Chapter 166
Ellie POV
Dominic stands behind me like the choice for Vivian to help had been made up. Both her and I wearing the same wide eyes, shocked at how fast this wedding was moving.
I’d have no time to push him away…
I shook my head, then glared back at him.
Only problem at a time.
“Hi,” I say, turning toward Dominic, my voice tight. “Sorry, did you not hear me? I said no.”
He doesn’t react to my tone. Just watches me, calm and steady in that infuriating way of his.
“You’ve made it very clear,” he says evenly, “that you don’t want to participate in Luna duties. I’ve respected that. But the responsibilities still exist, Ellie. If it’s not you, then it’s my mother. And she has enough to do.”
Something sour twists low in my stomach.
“That’s not my fault. I said my terms. You agreed,” I remind him, quieter now but sharper. “You’re not going to guilt me into a role I never said I wanted. You said I could live how I choose. That this wouldn’t-”
“And you can,” he interrupts. “Nothing about that has changed. But the work doesn’t disappear just because you don’t want it. I’m just recruiting help. Vivian’s been at management academy since the start, a great eye for things. We could use the skill set.”
I glance at Vivian.
She’s trying to hide it, but I catch it. That tiny lift at the corner of her mouth. That smug, satisfied flicker she thinks no one
notices.
I step back and grab the door.
“Get out,” I say, looking straight at her.
Her eyes widen, but not from fear. From performance. “Ellie, I only meant to help-”
“No.” My grip tightens on the handle. “If I see you here again, I’m shoving those rose thorns right across your eyes.”
She gasps like I slapped her. “Ellie!”
I slam the door before she can finish.
The sound cracks through the foyer, loud enough to feel good for half a second.
When I turn, I run straight into him, face sandwiched between pecks. Which on any other day, might be nice.
My forehead slides up slowly to meet his glare down.
When I turned, I nearly ran right into his chest.
My forehead bumps him, and I tilt my head back, already annoyed.
He’s got that look. The one that means he’s not moving.
“Move,” I scoff. “The only reason I want to be at this door is for pizza.”
He runs a hand through his hair, jaw tight. “You’re overreacting.”
“Over pizza? Not really.” I shrug. “I’m hungry.”
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“More like hangry.”
My brows pull together. “That’s because you keep pissing me off, and we aren’t even married yet.” I poke his chest. “What happened to you not undermining me? You said I make my own choices.”
He doesn’t move from the poke. Doesn’t even flinch.
“No,” he corrects calmly. “I said we discuss things. I tell you what I think. You tell me what you think. And we come to an agreement.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “But I already told you my answer.”
His hand suddenly moves to my waist, guiding me back a step until my shoulders hit the door behind me.
Not rough. But firm.
My breath catches anyway.
“We move as a team now, Ellie,” he says quietly, leaning just close enough that I feel the heat of him. “If there are problems, we say them. If there are concerns, we say them. You don’t just shut me out.”
I stare up at him.
This is the same guy who used to argue with me over nothing. Who fought Lucas like a jealous idiot.
Now he sounds older. Steadier.
It throws me off balance.
I push at his chest.
“Exactly. That doesn’t mean you override me,” I snap, ducking under his arm and moving down the hall.
He catches up easily.
“So coming to an agreement is controlling?” he asks.
“It is when I already said no.”
He exhales sharply. “You’re not even listening to my side.”
“Because she’s my sister,” I snap. “That means my choice.”
“Ellie,” he says, frustration creeping in, “will you just wait five seconds?”
“Not unless you’re my delivery driver,” I shoot back. “Who is, by the way, extremely late.”
My heels click sharply against the marble floor as I keep walking.
“I said wait.”
“I heard you,” I reply without turning around. “I just chose to ignore you.”
Silence behind me.
Then-
“Will you just explain-Vivian is not the enemy.”
The words hit like ice water.
“That’s what you said last time.”
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He goes still behind me. “Last time?”
I stop.
Damn it.
I turn slowly. “You have a soft spot for her. You always have.”
His jaw tightens “We grew up together. All of us. I don’t love her. But I care. Her father is being investigated because of us. Rightfully so, but she’s losing everything. Including you. Her family.”
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