The Five Years He Missed Chapter 06

The Five Years He Missed Chapter 06

Brianna was weeping, tears streaming down her face. “The police came straight to the company and said they’re investigating me!”

“I almost died in that fire myself—how could I possibly be the arsonist!”

As she spoke, her emotions spiraled, and she actually dropped to her knees right in front of me. “I’m begging you—I’ve had it hard enough in this family. Don’t destroy me!”

“Brianna, what are you doing!” Dominic’s brow furrowed into deep creases, and he pulled her into his arms.

Brianna sobbed, “Don’t ask me what I’m doing—ask her!”

Dominic looked at me. I nodded calmly. “That’s right. I called the police.”

“Before the fire, she came running to me, saying she wanted me to see who mattered more in your heart. I have every right to suspect her.”

Dominic’s expression as he stared at me was pure shock, as if he’d never imagined I’d skip the step of discussing it with him entirely.

Brianna wailed, “I didn’t! You’re framing me! Dominic, are you just going to stand there and watch her bully me? Fine—I’ll never like you again! I’ll get rid of this baby tomorrow! We’re done, completely!”

Dominic snapped, “What nonsense are you saying!”

When he turned back to me, a layer of frost had already settled over his eyes. “Elena, apologize.”

I clenched my fingers and met Dominic’s gaze without a trace of fear. “If the police investigation concludes that she didn’t set the fire, I will apologize.”

Dominic laughed in fury. “I told you—the last time was the last time. This time, I won’t indulge you any longer.”

I fought to suppress the resentment churning in my chest, but hearing those words, I couldn’t help raising my voice. “I don’t need you to indulge me! We’re getting divorced soon anyway!”

“You still dare to bring up divorce!” The veins bulged on Dominic’s forehead. Furious beyond belief, he laughed bitterly. “Elena—I’ve spoiled you rotten.”

He waved in the guards stationed outside. “Brianna, they’ll follow your orders. You can make Elena apologize however you see fit. I won’t interfere.”

With those words, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Brianna’s tears vanished in an instant, a triumphant gleam bursting from her eyes. She looked at me, still lying in the hospital bed, and flashed a malicious smile. “Come on—slice up her face. Let’s see if Dominic still finds her attractive when she’s a hideous monster!”

“Brianna, have you lost your mind?” I shouted coldly. “Dominic just wants me to submit—that doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want!”

Brianna shrugged dismissively. “I know. He’s still interested in you. He’d definitely be furious if I cut your face. But what if I said you did it to yourself, just to frame me?”

My entire body plunged into an abyss of ice. Dominic would believe it.

The guards pinned me down and pulled out a dagger, their faces expressionless. I thrashed violently. “Stop! You all just heard what she said! And you’re still going to touch me?!”

Brianna laughed, laughed until she could barely catch her breath. “Elena, you’re so painfully naive. These people don’t just obey Dominic—they obey Mrs. Gambino, too.”

I stopped struggling.

“Not just the guards—all the servants in the Gambino household… Mrs. Gambino pays every single one of their salaries, you know. Why do you think Dominic never believes you? Every time he investigates, everyone says you’re the one bullying me, you’re the one framing me. Even the surveillance footage gets swapped. He does have feelings for you—but with you being so vicious, how long do you think those feelings can last?”

A bonedeep chill spread from the soles of my feet, creeping up my spine and into the depths of my heart. Mrs. Gambino had never stopped trying to tear me and Dominic apart. She had simply used more twisted, roundabout methods.

Brianna shook her head. “What did you expect? You’re a sewer rat, a cop’s orphan—you had to go and try to climb into the Gambino family. People who attempt to leap across social classes never come to a good end. Since you’re so pitiful, I’ll tell you one more thing—Mrs. Gambino was against it, so Dominic never actually married you. He just made a fake marriage certificate. And your Luca is nothing but a bastard.”

Boom! A clap of thunder tore across the sky.

It was as if I’d lost all sensation. The blade slicing across my cheek didn’t even hurt that much anymore. Agony and humiliation swept through my entire body. And I had actually talked about divorce with Dominic. From beginning to end, I was never Dominic’s wife. I couldn’t hold on any longer and collapsed.

…

When I opened my eyes again, I was in the villa bedroom. I stared numbly into the air for a long while, then reached up and touched my face. It was wrapped in thick layers of gauze.

“Elena, you’re really something now! Cutting your own face!” Dominic’s voice was seething with barely contained fury. “Do you hate Brianna that much—so much you’d hurt yourself just to frame her?!”

No. The one I hate most is you. I looked at him, my eyes utterly devoid of any emotion. That dead, hollow gaze made Dominic jolt.

Dominic softened his tone. “I promise you—I won’t contact Brianna for a while. Just don’t hurt yourself anymore, okay?”

I stared at him for a long time, then opened my mouth, my voice hoarse. “Okay.” Luca’s surgery hadn’t happened yet. I had to endure it. Once the surgery was done, I would take Luca and leave.

Dominic let out a breath of relief. “Good girl. Rest well. In a couple of days, you’ll still need to attend my mother’s birthday banquet.”