The Billionaire And His Son Want Me Back by Juliette Vaughan

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The slap reverberated sharply, cutting through the ambient hum of the corridor and drawing the attention of several passersby. Heads turned as people paused mid- stride, curiosity flickering in their expressions.

Dominick's head snapped to the side from the force of Paisley's strike, and a vivid, angry imprint of her fingers bloomed across his cheek.

For a moment, he froze, as if stunned that she'd dared to hit him. Slowly, he turned back to her, his gloomy eyes narrowing with disbelief and something more dangerous simmering beneath the surface. From the far end of the hallway, the click of high heels against the polished floor announced Marissa's arrival. She stepped out of the private room her gaze immediately landing on the scene in front of her. Her eyes widened, and a sharp gasp escaped her lips. "Oh my goodness she cried, rushing toward Dominick, the rapid staccato of her heels echoing her urgency. "Ms. Sutton, why would you hit him?" Marissa's voice pitched higher, laced

with outrage as her wide eyes darted to Dominick's reddened check. Dom. are you okay? Does it hurt? Her hand fluttered nervously near his face as though she wanted to comfort him but didn't dare touch him..

Paisley couldn't bring herself to entertain this melodrama. She didn't bother looking at Dominick, she didn't need to. His palpable anger radiated from him like heat from a fumace, making the air around them thick and oppressive. Before anyone else could speak, a voice broke the weirdly heavy tension with almost comical abruptness. "What's going

on here! Lucy's familiar tone rang out as she walked toward them, her curious eyes darting between the trio.

Relieved to see her here. Paisley exhaled softly and seized the moment to redirect her focus. "Where have you been? You've been in the Ladies' room forever," she asked, her tone tinged with mild annoyance. "Oh, I got caught

up scrolling on my phone in the restroom Lucy said nonchalantly, waving her phone for emphasis. I stumbled

on this crime che video-something about dismemberment-

as her gaze lingered on Dominick

see. "Ms. Sutton, I didn't realize you weren't dining alone with that guy" she said. her tone carefully neutral

jaw tightening as though he had something to say. But she didn't give him the

Gary had explicitly told Lory that only the and Paisley were invited to today's dinner. "You don't need to worry about them. Paisley replied curtly, shaking

If time

nothing to discuss. I'm coming with you, Paisley said coldly, cutting a pointed

stood in silence, the atmosphere between them as heavy as the humid

was unreadable, his features

Marissa

might be

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to jump to

she broke the quiet, her voice hesitant.

Dominick interrupted, his tone distant, almost bored. His large hand rose to his collar, deftly undoing two buttons on his shim as though the very air around him was stifling. "She and I have nothing to do with each other." Tut ther small

Even as he tried to mask

and her slap had unsettled

myy I remember

Marinas delicate