His Double Standards, My Final Goodbye Chapter 02

His Double Standards, My Final Goodbye Chapter 02

The next afternoon, Dominic texted me.

“I was out of line last night, but you showing up before I confirmed was a problem too. We both need to own our part. Let’s leave it at that.”

I stared at the message for a long time before replying with a single word: “Okay.”

A moment later, he sent me an address.

“Family dinner tonight. Haven’t you always wanted to meet my circle? Be there at six.”

In three years, he’d never once brought me to an internal gathering of the Vance crime family.

I thought maybe our fight the night before had finally changed something.

After work, I went home to change into a dress.

By the time I reached a private dining room at an ultra-exclusive members-only club, everyone else was already seated.

There was one empty chair beside Dominic.

I had just started toward it when Chloe walked in carrying a cake. She smiled. “Sorry I’m late. Changing Cannoli’s bandage took longer than I expected.”

Someone immediately waved her over.

“Mrs. Vance, we’ve been saving your seat.”

Chloe blushed.

“Knock it off. Ms. Sterling is right here.”

The room went quiet for a beat.

More than a dozen pairs of eyes swung toward me at once.

Dominic didn’t correct them. He simply pulled out the chair beside him for Chloe.

“Sit.”

I stood beside the table, staring at the seat I’d assumed was meant for me.

Marco, the Vance family’s consigliere, quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

“Ms. Sterling, why don’t you sit over here? You can meet Mr. Cruz while you’re at it. Dominic mentioned you two might be working together soon.”

I took the seat at the far end of the table.

So Dominic hadn’t brought me here to acknowledge us.

The Vance family and my firm were jointly bidding on a €200 million portside commercial complex in Europe, covering both architectural design and integrated security. Dominic needed me to meet Adrian Cruz, the ruthless corporate attorney reviewing the contracts.

Once dinner began, every conversation circled back to the family project.

Dominic ate quietly, occasionally turning to answer something Chloe said.

The plate in front of me stayed empty.

Most of the dishes came topped with chopped hazelnuts or nut-based sauces.

I was severely allergic.

Chloe had chosen the restaurant.

During our first year together, I’d landed in the hospital after accidentally eating hazelnut paste.

Dominic had stayed with me until after midnight and saved a list of my life-threatening allergens on his phone.

I thought that, at the very least, he’d remember.

Instead, he glanced at me.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

“There’s nothing here I can eat.”

“Don’t be picky.”

Chloe immediately called over a server.

“Could you bring her a pasta dish with absolutely no nuts? Astrid has a severe nut allergy. Dominic, did you forget?”

Dominic paused for half a beat.

“I’ve had a lot going on lately.”

He didn’t apologize.

Chloe was the one who tried to reassure me instead.

“Don’t take it personally. He forgets his own birthday. We’ve known each other ten years, and sometimes he even forgets what I’m allergic to.”

Someone at the table laughed. “Oh, come on. Last time you reacted to mango, Mr. Vance had the entire shipment dumped in the river. That supplier practically went under overnight.”

Someone else chimed in.

“Dominic doesn’t have a bad memory. He just remembers what matters.”

The air went dead silent.

The man who’d said it realized his mistake and took an awkward sip of his drink.

Dominic finally frowned.

But not at them.

“Astrid, lose the attitude. They’re joking.”

He said it so casually, as if my humiliation were nothing more than bad manners on my part.

I forced a thin smile.

“Did you invite me tonight because you wanted to talk business?”

He wiped his hands with his napkin.

“What else would it be for?”

“Do your people and allies even know we’re together?”

Dominic’s expression darkened slightly.

“It was one joke. Do you really have to make a scene in front of everyone?”

“Our personal relationship doesn’t belong in a business setting. You’re leading this project. Don’t let personal feelings make people question your professionalism.”

My fingertips turned ice-cold.

I stood and picked up my bag.

Chloe rose too.

“Don’t leave. I’ll make them apologize.”

“Don’t bother.”

I looked at Dominic and said quietly, “Mr. Vance is right. Personal relationships shouldn’t interfere with business.”

A muscle tightened between Dominic’s brows.

For the first time, I didn’t wait for him to take me home. I opened the door and left on my own.

Just before it shut behind me, I heard one of his men lower his voice.

“Mr. Vance, is she really your girlfriend?”

After a brief silence, Dominic answered evenly.

“It’s not settled. Don’t say things like that in front of Chloe.”