Chapter 242/A New Storm at the Gate

Chapter 242: 242/A New Storm at the Gate

Chapter 233

Stephanie’s POV

A powerful beam of flashlight cut straight through the tinted glass, blinding me for a split second and ripping a muffled cry of shock from my throat. My entire frame trembled violently as I recoiled from Dominic, my trembling fingers frantically smoothing down my dress and loose strands of hair.

Dominic’s breath caught, yet no trace of panic crossed his features. Instead, he withdrew his heavy hand with measured calm, his expression instantly locking back into its usual icy composure. He turned slowly toward the window, tapping the control button to roll the dark pane down a few inches.

The face of one of the estate guards materialized in the gap, clad in his black uniform and clutching a walkie-talkie. His expression shifted into immediate panic the moment he recognized the passenger inside.

"Mr. Vincetti! I am so sorry..." the guard blurted out, his voice shaking with deference as he lowered the flashlight beam. "...We saw the car parked before the gates for so long without moving and assumed there was an emergency."

Dominic pinned him with a lethal, razor-sharp glare, his voice dropping into a low, blade-like hiss:

"Do not meddle in matters that are none of your concern."

"Yes, sir! A thousand apologies!" The guard bowed hastily, retreating into the shadows of the estate gardens with rapid steps.

I hit the switch to raise the window with a hand that wouldn’t stop shaking. Turning to Dominic with shallow, ragged breaths, my pulse pounded like war drums in my ears:

"Dominic... please, I have to leave right now."

He stared at me for several agonizing seconds with those dark, unreadable eyes, before a cold, faint curl touched the edge of his lips. Pushing his door open, he stepped out with commanding poise, then stooped down slightly over the open frame, resting his palm on the window ledge:

"Goodnight, my sweet girl."

I offered a single nod without uttering a word. The instant he slammed the door shut behind him, I fired the engine and slammed my foot onto the gas pedal, launching the car forward with reckless speed away from the cursed gates, leaving that dark nightmare behind in the dust.

The car surged through the pitch-black streets. I gripped the leather steering wheel with trembling hands, fighting to catch my exhausted breath. Shame weighed heavily against my chest, and the bitter taste of degradation lingered in my throat, yet I pushed the speed higher desperate to reach safety before Alexander and Cedric’s mounting anxiety exploded into a full-scale storm.

I pulled into the manor’s garage at last. Stepping out with heavy, fearful steps, I slipped through the front door as quietly as possible, praying they were asleep.

The second I crossed into the main foyer, blinding light washed over me and two figures standing rigid with suffocating tension in the center of the room cut off my path.

Cedric was pacing the floor back and forth. At the sound of my footsteps, he spun around abruptly, his bloodshot eyes overflowing with rage and worry. Beside him, Alexander stood like a immovable mountain, hands shoved deep into his trouser pockets, his sharp features drawn into a cold, ominous scowl.

"Stephanie!" Cedric barked out in a raspy voice, closing the distance between us with long strides. He grabbed my shoulders with gentle firmness, as if verifying I was real. "Where were you?! We almost lost our minds! Do you have any idea what time it is?!"

I lifted my exhausted eyes to meet theirs, forcing a faint, practiced smile onto my lips. "I’m... I’m fine. I told you there were so many urgent designs..."

"Designs?!" Alexander cut me off, his deep, resonant voice shaking the foyer as he took a slow, menacing step forward. His piercing eyes scanned my face and clothing with terrifying precision. "Do designs make you return with such a pale face and hesitant breath? .....What exactly happened at that company?"

Swallowing hard, I dropped my gaze to the floor, using every ounce of willpower I possessed to conceal the panic devouring me from within. Taking a slow, manufactured breath, I painted a look of mild irritation wrapped in sheer exhaustion onto my face.

"Nothing happened, Alexander..." I said softly, my tone laced with fatigue as I backed away a step, slipping my shoulders out of Cedric’s grip. "...I just pushed myself too hard all day to finish the work. My body can’t handle the combination of exhaustion and hunger. I’m fine, I’m just deeply exhausted and need to sleep."

Cedric searched my face, a mix of intense worry and deep disbelief warring in his eyes. Alexander narrowed his dark gaze, taking another step closer as if trying to decipher the secrets hidden behind my ghastly pallor.

"Stephanie..." Cedric began softly, his tone dripping with suspicion. "...your face is unnaturally pale, and there’s—"

"Please..." I cut him off, holding up a weak, pleading hand while clutching my purse to hide my shaking fingers. "...Believe me, I’m fine. I just need to go to my room and rest. We can talk in the morning."

Without waiting for a response or a fresh protest, I turned on my heel and crossed the foyer toward the staircase with hurried steps, ignoring their harsh, unrelenting gazes tracking my back through the heavy silence.

I reached my room with dragging steps, and shutting the door behind me felt like taking my first breath of fresh air. Heading straight into the bathroom, I turned on the hot shower, letting the scalding water cascade over my skin desperate to wash away the memory of those repulsive touches and the taste of humiliation choking my throat. I stood beneath the spray for a long time, silently praying for my twins to remain safe.

Sinking into sheer exhaustion, I wrapped myself in a nightgown and collapsed onto the mattress, falling into a heavy sleep to escape the dark reality.

In the morning, the shrill alarm blared through the room. I forced my eyes open, a dull throb aching behind my forehead, to find Alexander standing before the mirror fastening his dark cuffs, impeccably dressed in his formal suit.

He turned toward me with a grave expression, his voice quiet: "Good morning, Steph... I’m sorry to wake you, but Cedric and I have an urgent matter to attend to. We have to leave immediately."

I nodded, pushing myself up into a sitting position. "Good morning... It’s fine. Take care of yourself."

He leaned in and pressed a brief kiss onto my forehead before slipping out of the room.

Rising slowly, I prepared myself for the day ahead. I ate a light breakfast to give my babies energy, then grabbed my purse and car keys, driving out toward Dominic’s estate to pick him up as usual.

I brought the car to a stop near the main gates. Before I could even cut the ignition, a luxury vehicle pulled up beside me. The door swung open, and Claire stepped out, flaunting her arrogant posture as her blonde hair tumbled over her shoulders.

Claire slammed the car door shut, her eyes locking onto my vehicle. She marched toward me with confident, provoking strides. Stopping beside my window, she made a sharp, commanding gesture with her fingers demanding I get out of the car immediately.

I drew a long, deep breath, forcing my surging pulse to settle. Hitting the switch, I rolled the dark window pane down without making a move to step out of the car, pinning her with a dry, unwavering look.

"Good morning, Claire..." I drawled softly, my voice laced with subtle ridicule. "...Is there a problem that has you waving your hands around like that so early in the morning?"

Claire narrowed her blue eyes, her mocking glare sharpening as she crossed her arms tightly over her chest. Leaning in slightly through the window, her tone overflowed with malice and implicit threats:

"Don’t act so clueless, Stephanie... Did you really think that with your usual cunning, you could play games with Dominic?"

She closed the distance further, a venomous, triumphant smirk twisting her lips.

"I know the dirty game you’re trying to weave around him. Get out of the car right now I have a detailed, very entertaining conversation I’d love for you to hear."

I let a cold, relaxed smile touch my lips. Resting my back comfortably against the leather seat, I stared her down with unyielding composure, my tone steady and completely dismissive:

"What game are you talking about, Claire?... Didn’t you hear it with your own ears? Dominic himself stated right in front of you that I am his girlfriend. So why are you speaking and acting as if you have any authority over me, or over him?"

Color flooded Claire’s face in a rush of fury, her malicious smirk instantly evaporating into a fierce, venomous scowl. Slamming her palm hard against the window frame, she leaned in close, sparks of pure hatred flying from her eyes as she hissed in a low, dangerous voice:

"I don’t give a damn if he announced you’re his girlfriend or even his wife, Stephanie! That worthless talk means nothing to me... What matters, and what your tiny little brain needs to understand, is that Dominic belongs to me alone. And I will never allow a slut like you to take something that is mine!"