Chapter 140

"Why can't you sleep? Are you feeling unwell? Or is something troubling you?" Dominic's voice was laced with immediate concern.

Vanessa bit her lip, resisting the temptation to accept Lucien's offer. "I'm fine. Maybe I just miss you," she murmured softly. "Can you come see me, Dom?"

"I will, soon. Just let me wrap things up here, and I'll be on the next flight to you," Dominic replied without hesitation. But to Vanessa, it sounded like an empty excuse—another brush-off.

"What's so important that you can't leave now? The event will be over by the time you get here!" Her voice sharpened with frustration. "It's just a two-hour flight. Can't you spare a single day to be with me?"

"Vanessa, be reasonable. You know how critical this is. DR Holdings is barely recovering, and we have orders piling up. We need to push harder with our existing products while developing something new."

He shifted the topic abruptly. "Speaking of which, how's the search for a new perfumer going? Have you found anyone promising?"

Dominic's mind was consumed by the company's survival, his tone edged with urgency.

"No! All you care about is the damn company!" Vanessa snapped, her temper flaring. "I'm pregnant, Dominic! Do you honestly think I have the energy to scout for talent right now? Is that all I am to you—a recruitment agent?"

Dominic exhaled, forcing patience into his voice. "I know it's not easy, but we need someone skilled, or we won't survive in this industry!"

"You don't care about anything but your business!" Her voice cracked. "You didn't even ask how my day was. Evelyn was here today, and you didn't bother checking in. Do you have any idea how humiliated I felt during the sampling event? I nearly made a fool of myself!"

The dam broke. All the anger she'd bottled up came rushing out.

Dominic wasn't always like this. In the beginning, he was attentive—surprising her with gifts, whisking her away to exclusive events, flying across the country just to kiss her goodnight. Now, he couldn't even spare a five-minute call to ask if she was okay.

His silence stretched before he finally spoke. "W-What happened at the event? What do you mean you almost embarrassed yourself? What did Evelyn do?"

"Do you even care?" Vanessa sat up, pressing a hand to her face as tears spilled over. "Dominic, do you remember the promises you made when we first got together?"

"What promises?" Confusion colored his tone.

She let out a bitter laugh. "Of course you don't. You never took them seriously, did you? Men and their empty words. You played me for a fool."

Dominic had once vowed she'd never have to lift a finger—that she'd live as his cherished trophy wife, draped in luxury and fame. But those promises had faded like smoke.

"N-No, Vanessa, I—"

"I'm tired. I'm going to bed." Her voice turned icy, the warmth gone.

"Vanessa, I know you're upset, but please—the company isn't what it used to be. When Evelyn was with us, production ran smoothly. Now, we're barely keeping up." He hesitated. "If you could develop a new line, it would—"

"So now it's my fault?" She snatched her blanket, fury igniting in her chest. "Because I'm not as brilliant as Evelyn? Because I'm a disappointment to you, Mr. Reeves?"

"No! That's not what I meant!"

But it was too late. Vanessa hung up before he could fix it.