Chapter 2 The Tragedy Behind the Perfect Brother

Dominc’s face didn’t give anything away. He just looked at her, with eyes that seemed to shift and darken like deep water. Then Dominic said absolutely nothing. Cool as ever, he glanced away like the moment never happened and turned toward the stairs. Jean stared at his retreating back, her thoughts going wild. Seriously? That’s it? He’s just gonna walk off? I thought for sure he was gearing up to say something else... Dominic stopped mid-step. And then— Jean blinked as he doubled back out of nowhere. Same calm, quiet voice. Same distant tone. "Do you... want to eat dinner with me?" …… In the big, stylish dining room, Jean found herself sitting face-to-face with Dominic. He ate like he was in a commercial. Totally silent, perfectly poised, his lips barely moved, and not a single sound came from his utensils. Jean glanced down at her plate. Broccoli. Corn. Salad. And a rare steak that was still bleeding. This must be what rich people think healthy looks like... She screamed inside. This dinner is straight-up punishment! Dominic’s fingers holding the utensils slowed for just a beat. Jean kept slicing into her steak while her mind wandered off. Buffalo wings. Chili dogs. Loaded nachos. That’s real food. Who wants to gnaw on a half-raw steak when you could be tearing into something crispy and greasy... melt some cheese, add a little jalapeño and hot sauce... mm, now that’s flavor... Across the table, Dominic suddenly set down his fork and knife. His face stayed unreadable. "You’re not into this kind of meal?" Dominic’s question yanked Jean right out of her food daydreams. She blinked, startled, then quickly shook her head. She was new here. She wanted to seem sweet, polite, easy to like. So she stretched her lips into a cheerful, well-behaved smile. "Nope... I’m not picky at all, Dominic." Then she stabbed a chunk of that bloody steak and shoved it in her mouth, chewing and nodding like she meant it. "Really... it’s not bad..." Meanwhile, her brain was screaming something totally different. Not bad, my butt. I’m acting. This is all a lie... Dominic stayed quiet for a second, then said seriously, "If you don’t want to eat it, don’t." He was trying to be considerate, but his stiff, no-nonsense delivery made it sound like a direct order. Jean’s eyes widened. Inside, she was panicking. Ah! He just snapped at me! Dominic’s mouth tightened at the corners. Jean wasn’t about to pretend everything was fine. Her eyes went wide, and she looked Dominic dead in the face. "Dominic, you were super mean just now..." "I wasn’t." Mr. Always-Icy actually did something rare—he softened his tone a little, kept his voice calm, and said it like he meant it. Jean wasn’t buying it. "You totally were. You looked right at me and went—" She puffed out her cheeks and pulled a mock-serious face, copying his cold delivery. "If you don’t want to eat it, don’t." Dominic looked down. Weirdly, her little outburst didn’t annoy him. The truth was, he and Jean barely talked. She hardly ever said a word to him. They weren’t what anyone would call close. If anything, they were strangers with matching last names. But maybe... maybe because of that strange moment when he heard her thoughts—something shifted. Jean didn’t feel like a blurry figure in the background anymore. She felt real. "Mr. Dominic, about tomorrow afternoon—" Bryson stepped into the dining room but trailed off the second he saw Dominic and Jean having dinner together. A quick flicker of surprise crossed his face. This was clearly not something that happened often. Maybe ever. Dominic turned to him and gave a slight nod, signaling him to keep going. Jean leaned her cheek against her palm, casually studying Bryson Jones. So that’s Bryson, Dominic’s assistant? Why does he look kinda... slow on the uptake? Naturally, Bryson had no idea what she was thinking. He gave the Ginger family’s young lady a courteous smile, then shifted his focus back to his boss. "Mr. Dominic, Mr. Thomas just called. He asked if you’re free tomorrow afternoon. His sister, Ms. Selena is back in town. Mr. Thomas mentioned a few times that he wants to introduce you two. He was wondering if tomorrow would work." Jean’s brows pinched together. Hold up. Selena? As in the Selena Lawson? The one who’s supposedly the most beautiful woman in Blairford? That’s not just any pretty face. That’s the one destined to ruin Dominic’s entire life! Dominic’s eyes flickered, and just like that, his attention shifted completely from Bryson to Jean. Jean was still leaned over, chin in hand, lost in thought. Who would’ve thought Dominic—cool, smart, untouchable Dominic—would turn into a lovesick puppy the second he met Selena. The man became obsessed. Forgot all about work. All he did was chase her around like some sad little simp... Dominic’s hands tensed. He was focused, listening like his life depended on it. Not a single word slipped past him. And that Ms. Selena? She was no angel. She never even liked him. Just used him and the Ginger family name to make her way to the top. Then ditched him for someone else. Dominic gave her everything and got nothing back. He went full villain mode and got taken out in the end. If this had been before, Dominic would have rolled his eyes at such nonsense. But now? He could hear her inner voice. And if that was possible, maybe knowing the future wasn’t completely off the table. Maybe this was a sign. Maybe his sister had been sent to warn him. Dominic’s expression darkened. His brows drew tight. The Lawsons had some status in Blairford, sure, but when placed next to the powerhouse that was the Ginger family, they were small-time. Thomas Lawson, the eldest son, had been stepping into a leadership role over the past few years. He was warm, easy to get along with, and had gone out of his way more than once to build a connection with Dominic. Their families did business together too. Eventually, Dominic and Thomas could be called friends—at least on the surface. Thomas had brought up his sister Selena again and again, always talking her up like she was the sweetest, most beautiful girl alive. He’d made it clear he wanted them to meet. Dominic hadn’t been against it. He’d met all kinds of women before. Meeting one more? No big deal. It was just another social favor he’d have gone through without a second thought. If he hadn’t heard Jean’s thoughts, he would’ve shown up without question. But now... "Tell Thomas I’m busy tomorrow," Dominic said, face unreadable as he gave the order. Bryson nodded. "Got it." Jean blinked slowly. Thomas? Oh right... he’s the sneaky type, isn’t he... Dominic’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. He stayed calm on the surface, but he was tuned in, hanging on every mental word. Thomas is the definition of fake. Total brownnoser. He latched onto Dominic from the start just because of the Ginger name. He never actually respected him. It was all calculated... Jean wrinkled her nose. He even tried to steal people from Dominic’s team behind his back, just to pad his own power. And once Dominic hit rock bottom and went rogue, guess who was first to sell him out. Yup. Thomas. And then he had the nerve to accuse Dominic of trying to take advantage of his sister. Seriously? So this is what scheming looks like in the big leagues. This is elite-level drama. High-stakes business betrayal. I’m witnessing it live. Wild. She glanced up and instantly locked eyes with Dominic. His gaze was intense. Cold. Focused. So much so that her heart skipped a beat without warning.