Crushed Affections (Dominic and Bella)

Chapter 272 Let Me Hear You Say "Honey"

Bella gave a soft ham and added, "I got tired of takeout, so I'm at a restaurant near the hospital. Have you eaten yet?"

They exchanged a few casual remarks before Dominic abruptly shitted the tone. "I miss you..."

Hearing those words from him was like a boulder had dropped into the calm waters of her mind, sending ripples everywhere.

Bella's heart started pounding, but with Felix sitting across from her, she kept her tone light and responded casually, "Me too."

Dominic, clearly unsatisfied with her neutral response, let out a small, disapproving hum. "That's so cold. Are you dragging my pride through the dirt?"

Bella couldn't help but feel exasperated. "How am I being cold? What do you want me to say?"

He threw out a challenge. "Call ine 'honey. Let me hear it."

Bella was completely stunned. For a second, she thought he must've lost his mind. She wanted to ask if he was serious but didn't care to. "I'm out in public... I feel embarrassed." Histone became more stem. "Do it now.

Bella had no idea how to get our of this. There was no way she could say

by that hete

here, especially with Felix sitting right in front of her.

She briefly considered stepping outside to talk, but Dominic seemed to read her mind. "Stay right where you are. My patience is running out."

Glancing at Felix, who was quietly waiting, and at the food the waiter had just served, Bella wrestled with her options for a moment before blurting out, "My phone's dying. I'll talk to you later," Then, she hung up.

Bella's action of hanging up the phone felt robotic. She knew she was digging a grave for herself, but calling him honey would have been just as painful as the consequences of not saying it.

What should have been a simple lunch turned into a meal she could barely taste.

Afterward, they retumed to the hospital, but it wasn't quite time to start work again. Felix chatted with her as they walked, and they eventually took the same elevator up to the cardiac department.

The moment the elevator doors opened, Bella froze. Standing right there, just outside the doors, was Dominic-the same Dominic who had called her during lunch. She had no idea when he returned, but a sinking feeling told her he must have known she was with Felix during the call. Asking her to call him honey had probably been intentional and a way to test her.

She had nothing to feel guilty about, but the icy look on his face made her instinctively nervous. She found herself at a loss for words.

Felixbroke the silence first. "This is your stop, Bella. I'll head up."

Still dazed, Bella stepped out of the elevator.

As the doors closed behind her, Dominic barely glanced at her before walking past to wait for the next elevator, his expression cold and distant.

She wanted to go after him and explain, but her legs felt like they were weighed down. Or maybe she was just scared of causing a scene in front of so many people. In the end, she chose her usual way of handling things, staying silent.

When Dominic got off the elevator downstalts, still burning with anger, he stopped

stopped abruptly.

His expression darkened as he turned backto look at the three elevators, watching as their doors opened one by one.

When Bella didn't step

pout of any of them, he finally walked away.

Back in his car, he pulled off his black leather gloves and took out his phone. Opening Bella's WhatsApp, he quickly typed, it happen."

Do you want to breakup? Fine. I'll make

The phone bounced to the floor mat,

along moment. In the end, he deleted the message and angrily tossed his phone onto the passenger sear screen now cracked,

His finger hovered over the send button for a lon

Ironically, the wallpaper was a photo of Bella, with the crack running right across her face, making it even more unbearable to look at

Dominic picked up the phone and changed the background before letting out a bitter laugh. Then, without another glance, he drove oft, disappearing into the Showy treets

Chapter 273 New Lover