it again in silence. She couldn't reach out to him first.

All she could do was quietly wait for everything to settle, as if nothing had ever happened. This was the outcome she had accepted from the very start.

As she glanced out at the courtyard, her eyes caught sight of an oak tree, its leaves beginning to turn yellow. The breeze carried the first hints of fall.

Bella muttered to herself, "It's almost fall... No wonder it hasn't been so hot lately."

Bella's shoulders from behind. "Yes, with all this rain, the temperature's dropping. Be sure to stay warm... It's easy to catch

a moment, then asked,

as usual. Someone like him... It's no surprise he hasn't had time to call. He must be running around non-stop." Bella didn't respond, quietly accepting Sylvia's explanation. Deep down, she had a feeling she knew Dominic's

to the hospital to talk with

completely off the grid, and even

touch with him, do you think something's

any signs of worry, but he wasn't exactly relaxed either. "I

97

would've found a way to contact me or Leonard. The fact that we haven't heard from him probably

why haven't we heard anything from

shook his head. "You worry too much. You're the only one who still sees Dominic as some harmless little lamb. I'm not that

she knew was

now, there was no word from him.

lifeless in this season. She wanted to brighten it up, to bring a bit of color. She hoped that when Dominic returned, he would be greeted by a garden full of life, not one in decay... If he ever