Chapter 169

The waiter placed the dishes before them, and Vanessa couldn't tear her gaze away from the steak in front of her. She meticulously sliced it with her knife, cutting it into precise, bite-sized pieces. In contrast, the two men beside her ate with far more ease.

"I haven’t had the chance to properly thank you for your assistance, Mr. Dubois," Dominic began, raising his glass. "Your notes were invaluable. After adjusting the formula as you suggested, we stabilized the essential oil production. The factory is running smoothly again, though the delay did set back our deliveries for a few days."

He took a sip before continuing. "We managed to compensate for the lost time, and thankfully, our clients were understanding. This wouldn’t have been possible without you. I’m truly grateful."

Lucien offered a faint smile, lifting his own glass. "It was nothing."

The clink of crystal made Vanessa stiffen. Sensing her tension, Dominic immediately set his drink down. "Are you alright?"

She shook her head, forcing a smile. "Just a little tired, that’s all. Please, don’t let me interrupt your conversation."

"You should eat," Dominic urged, nodding toward her plate. "Don’t just cut it—actually take a bite." He speared a piece of steak with his fork and held it out to her.

Vanessa hesitated. Normally, she wouldn’t think twice, but she could feel Lucien’s gaze on her from the corner of her eye.

To be exact, he was watching her. His lips curved into a smile, but it sent an uneasy shiver down her spine.

"It’s fine, Dom. I can feed myself," she protested.

Dominic didn’t relent. "Come on, just one bite."

Reluctantly, she parted her lips and accepted the morsel. Pleased, Dominic continued feeding her until she had eaten nearly half the steak.

Then, without warning, Vanessa pressed a hand to her mouth. "N-No more. I really can’t."

She pushed back from the table and hurried toward the restroom.

Dominic chuckled lightly, turning back to Lucien. "Forgive her. Pregnancy does that sometimes."

Lucien’s eyebrows lifted. He studied Dominic for a long moment before a slow, triumphant smirk spread across his face. He raised his glass again. "Is that so? Congratulations."

Dominic blinked, taken aback. He had expected resistance—some flicker of displeasure, at least. Instead, Lucien seemed genuinely pleased.

Maybe I was wrong about him, Dominic thought.

Perhaps he had misjudged Lucien entirely.