Chapter 33

Dominic's sleek black sedan pulled up discreetly in front of Alice. "Alice, hop in. I'm heading back anyway—let me give you a ride?"

Alice glanced down at her dirt-streaked clothes and shook her head with a faint smile. "No, thank you. I'll just wait for the bus."

"It's late," Dominic pointed out smoothly. "The buses might have stopped running by now. Or worse, the last one could have broken down somewhere. You'd be stranded unless you called a cab."

A cab?

Her wallet was nearly empty.

"Just get in." Dominic leaned over and opened the passenger door himself.

Alice hesitated for only a second before sliding inside.

"Where to?" Dominic asked, his voice deceptively gentle.

"Grandview Medical Center," Alice murmured, then fell silent, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window.

Dominic stole glances at her throughout the drive. She didn’t speak, didn’t engage—just sat there, lost in thought.

But Dominic wasn’t bothered.

The longer the game stretched, the sweeter the victory would be.

When they arrived, Dominic stepped out first and opened Alice’s door for her. Exhausted from the day, her legs had gone numb from sitting too long. As she stepped out, she stumbled—her foot landing squarely on Dominic’s polished leather shoe.

"I'm so sorry!" Alice gasped, horrified. She immediately dug into her bag for a tissue and dropped to her knees, wiping the scuff mark away with trembling fingers.

Dominic stood over her, watching with dark amusement as she knelt before him, her head bowed like a supplicant.

It was a sight he relished.

Alice lifted her gaze, meeting his. "Mr. Pierce, I—I think I got it all. Does it look okay now?"

"Perfect," he murmured, his voice dripping with condescension.

Meanwhile, across the street, Alexander's car had just pulled out of the hospital. Through the tinted window, he caught the entire scene—Alice on her knees, Dominic looming over her like a king.

His grip tightened on the steering wheel.

The car accelerated, disappearing into the night.

Alexander had been swamped lately. Taking over Knight Enterprises came with endless responsibilities, the most tedious being the parade of socialites his family kept shoving at him, all hoping for a marriage alliance.

The thought made him sick.

Now that most of the corporate chaos was under control, his next battle was with his parents—and the horde of noblewomen they’d invited to the upcoming gala at Knight Manor.

The following afternoon, just before the event, Alexander finished his last meeting and drove toward the estate. On the back seat lay an evening gown—express-shipped from Zoshington, tailored specifically for Victoria’s frame and style.

He wanted her to outshine every other woman there. To make them all back off.

His car idled at an intersection near the manor. He pulled out his phone and dialed Nathaniel. "Are you here yet?"

"Five minutes, Mr. Knight," came the immediate reply.

True to his word, Nathaniel arrived in five. The car stopped, and Alexander waited by the door for Victoria to step out.

Instead, she emerged swathed in a thick veil and oversized hat.

Alexander frowned. "What’s this? Why are you hiding your face?"

Now was not the time for theatrics.

He reached for the veil, yanking it aside—only to freeze.

Victoria stared back at him, her expression caught between tears and laughter. "Mr. Knight, I—I iced it for days, but... the fingerprints are still there. I—"

Alexander’s lip curled.

"You look hideous."