Chapter 81 It would be something different...


    VICTORIA’S POV


    Sometimes, I have a sense that God is extremely displeased with me. Just when I thought that


    everything in my life was falling into ce and that I would have a happy ending with Aless, he showed


    up.


    Here before me was the man I used to love. He’s my first love and the first heir of the Devonte family.


    He was the reason I became involved with Alessandro.


    My whole body felt numb, and I don’t know what to do at this moment. Should I be happy? Or should I


    cry that he appeared again?


    Watching him from afar, I felt a fluttering sensation on my cheeks. He looked just the same as he


    always had, with his striking good looks, piercing blue eyes, and perfectly chiseled features. He and


    Alessandro could have been mistaken for identical twins.


    With a broad grin, Dominic took Mike from the host.


    “Good evening,dies and Gentlemen. Firstly, I apologize for myte arrival. Thank you for attending


    this banquet and waiting for my arrival. Please enjoy your night here with DW Wine Corp.”


    The entire room erupted in apuse, showering him with appreciation. Some even whispered about


    how they had expected him to be an elderly man but were pleasantly surprised by his youthful and


    handsome appearance.


    At this moment, everything felt surreal. It’s umon for someone to return after passing away, but


    Dominic’s unexpected return haspletely disrupted my world.


    As we stood, stunned, he came down, and after meeting a few people, he turned to... Us.


    Oh! H...He ising here!


    Out of the blue, an unexinable sense of difort took hold of me. I don’t know for what reason,


    but...


    “Long time no see, my brother.” Dominic greeted Aless.


    I am still staring at him, probably with eyes wide open—no idea how to react to the scene.


    “Yo... ou’re still alive?!” Aless asked incredulously.


    Like me, he was also in a daze. Or, maybe, more than me? After all, Dominic is his elder brother.


    Dominic chuckled, and I noticed a hint of emptiness in his smile. He seemed like the same person but


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    different in some ways. “Someone saved me,” he said with a shrug.


    Suddenly, I heard Antonio whisper from behind. “What’s wrong, Vici? Wait... Wh...why are you crying?


    Do you know him?”


    Cry?! I touched my cheeks, and they felt wet. Ant was right. I am crying.


    My lips parted, but no answer came out of me. I am too stunned to speak.


    “Why didn’t youe back after all these years?” Aless asked, sounding confused.


    “I was badly injured and have been receiving treatment abroad these years. A major treatment, you can


    say.” He replied, and then his gaze fell on me.


    Those familiar blue eyes watched me, and somehow, I felt nauseous. I don’t know what this feeling is


    that terrifies me from the inside.


    A smile crept across his face but failed to reach his eyes. This was unusual because his eyes would


    light up in unison whenever Dominic smiled. However, his smile seemed contrived this time andcked


    the usual authenticity.


    “Hey, Tori...” His deep tone whispered. “You have grown up. More beautifully.” Heplimented me,


    and that rushed down to my bones.


    I heard gasps beside me. Surely, from Aless and Ant, as no one knew about my previous rtionship


    with Dominic.


    Dominicughed suddenly, shaking his head.


    “I can’t believe, Victoria, that you married Andro and became my sister-inw now.” Heughed again,


    and the whole thing seemed funny to him.


    “Y...You know each other?” I heard Alessandro’s shocked tone beside us.


    I once turned to Alessandro. I decided to confess everything to him tonight but not like this, certainly. I


    nned it differently. However, things turned seeminglyplicated now.


    Before I could reply, I heard Dominic saying, “We went to the same college. Victoria was a freshman,


    and I was a senior, about toplete my studies. We were in Paris at that time.” He answered, his


    gaze still focused on me.


    For some reason, it’s bing increasingly ufortable for me to maintain eye contact with him as


    time passes.


    “Oh, I see,” Alessandro replied as his gaze locked on me too.


    There is a ton of question in his blue gaze. They are demanding and using me somehow as if I lied


    to him. Well, I never lied, but I hide things.


    “So?” Dominic’s tone dragged our gaze to him again as he stretched his hand to his brother.


    Congrattions, Andro. You are gonna be a father.”


    He turned to me, and his eyes dropped to my baby bump. “It would have been different if not for what


    happened five years ago...”


    I gasped as I felt Alessandro’s stiffened expression. This is way too awkward! Oh, Lord!


    I don’t know if Ant got any hint from our expressions, but he came forward, clearing his throat.


    “Hello, Mr. Dominic. I am Antonio Edwards.”


    Releasing his grip on his brother’s hand, Dominic reached for my brother’s hand and shook it with a


    smile. “Of course, I know that. Well, who doesn’t?” He arched his brow.


    “It’s a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Edwards. And I am grateful you agreed to let us hold the banquet.”


    “My pleasure,” Antonio replied, shaking his hand. “I didn’t know the DW’s Director is so young and


    somehow rted.”


    Dominic chuckled. “Well, the world is too small.” He cast a fleeting nce in my direction, leaving the


    next course of action uncertain.


    Ant nodded. “Yeah, you are right. You have business in your blood, and it’s showing.” He looked


    around.


    Dominic shook his head with a smile. “Oh, don’t be like that. It’s still nothingpared to Devonte’s


    Empire. I am just trying.” He shrugged.


    “So? Enjoy then?” Dominic turned to Aless again.


    After a prolonged silence, Alessandro finally spoke up, “Why don’t youe home and visit Grandma?


    She would be delighted to see you.”


    “I am afraid I will scare our grandmother away. Maybe next time.?”


    Aless nodded. “Okay.”


    He suddenly turned so cold, and I didn’t know how to convince him next. Dominic’s appearance has


    “I... I am a little tired. Can you drive me home?” I spoke without looking at anyone.


    I just said that. Uncertain of Alessandro’s current stance on the matter, I had hoped for some help from


    Ant. To my surprise, it was Alessandro who took the initiative.


    “Are you alright? Not feeling well?” He asked.


    His words rushed some warmth in me. Even in this awkward situation, he did not stop caring for me.


    “I am fine. Just feeling a little tired.” I said, avoiding eye contact with him.


    “Let me take you home.” Alessandro offered.


    I don’t know how the situation would turn between us, but I still agreed and nodded my head silently.


    “I suppose I’ll have to catch up with you allter,” Dominic remarked. “Take care,” he added as he


    nced at me one final time before departing to mingle with the other guests.


    Well, it’s time for some good exnation.