The quiet murmurs ofte-night conversation faded, and the world settled into stillness.


    Early the next morning, Be heard Pudding''s paws patter across the floor as Pudding slipped out of her room. Be rolled out of bed half-asleep and followed to see what had caught Pudding''s attention.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    The dog would only respond to her or Dominic.


    When she reached the living room, Dominic was seated on the couch, ying with Pudding. He had clearly just arrived. Judging by the time, he must have driven back overnight from his business trip. Yet, even after such a grueling schedule, his tailored suit was immacte. He always carried himself with the sameposed confidence.


    Yawning, Be shuffled into the kitchen and poured him a ss of warm milk. Ca had nearly finished preparing breakfast by now, so the milk''s temperature was just right.


    Dominic didn''t even reach for it when she handed it to him. "I don''t like milk. You drink it."


    Ignoring his resistance, she pressed the ss into his hand. "Drink it. Milk''s good for you. You''re always busy running around. You probably don''t even get a proper meal half the time."


    This time, he didn''t argue. With a resigned sigh, he drank it all in one go.


    As she heard her phone ringing upstairs, Be quickly excused herself and returned to her room to answer it. It was Sean calling at the perfect time.


    Leaving her bedroom door slightly ajar, she answered the call. "Hello? I''m surprised you''re up this early."


    Sean''s voice had a teasing tone, fully leaning into their n. "When talking to someone I like, I''ve got to put in the effort. How else will you know how I feel?"


    Be wasn''t sure if this yful banter was too much, but she went along with it, her grogginess dulling her caution. "Stop messing around... Dominic just got back. He''s here with me. I''ll call you backter today. Maybe we can grab a meal. How does that sound?" Sean agreed without hesitation. Be hung up, turned around, and froze. Dominic was standing in the doorway.


    Her heart skipped a beat. This was exactly what she wanted, but the feeling of being caught off guard still rattled her.


    Her momentary difort was genuine. Steeling herself, she forced a stiff smile. "Why aren''t you eating breakfast? I''ll be down in a minute."


    Dominic''s expression was


    unreadable, but his darkened gaze betrayed that he''d overheard at least part of her conversation. She hadn''t said anything incriminating, though. He couldn''t possibly know who she''d been talking to... right?


    Before she could figure it out, Dominic raised his phone and showed her the screen. It disyed an active call with Lia.


    Realization dawned, and her blood


    ran cold. While she''d been on the phone with Sean, he''d called Lia to confirm who she was really talking to. He''d eliminated her closest confidante, and it wasn''t hard for him to piece together the rest.


    Now she stood there, stiff and unsure, caught entirely off guard.


    Dominic ended the call and spoke in a low, icy voice. "I''m not going to ask who you were talking to. But you need to understand something-if you dare get tangled up with another man while you''re pregnant, I won''t let it slide!"


    Be quickly regained her


    her lips as she stepped closer. Her fingers tugged at his tie, her eyes locking with his. "So, it''s only while I''m pregnant? Once I''ve delivered the baby, are you going to let me be with someone else? Would you even allow that?"


    His eyes narrowed, and his tone was dangerously calm. "Don''t tease me, Be. And don''t test me."


    Rising on her toes, her lips nearly brushed his chin as she whispered, "And if I do? What are you going to do about it?"


    Dominic''s face remained nk as he pulled the tie from her grip and took two deliberate steps back. "Go eat."


    Without waiting for her response, he turned and headed downstairs, leaving Be standing there.