Felix wanted to ask about her relationship with Dominic, but his question was phrased subtly. A smooth talker wouldn't be so direct. Bella understood. "Yes, we're very close," she replied, her four words offering no further explanation. She wasn't sure how to describe their relationship anyway.

She didn't ask Felix how he knew about Dominic; everyone in Joville knew him. Realizing Bella didn't want to discuss it, Felix dropped the subject.

At Miller Manor's entrance, Bella exited the car, waving to Felix and Yvonne. "See you this weekend," she called.

Yvonne leaned out the window, gazing curiously at the manor. "You live in such a big house but still work part-time. Are you really that poor?"

Bella replied matter-of-factly, "Yes, very poor. If I don't work, I can't feed myself. Drive safely. Goodbye."

Only after Felix's car disappeared did Bella enter the manor. Unlocking the door, she noticed Dominic wasn't home. He'd left much earlier than she had. Had he gone somewhere else?

She dismissed the thought and turned on the lights, the warmth slightly lessening her loneliness. Just as she was about to go upstairs, she heard a car—Dominic was home. Felix had just left; Dominic must have seen his car.

Upset about their dinner, she avoided him, heading straight to her room, grabbing her pajamas, and going to the bathroom.

As she watched the tub fill with pink bath bubbles, she found the process oddly satisfying, a distraction from the lonely evening. Once the tub was ready, she sank into the water, letting her thoughts drift. The warmth was lulling her to sleep when the bathroom door swung open. Her eyes snapped open, meeting Dominic's deep gaze.

Her mind blanked. "Do you need something?" she asked.

He stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he said, "Come to my room after you're done."

Without waiting for a reply, he left. His words were easily misinterpreted, and Bella overthought them. After confirming he hadn't been drinking, she got out of the tub and dressed. Reaching his room, she found the door ajar. She knocked lightly on the frame, having no intention of entering. "I'm here. What do you need?"

Dominic sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing into the darkness.

"Take your mother's things," he said coldly, pushing a small sandalwood box toward her.

The old, faded box was small. Seeing it, Bella's heart sank. She gently picked it up. This was Dorothy's keepsake. No matter where they lived as a child, Dorothy always kept the box. Whatever was inside must have been precious to her. After her death, the box had disappeared. Bella had searched for it, suspecting it might have been buried with her mother. She never expected Dominic to have it.

She didn't blame him for giving it to her now; having it back was enough. Holding the box like a treasure, her eyes reddened. She held back tears, not wanting to cry in front of him. "Thank you," she whispered.

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