After dismissing Hebeera’s words, Vespera decided to speak her mind. She smiled and said, “Actually, it doesn’t matter if I resist him or not. If I can’t resist the temptation, then it just means I’m following my heart without a single care about the consequences of my actions—why would you even think about the consequences? Let Dominic handle that part.”

Reberra replied, “Even if he had the choice to reject Ms. Meron, and his parents happened to be okay with it, who is to say they would accept me? Even if we were together, it’d be nothing but a dream. No matter how magical or wonderful it turns out to be, a dream is still a dream. We can’t keep dreaming forever. He’ll wake up one day, and… I’m afraid of facing the world after I wake up from that dream.”

Rebecca let out a deep sigh. “You’re being too cautious. Aren’t you afraid he’ll think you’re not interested and pick someone else instead? You’ll end up hurting yourself in the end,” she said, trying to reason with her.

“If it hurts, so be it,” Vespera said plainly. “The pain will last for a while, but it’s better than being lost in a dream and waking up one day, broken to the core and having to force myself to get better.”

At that, Rebecca truly had nothing left to say. Some things are better left to simmer in mystery, but she had to tear them apart like an autopsy, with every raw and unsettling detail exposed. Just thinking about it sent shivers down her spine. “Vera, you’ve become a member of the anti-love cult.”

Vespera ignored her and started playing on her phone. What she didn’t say was that she was already hurting when she said those things. Maybe it really would be best to stay further away from Dominic. It wouldn’t be fair for him to be affected by her fear of relationships. He deserved someone more genuine, someone who still had a passion for love.

As she sank into her thoughts, her phone rang. It was a call from Dominic. She was completely caught off guard. Just minutes ago, she was thinking of him in the shower and talking about him with Rebecca. Her mind was still filled with his image. Suddenly getting a call from him made her feel nervous and guilty. After gathering herself, she cleared her throat and picked it up.

“Mr. Reid.”

Dominic frowned at her stiff tone. He paused for a beat, then said in a calm voice, “Get ready. We leave in fifteen minutes.”

“Mr. Gildon, you sound a little nervous.”

“I won’t bring up what happened last night. Let’s meet that friend of ours first and get this done. What do you say?” Dominic asked slowly, trying to ease her mood.

Vespera was shocked that he could tell.

“Okay,” she responded.

With that, the call ended. While she and Rebecca were waiting in the lobby a few minutes early, she realized something about what Dominic had said. Since he wasn’t bringing it up that day, did that mean he would bring it up the next day?

While she was deep in thought, Dominic arrived with Gerard.

“Let’s go. The car’s already at the door,” Dominic said, locking eyes with her, silently reminding her of the secret they shared. Unnoticed by his gaze, her heartbeat quickened.

The group headed outside. Calvent and Byron were already waiting in the car. Heberra was about to sit next to Vespera, but then she suddenly claimed she was feeling carsick and decided to swap seats with Dornier. Dominic had generously made the switch.

Ile sat down beside her and said, “If you get carsick, you could lean—”

“Hopefully, I don’t get carsick, Treverde,” she quickly interrupted.

“You could be,” Plenumed interjected and said, “Calvent, let’s go.”

Calvent gladly obliged. As he reached the fountain, he pulled off a beautiful, if somewhat clumsy, maneuver, guiding Vespera straight into Dominic’s arms.