Chapter 261 Using the Afterlife as an Excuse

minute?"

Dominic replied almost instantly. There was not a single word, just a comma. It seemed like a mistake, but the speed of his response contradicted that. Realizing he was still awake, Bella walked to his door and said softly, "I have something for you. Can you come out for a She heard footsteps approaching, and soon, the door opened. He stood there wearing a white knit sweater and lounge pants..

His hair was slightly damp from a recent shower. It hung loosely over his forehead, no longer neatly styled like earlier. His eyes were partly hidden by his hair, but the coldness in them was unmistakable. He didn't say anything. Instead, he just stared at her quietly. Bella handed him a small box. "I bought this for you the day you got Victor's wife that watch. I've been wanting to give it to you..."

Dominic gave the box a quick glance, his expression indifferent. "If you hadn't bought that, none of what followed would've happened. So, what's the point now?"

Bella bit her lip as she said, "This brooch isn't worth nearly as much as the 1.5 million you gave my dad, but I just wanted to say thank you."

As she spoke, she forced a smile. "Anyway, it's clear that I can never fully repay you-whether it's money or anything else."

Dominic smirked, teasing her, "You always talk about repaying me, but words mean nothing without action."

Bella lowered her head. "If I can't repay you in this life, then I'll just have to do it in the afterlife."

Dominic walked over to the bed and sat down, lighting a cigarette with a lazy indifference.

"Why carry the burden of debt to the afterlife? That's just an excuse you're making for your inability to pay back what you owe right now."

His words broke through Bella's emotional defenses. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Then, what should I do... I've tried everything, but no matter what I do, I just can't make it right. What else can I do?"

Blowing out a slow puff of smoke, Dominide replied calmly, "I never asked you to repay anything. What I gave, I gave freely. You don't owe me. You don't need to belittle yourself.

"Two people can only truly see each other when they're standing on the same level, facing each other."

Bella didn't know what to say. She didn't know how they could ever truly face each other on the same level. The love letters Richard had written to Dorothy, the painful past. They all weighed heavily on her chest Dominic beckoned her closer. Obediently, she walked to his side and sat on the carpet by th

carpet by the bed.

His long legs were right beside her. Despite the proximity, it felt like there was an insurmountable distance between them.

She hugged her knees in silence. After finishing his cigarette, Dominic put it out. Mimicking her posture, he sat down on the carpet beside her. Their arms brushed against each other, a seemingly intimate gesture.

The room was dimly lit, with only the bedside lamp casting a soft glow. When Dominic looked at her, she was lost in thought with her head slightly lowered.

Her hair, once short, had grown out a bit over the past few months, giving her a faint resemblance to her past self with long hair.

He broke the silence. "Let your hair grow. Clearly, cutting it didn't change anything. Back then, did you really think cutting your hair would give you a fresh start?"

His bluntness embarrassed her, and she nervously picked at her nails, "Sitting around like this in the middle of the night is kind of cold. Maybe we should

She was about to suggest they call it a night when he unexpectedly pulled her close, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Is this better? Bella glanced at the temperature of the heater on the wall. Actually, the room wasn't cold. It was just her excuse. Sitting here like this was r

anxdous

making her

Before she could react, Dominic kissed her on the lips. The faint smell of tobacco mixed with his natural scent, a blend that was surprisingly pleasant.

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