Chapter 5

My heart lurched. I snatched the papers back, too fast for subtlety.

Dominic froze, his sharp gaze pinning my trembling hands. "What's that? Why're you so jumpy?"

"House purchase agreement," I lied, avoiding his eyes, trying to keep my voice steady. I grabbed a pen from the table and held it out. "Just sign it."

The pen hovered between us. He didn't take it, his eyes boring into me. "Give me a reason to sign."

The air grew thick. The comments flared up.

[Dominic just wants Clara to sweet-talk him a little. Why's she being so clueless lately?]

[That's a bond-breaking agreement! If he signs, what's left for us to ship? Clara's just too stubborn to smooth things over—she doesn't want to break the bond.]

I lowered my eyes, then softened my voice, like I'd done a thousand times to coax him. "The butler said you haven't been sleeping well. A place in the suburbs is quiet—good for rest. That reason work?"

His gaze flickered with something unreadable, but he didn't press further. He signed the papers with a quick, clean stroke, his voice flat. "Send me the new address when you move. Handle the rest—I don't need to be involved."

I tucked the signed agreement away, saying nothing.

After I was discharged, I started splitting our shared assets while shipping off my stuff. Dominic didn't come home, but his social media was a parade of updates: trendy restaurant plates, mountain vistas, romantic beach sunsets.

Minutes later, Aurora would post nearly identical shots, practically screaming they were together. I knew he was doing it to rile me up, to make me jealous.

But I didn't flinch, just scrolled past without a word, never checking where he was.

Days passed, and Dominic must've sensed something was off. He came home, his eyes locking onto me, searching for a crack in my armor. He even brought up his trip with Aurora, lingering on the details, watching me like he was waiting for me to snap.

I just nodded, giving him nothing.

My calm got under his skin. His brows knit together, voice tinged with irritation. "What's with you lately? You're acting like you don't care about anything."

I looked up at him, memories flooding back. For years, I'd orbited him like a shadow, pouring everything into hoping he'd drop his walls and show me his heart. Just one "I love you" would've been enough to soothe the ache.

But all I got was test after test, his indifference cutting deeper each time. Exhaustion hit me like a wave, stealing my breath.

For once, I didn't hold back. "I'm wolf, Dominic. I get tired. No one can keep giving everything, tearing themselves apart, when they get nothing back. When the love runs dry, you stop caring."

His face darkened with every word, freezing into a mask of ice. He stormed out, the door slamming so hard the walls shook.

The comments rolled in.

[Oh no, Clara said too much! Dominic only heard that last part—she doesn't care. He's gonna take it the wrong way!]

[He's sulking now. Clara knows he's sensitive, so why say something to hurt him? Can't she see he's struggling?]

A heavy weariness settled in my eyes. I sighed, thinking of all the years I'd bent over backward for him. All my understanding got me was more neglect, more pain. Who ever tried to understand me?

I ignored the comments and kept packing my things, done with Dominic and his games.