Chapter 253

"Are you certain the formula is ready?" Dominic's voice was barely above a whisper, raw and strained. Each word scraped against his throat like broken glass.

Though he still refused to meet Vanessa's gaze, the fact that he spoke at all was enough for her. It meant he was willing to listen.

"Yes. We tested it last night to be sure. To avoid any risks, we skipped the rest, so we—" She tried to explain.

But her words grated on his nerves. He had been forcing himself to forget, yet the moment she uttered "last night" and "we," the memory surged back—vivid, relentless, igniting his fury all over again.

He clenched his fists, knuckles whitening, and hissed through gritted teeth, "Don't. Mention. Last night. Again."

Vanessa fell silent and sank into the chair beside his hospital bed. Studying his profile, she said quietly, "I never meant to hurt you like this. But since you found out, I owe you the truth. Yes, I was wrong. But you can't deny that you've always been the man I love. It's always been you, Dominic. Only you. What happened between us and him—it was just a deal. I didn't do it for myself alone."

Dominic threw his head back and laughed—a harsh, bitter sound that tore through the room. The sudden movement wrenched his injuries, pain lancing through his limbs, but he didn’t stop. He laughed until his eyes burned. "So you’re saying you did it for me too? Should I thank you both, then?"

When he finally turned to face her, his smile was razor-thin, edged with mockery and rage.

"Mock me all you want," Vanessa said, her voice steady. "But everything I did was for us. For our future. That’s the truth, whether you believe it or not."

Her composure was unnerving. She spoke with such conviction that it sounded like a vow.

"Vanessa Blake," Dominic sneered. "I never knew you could twist words so beautifully." His voice dropped to a venomous whisper. "Where were you when I was drowning in accusations? When I was stranded in Silverpine Valley with no one? When Evelyn humiliated me in front of everyone? And the formula—who created that mess? Who fixed it for you? Tell me, is DR Holdings not benefiting from this new formula?"

His words lashed at her, but she didn’t flinch. Instead, her own anger flared. "You blame me, but have you ever asked why I had to do this? Do you think I wanted this? I wish I could be some pampered socialite, spending my days shopping and getting manicures! But who pushed me onto this path?"

Dominic’s expression flickered with confusion. "Are you seriously blaming me now?"

Vanessa swiped at the tear threatening to escape, inhaling sharply. "I’m not blaming you. I’m saying none of this was what either of us wanted. If I’d had another choice—"

She broke off, then continued softly, "Dominic, I’ve loved you since we were students. That hasn’t changed. Past, present, future—it’s always been you. The only reason I endured watching you chase after Evelyn was because I loved you. Would I have stayed as your secret if I didn’t? You know everything I’ve sacrificed for you. I’ve never wronged you before this."

Slowly, she rose to her feet, looking down at him with icy detachment. "If you can’t accept what happened, then fine. We can end this."

Without another word, she turned and walked out of the hospital room.

By lunchtime, Evelyn and Isabella had finalized most of the details for their upcoming trip.