Accidental Kiss: The Tycoon

Dominic furrowed his brows in confusion. He already had his suspicions, but he asked anyway, hoping to get a straight answer.

Given the setting, it was the perfect opportunity to bring it up without sounding too direct or giving the other person a chance to deflect.

"You've already guessed it, haven't you?" Theodore asked with a smile.

As he spoke, he started walking toward the elevator. Once inside, he continued, "Vera's grandmother used to work for my family as a maid. Her mother even lived in our house for a few years when she was a child. I actually only found out recently when I ran into her mother at the supermarket." Dominic didn't waste tbeating around the bush and asked, "So, did you have skind of romantic history with Vera's mother?" Theodore laughed and waved his hand before answering, "No, we lived under the sroof, but we barely interacted." "Why did you make this trip then?" Dominic asked.

"How should I explain this..." Theodore muttered.

Even after they exited the elevator and walked through the corridor toward the apartment, Theodore still hadn't cup with a proper answer. Or maybe, he simply couldn't bring himself to say it. Even to him, his feelings sounded irrational and ridiculous.

Theodore worried that saying it out loud would make him sound like a madman, but Dominic was still watching him, eyes sharp and cold.

Unable to take that intense gaze any longer, Theodore finally gave in and said, "I told you before that Vera remindsof my late wife. And now that I know I've also met her mother before, it just hit me. There's a strange feeling I can't explain." Dominic's voice turned cold as he questioned, "But Mr. Locke, I thought you never truly loved your wife?" Theodore was caught off guard. He realized that Dominic really was Samuel's son. Both were bad at comforting people.

Theodore answered, "I did love Mira. I was stupid back then. I wronged her, and I've regretted it every day since. If I had another chance..." "That's enough," Dominic interrupted him. He didn't have any interest in listening to all that. "Mr. Locke, I don't care what your reasons are. I just hope you'll stop visiting the Gildon family.

"Every tyou show up, there's trouble. Your wife isn't someone to mess with. She's ruthless and terrifying. If she finds out what you're really thinking, do I need to spell out what could happen?" Eden had once told Dominic that Theodore had grown more self-aware over the years. Dominic hoped it was still true.

Theodore said nothing; his throat felt tight like it was packed with cotton.

Dominic pressed on, "You should return to Ravendale soon. Stop chasing ghosts and start facing the present Eden didn't choose this fife. The Locke family shoved him into it. You more than anyone, know how hard it has been on him. You should love him more." With that, Dominic gave a polite nod and turned to leave. Theodore watched silently as Dominic walked off and got into his car. After a long pause, Theodore let out a bitter laugh and said, "He's even sharper than Samuel." Theodore thought of Samuel and how proud the latter must be to have a son like Dominic. He thought of how Samuel had four children, all close and thriving.

And then, Theodore thought of himself. His son was dead, his daughter was never born, and his only surviving daughter had intellectual disabilities. The last thread of hope in his life was his nephew.

Theodore sat down heavily on a bench nearby. At that moment, he seemed to age ten years.

"Mr. Locke, are you alright?" Theodore's secretary asked, worried.

Theodore didn't answer.

At the entrance of an apartment building behind them, an unremarkable silver SUV was parked. In the backseat of the car, a woman in a black dress stared silently out the window at Theodore sitting on a bench.

The woman, Selena, thought, "So, that's what this has been about. No wonder he has been acting like a ghost lately. It turns out that someone else has stolen his heart." "Mrs. Locke, both Mr. Locke and Luke visited Vespera's htoday," said Selena's assistant, sitting beside Selena.

The assistant continued, "Vespera still matters to Luke. When you m he arranged that date with Ms. Locke, he ditched her that halfway through and left without a word. He clearly can't be controlled.

"And Mr. Locke only got close to Vespera through Mr. Reid Senior.

s. O Remember that day when Ms. Locke bought chocolates? When Mr. Locke saw Vespera and her parents, Re staged a coincidental meeting at the supermarket on purpose. just don't get it. How can he suddenly becso obsessed with a woman? It's bizarre."

Selena gave a cold chuckle. "You really don't get it? It's because m Vespera has a profile that looks just like Mirabelle's. Mirabelle was a woman Theodore only realized he loved after she was gone." Selena's evil smile intensified. Upon hearing that, her assistant was even more surprised.

How could Vespera attract so many men? "Ms. Sowle asked you to get rid of her. At first thought it would be easy. But now that she has Dominic on her side, everything has changed. Ms. Sowle turned out this way because of him. As long as he's around, Vespera won't be easy to take down."