Chapter 5 Dominic Blackwood-cursed, dangerous

Serafina's POV

I placed my hand at my side as Liam rested his on my back. The gesture was obvious enough, and I had been staring at Dominic Blackwood for far too long, making him visibly uncomfortable. My gaze dropped to the floor, but Liam wrapped his arm around the back of my neck, pulling me closer to his chest.

My fiancé moved swiftly, his expression filled with pride. Of course, Liam wanted to flaunt my beauty in front of everyone.

"I told you, Dad, this restaurant is wonderful," Dominic remarked quickly.

My father responded with a quiet chuckle. "It certainly is."

Crossing my arms over my chest, I tried to distract myself. Dominic, however, remained silent, his gaze fixed on his son. He shook his head, frowning, and then muttered under his breath, just low enough that no one else could hear:

"I came back for you, Serafina..."

Slowly, I lifted my eyes to meet his, but he wasn't looking at me at all. His attention was entirely on his son. Liam, ever oblivious, seemed completely unaware of the tension crackling in the air.

"You do realize this child is spoiled, don't you?"

I forced a wide smile, but the flicker of sadness in my eyes betrayed me.

"Of course."

Dominic's stare held a particular intensity, one that made me shrink away like a fool. The round table, adorned with sleek chrome decorations, offered no escape. I had intended to sit as far from Dominic as possible, but it hadn't worked. He was right beside me.

My shoulders tensed immediately, and when I tried to shift away, Liam interlaced our fingers, securing me in place. I accidentally bumped his shoulder, but he didn't seem to care-if anything, he looked even prouder, basking in the attention.

Dominic lifted the menu in front of his face, his voice calm as he said,

"Order whatever you like. Everything here suits my taste."

Luna Sophia's eyes gleamed with excitement. Alcohol was, without a doubt, on her mind. She smiled as everyone nodded in agreement-except for me. I knew exactly where this was headed. She was sinking further and further into her addiction. It seems that she discovered that there is no room to make Dominic love her and pain her wife.

"I'll head to the bar for a moment."

I gripped my glass of water, wishing-just for a second-that I could disappear into it. But that was impossible.

The men started talking, their voices blending into the background as I listened quietly, observing them. Something was bothering me-not in a bad way, but in a way that felt... warm.

Except for Dominic. He remained silent, yet his presence was overpowering.

Boredom crept in. Even the food failed to entertain me.

Then, Dominic shattered my thoughts with an unexpected question.

"Have you decided on a venue for the wedding?"

I inhaled slowly.

"Serafina is still choosing the color scheme, let alone the venue," Liam answered with a laugh.

But I couldn't care less about the wedding. Planning it was nothing more than a heavy burden that only added to my misery.

Dominic suggested, "The wedding should be held at the ranch."

My eyebrows shot up. I had always wanted to see a real ranch. When I was younger, I competed in equestrian tournaments. I had a white horse named Dolly.

Liam turned to his father and said firmly,

"Dad, Serafina doesn't want her wedding at the ranch."

But the truth was, I didn't mind.

I turned to Dominic and whispered in a determined tone,

"When can we leave?"

Dominic's slow smile sent a shiver down my spine. His eyes gleamed with that dangerous spark-one that made me uneasy.

"Perfect. Thank you."

Our eyes locked again, and that was when I realized-Dominic wasn't planning on letting Liam take me away so easily.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Liam frowning, trying to appear indifferent, but failing miserably. He loosened his tie, pressing his lips together in irritation.

I nearly smiled at Dominic-but I stopped myself.

Then... I felt it.

I hadn't noticed a hand slipping beneath the table until thick fingers began creeping between my thighs.

My breath hitched.

Under the table, my hand darted down, grasping those wandering fingers before they could venture further. My chest rose and fell with each heavy breath. I knew immediately whose hand it was. It is that fool Liam

Dominic lifted his glass of liquor to his lips, his expression completely unbothered. He took a slow sip, then glanced at me, winking subtly.

"You seem tense."

I dug my nails into my thigh, desperate to steady myself. But the truth was, I was on the verge of breaking.

This was Dominic Blackwood-cursed, dangerous, intoxicating.

And I was already falling into his trap.

I was no longer the little girl he had once raised. I had become a different Serafina.

---

After dinner, we returned to Blackwood Manor. The car ride was silent, heavy with tension. Luna Sophia was drunk, and Dominic had to hold her upright, which was mortifying for me-but honestly, not surprising.

Dominic had decided to take his own car back home, and I couldn't have been more grateful for it.

When we finally arrived, I hurried out of the car, avoiding him entirely. I didn't wait for anyone and instead rushed straight to my room, eager to escape the confines of this suffocating dress.

Once inside, I yanked the jewelry from my neck with unnecessary force. The walls around me felt like they were closing in, inch by inch.

Standing in my bathroom in nothing but my undergarments, I gripped the edges of the sink, my breathing unsteady. My chest rose and fell rapidly as I fought for control.

Panic attacks had become a frequent occurrence. I suppose it was the inevitable result of spending an entire day pretending I was fine, only for the night to strip me bare-leaving me to drown in the painful freedom of my own unraveling.

I stared at my exhausted reflection in the mirror. My eyes drifted to the fading bruises on my skin.

I would never understand how Liam could claim to love me, yet see these bruises-

And still create new scars on my body every single day.

Was it foolish to wish that my fiancé would protect me instead?