Love the Second Time Around Novel

Chapter 116 A Promise From Him

I was in a state of utter confusion.

| had agreed to put on an act with Dominic because | knew Dad and Mom would make sassumptions about

us. Now, however, it seemed like they were practically jumping to all sorts of conclusions about us.

They not only thought that we had a physical relationship, they even assumed that we were already living

together.

Most importantly, Dad was not angry about it at all.

Good heavens, when did my parents becso liberal? Are they just especially benevolent toward

Dominic? “Dad...”

Dad waved his hand dismissively and cutoff. “Lili, Dad used to be strict with you because you were still

young. You're older now and have even been married once. You know what's right and what's wrong. You know

what's best for yourself.”

| was moved by Dad's words. He was not the kind of father who said “I love you” to his children, but | knew he

was strict towardbecause he loved me.

Dad stood up from his seat and walked toward us. He stood between Dominic andand held our hands.

Putting my hand in Dominic's, he said, “Dom and you have missed a chance with each other in the past. Your

mom and | are rooting for you to have a happier outcthis taround. Dom, I'm entrusting my daughter to

you. Please treat her well.”

Dominic looked at my father and nodded. Then he turned to me, looking rather serious.

| felt him squeezing my hand as he said, “Rest assured, David. | promise you | will take good care of Lian for the

rest of our lives.”

“Very well, Dom. | trust you.” Dad was looking completely satisfied.

| looked at Dominic with a mix of confusion and annoyance. What audacity he had to make such a promise in

front of my parents.

We were only supposed to be putting on an act. After what he just said, how were we going to explain things to

my parents when the tcto cut our act?

All of a sudden, | began to feel afraid. Things seemed to be progressing much faster than | had expected.

| was distracted for the rest of the evening.

However, Dominic did not seem to notice anything amiss. He was still keeping my parents entertained and

happy.

When we left the restaurant, it was almost half-past nine in the evening.

Before we dropped my parents off at their hotel, Dad told us that we could drop in on his talk at the university

the next day if we were free.

Dominic immediately accepted the invitation and promised that we would be there.

I shot him a look, but it was too late forto say anything in refusal of my father’s offer.

Dominic and | only left the hotel after we watched Dad and Mum enter the elevator.

“Let's go. We should go hnow.” Dominic held my hand to leadto his car.

I shook his hand off and took two steps back, saying, “You go ahead. I'll take a taxi.”

The situation was getting too messy. | did not want to see him, neither did | wish to talk to him.

Dominic did not seem to hear me. Instead, he waved his hand and called out, “David, why are you here again?”

| froze for a moment before turning around to look behind me, only to see that Dad was not there. Good

heavens. You're playing such a trick onat a tlike this?

Before | could react, | found Dominic holding my hand again. This time, | did not shake his hand off.

Half-annoyed and half-amused, | chided him, “You're so childish!”

He rolled his eyes atand said, “If I'm childish, then you're stupid.”

“Humph!” | was so annoyed that | could not think of anything else to say.

Dominic continued to leadby my hand, walking a little ahead of me. Looking at our adjoining hands, my

mind started to wander. As long as we continue acting like a couple, does that mean we can continue to spend

twith each other?

“Hey, what are you thinking about? Get in the car!” Dominic's booming voice shookout of my reverie. That

was when | realized | was standing right beside the car.

| opened the door and got inside. Showing my irritation, | glared at Dominic and said, “Why did you have to be so

loud? You gavea shock.”

Dominic replied nonchalantly, “I wasn’t loud. You got a shock because you were lost in your thoughts. Tell me.

What were you thinking about? Were you thinking about me?”

Caught off-guard by his correct guess, | turned away from him to face the window. “Stop flattering yourself. |

wasn't thinking about you.”

Unsure if | had just lied to him or myself, | let out a secret sigh.

It began to rain halfway through our journey. Mom especially called to tellto remind Dominic to slow down

and drive carefully.

The weather had started turning colder. We seemed to be getting more sudden downpours that lasted for days in

a row.

The rain seemed to be pouring more heavily the closer we got to my house.

Listening to the rain pelting down on the car, | began to worry. | had not brought an umbrella withbecause |

did not expect it to rain.

When we were almost there, | told Dominic, “You can stop at my block here. I'll run right in. You don’t have to get

out of the car. The rain is too heavy.”

Dominic did not answer me, so | took his silence as assent.

When we reached my block, | got ready to get out of the car. Suddenly, his hand shot out and pulledback.

“Hold on.”

| was taken by surprise. | had no idea what he was about to do. | watched in shock as he opened the door on his

side and got out of the car. What's the meaning of this? We've reached my block, and instead of lettingget

out of the car, he got out of the car himself?

Ignoring his instruction, | decided to open the door to take a look at what he was getting up to.

The moment | opened my door, | saw Dominic standing soaking wet in the rain, holding an umbrella out for me.

He offeredhis hand to helpout of the car. Then he put one arm aroundand said, “Let's go.”

As | made my way from the car to my block in his embrace, | felt like | was floating in a dream.

Although his clothes were dripping wet and felt cold to the touch, I did not feel cold at all. On the contrary, | felt

warm and protected.

A little voice in my head was calling out toto push him away, but | could not bear to do it.

The man walkedall the way up to my apartment, opened the door, and ledinside the house.

Looking at the state he was in, my heart ached a little.

| pulled out a chair for him and handed him a face towel for him to dry himself.

Using another towel to dry his hair, | said, “I'll make sginger tea for you. Drink it before you go.”

Dominic caught my hand, looked straight into my eyes, and said, “Look at the state I'm in. Do you really want