The Daring Billionaire’s Wife by Lypstical

Vanessa

After Dominic uncovers my mouth with our eyes locked, he slowly wipes away my tears with his thumb as he begins to speak to me.

"There's something you still don't know. Yesterday, before we returned home, your dad and I had a conversation. He confided in me and said that after spending time with all of us and seeing the beauty of life, he doesn't want to give up any more."

"What?" I look away, a heavier feeling settling in my chest, far outweighing how I felt after what Carmella said about my father.

With his hands on the sides of my face, he guides my gaze back to his. "He didn't tell you because he didn't want to overwhelm you. That's why he privately spoke to me. He even broke down in tears and made sure you wouldn't see him that way. He really wants to live." I close my eyes for a moment to process it all, imagining what my father must've been like at that moment. He sounded determined to live, but was he scared?

Just as I'm about to ask Dominic, he says, "I was so glad when he said he wants to live because even before he spoke to me, I already wanted to do something like this. It won't be an easy journey, but I'll do everything in my power to make it happen. There's a few specific things we could try and-"Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

I abruptly cut him off as I burst into tears and tightly wrap my arms around his neck and bury my face in his chest.

"Hey," he chuckles, gently rubbing my back.

"Thank you." I sniffle.

"For what?"

"Do I even have to say it?"

He chuckles again, placing his hand on my shoulder as the other one wipes my tears away.

With his lips still curved into a smile, he says, "I'm so glad I came with you on this vacation because I've realized a lot of things."

"Like what?" I tilt my head a little, curious.

He looks right into my eyes and parts his lips to speak but not a single sound comes from him, making me even more curious.

"What is it?" I ask, almost standing on my tippy toes as if that will make me hear him better.

He sighs as he looks away with a frown. "Nevermind. It can wait. We have serious problems right now. I'll obviously deal with Carmella but right now, it's Mia I'm concerned about."

"Shit!" I bury my face in my hands. "I forgot she heard everything because I was too focused on what Carmella said to me."

"I'll be honest with you. Carmella's been saying that for a while now but I just didn't want to tell you about it. I knew it would hurt you."

"It definitely hurt when I heard it myself. Aren't you mad about what I did to her face?"

He nonchalantly shakes his head. "No."

"Really? Not even a little?" I furrow my eyebrows.

"Nope."

"How's it even possible that you were here the same time as Carmella and me?"

"I just had some private business to take care of. I'm glad I showed up when I did. Now, about Mia, there's no point in lying to her after what she saw and heard, so I'll leave it up to you to explain things to her. I just hope she can keep a secret." "She definitely can. I just didn't think this was how she'd find out." I chuckle.

"Are you okay?"

His sudden question makes me force a chuckle. "What do you mean? Of course I'm okay."

He sighs and places his hand on the side of my arm. "I mean it. Are you okay?"

"I'll get over it. Those slaps did make me feel better." I look at the palms of my hands.

"I can stay here with you if you need me."

My heart skips a beat, caught off guard by how he'd stay with me if I asked him to.

"Oh...I'll be just fine with Mia. We have a lot to talk about. Besides, if you were to stay with me, what would happen to your upcoming date with Carmella in two hours?"

He scoffs. "What date?"

"Huh?" I narrow my eyes, wondering what he means.

"I'll meet up with you later. I need to speak to her now."

I nod, smiling as he walks away and even after he's out of sight. I place a hand on my chest and sigh deeply, grateful that he's willing to do everything in his power to help my father.

Though I want to meet up with Mia right away and explain everything from the beginning, I call my father first.

"Hello, my dear," he says from the other end of the line, his cough more frequent than before.

"Dad, Dominic just told me what you discussed regarding your health. Why didn't you tell me?"

He sighs. "He did? Oh, my child, I just couldn't bring myself to do it but with him, just felt I could and he

made it so easy. It brought meet

gave

much joy seeing the support he to me. That's why I'm so lucky to have him as my son-in-law

After he brags about Dominic and what they have planned for his treatment, send a message to Mia so we can meet up again. I'm aware that I have a lot to explain to her, but Dominic is all I can think about and all he's planning for my father. I

proudly nod to myself, glad to have a supportive husband.

Dominic

If not for the tinted windows of my car, everyone would be watching as Carmella rants and constantly throws items from her shopping bags at the bodyguards in the backseat.

"All three of you just stood there like you couldn't do shit! What the fuck was that? You don't work for her. You work for me, so how the hell did-"

"Enough," I firmly cut her off, then look over at the bodyguards. "Get out."

"Yes, Sir," they say in unison.

She chuckles bitterly. "Seriously? You take orders from him and that bitch but not from me?"

"I said that's enough. I thought I warned you to never use that word when talking about Vanessa!"

She flinches a little but instantly crosses her arms and says, "My face is still fucking red. What are you going to do about it?"

I lean forward. "Look at it. That's what I'll do."

She sneers at me. "In other words, you won't do anything about it?"

"Wow, you figured it out." I move back with a chuckle.

"She hit me five times and you'll just let it go?"

"You know why she hit you. Don't forget that part."

"I just didn't think I'd run into her, okay? It was the perfect opportunity to say it to her face."

"And look where that got you."

"Is it just me or are you taking her side?"

"I'm definitely not taking your side and that says a lot."

"Ugh!" She slams the window on her side. "All this bullshit has ruined my mood. I should have bought those earrings by now to finish up my look for our date." "What date?" I furrow my eyebrows.

"What do you mean by that?" She frowns. "Babe, you and I have a date in two hours."

"We do?"