Isabella paused, then replied calmly, "You don't need to explain anything to him. If anything, he should be the one apologizing to you."

Alexander nodded firmly. "Alright, Bella. I'll listen to you."

Her eyes lingered on his handsome face, particularly those sharp eyes, and she momentarily lost herself.

A long silence followed before Alexander spoke again. "If there's nothing else, I'll get back to work."

Startled from her daze, Isabella lowered her head quickly. "Yes, go ahead. Just take care of yourself. You're still hurt, so don't push too hard."

"Thanks for your concern." Alexander flashed a grin as he left the office.

Once outside, that smile shifted into something far more cryptic.

…

Meanwhile, Dominic sat behind the wheel of his old Audi.

After dropping Lilith off at Blossom Elementary, he remained alone in the car, silent for a long while. He held his phone, staring at his wife's number. In the end, he shook his head and didn't call.

Love and marriage had begun to show cracks. Worse, those cracks seemed to be widening.

At first, when Isabella mentioned a new intern joining the company, he paid little attention. She had spoken of Alexander dismissively. After all, fresh graduates were everywhere, and most lacked real talent.

But over time, Isabella noticed him more. She praised his abilities, saying he brought impressive profits to the company. In just a month, her dismissiveness had transformed into open admiration.

At that point, Dominic started to get uneasy. Hearing your own wife praise another man never sat well.

He had assumed it would end there, but their relationship grew closer. Several times, he noticed Isabella chatting with Alexander on WhatsApp, the conversations unusually lively. He never looked through her phone and didn't know what they discussed. Still, it gnawed at him.

Eventually, Isabella and Alexander went so far as to declare themselves sworn siblings. That stung, and Dominic voiced his discomfort, but Isabella brushed it off every time. For Lilith's sake, he avoided heated arguments.

Then came yesterday. They had shared a toast, arm in arm, as if they were bride and groom. That terrified Dominic. He wondered if Isabella might one day go further, slipping away with Alexander into a hotel room.

He was a man and could never accept to be betrayed and humiliated. Even Lilith deserved better than to see her father reduced to a coward.

Thus, Dominic confronted Alexander. Beating him wasn't just venting anger. It was a warning, a claim of dominance. The message was clear: if Alexander humiliated him, he would face ruthless consequences.

At the same time, Dominic began considering divorce. If Isabella didn't come to her senses, their marriage would not survive. But if it came to that, one thing was certain: he would fight for Lilith's custody.

Isabella was far too busy to care for their daughter. Lilith needed stability, someone who would put her first. Dominic was determined to be that person. When Lilith grew older, she could choose to live with her mother, but not now.

There was only one problem. He was broke. No job, no house. How could he possibly win custody?

"Ah…" He sighed heavily. Not only was he unemployed, but he didn't even own property.

Isabella came from the Sinclairs, one of Eastmere State's most powerful families. They had looked down on Dominic from the start—a country boy from the fields. Although Isabella had insisted on marrying him, her family had forced him to sign a pre-nup.

In plain terms, even if they divorced, Dominic would walk away with nothing. The house was in Isabella's name. The only thing he owned was the old Audi he sat in.

Raising Lilith with that alone? It was impossible.

Frowning, Dominic unlocked his phone and downloaded a job-search app. Listings appeared by the dozens. He filtered for high-paying roles and began calling one company after another. Maybe luck would be on his side.

Several companies invited him for interviews that afternoon, and he felt hopeful. He grabbed a quick lunch, then dove into the interviews.

Unfortunately, disappointment followed.

On the surface, Dominic appeared professional. His sharp appearance and confident demeanor caught the recruiters' attention immediately. Yet he had one fatal flaw: no experience.

He had graduated from Skyline University, one of the nation's most prestigious institutes, but his resume was nearly blank. At 30, he had yet to hold a formal position. The jobs he applied for demanded higher qualifications and experience.

In the end, the recruiters could only tell him to wait for further notice.

The most absurd moment came when a graceful, alluring female manager hinted that although he wasn't qualified, there were other ways to earn a handsome salary without much effort.

Dominic turned her down. He was still young and wanted to build something with his own hands.

…

By late afternoon, exhausted and dejected, Dominic checked the time. School was almost over for Lilith, so he drove back to Blossom Elementary.

Parents crowded the gates, waiting for their children. The school ranked among Skyline City's elite private schools, almost aristocratic in its standards. Its tuition reached tens of thousands of dollars each year.

For Isabella, that was nothing. For Dominic, it was another heavy burden. Still, it didn't shake his resolve. If Isabella continued her ambiguous relationship with Alexander, divorce would be inevitable.

Soon, the bell rang, and cheerful children poured out of the gates.

"Daddy!" Lilith sprinted toward him, throwing herself into his arms.

"Daddy! I scored a perfect hundred on both tests today!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with pride.

Dominic laughed heartily. "That's amazing, sweetheart! What do you want? Daddy will get it for you."

"I want a Barbie doll! And McDonald's too!"

"Consider it done."

He took her to the mall, bought the doll, and took her to dinner. By the time they returned home, it was nearly seven.

The moment they stepped inside, Isabella's cold voice cut through the air. "Where have you been all day?"

Dominic frowned but didn't answer. He smiled at Lilith instead. "Go change your clothes, sweetheart. They're dirty. Remember to toss them in the washing machine."

"Okay!" she chirped, kicking off her shoes as she dashed to her room.

Isabella's expression hardened. "I'm talking to you!"

A faint, cold smile tugged at Dominic's lips. "So now I have to report everything I do to you?"

The remark set Isabella off instantly. She sprang to her feet, her voice sharp. "What kind of attitude is that? I was speaking to you calmly, and you—"

Her words faltered as surprise flickered across her face.

Dominic laughed mockingly. "What's wrong? Did you remember something?"

Isabella's expression darkened. She had remembered that she had said those exact words to him just two weeks ago.

It had been a rare weekend. Dominic had cooked a large dinner at home, planning for the three of them to eat together before taking a drive through the countryside. But just as they had been about to sit down, Isabella had received a call from Alexander. He had claimed that he had cut his leg, and she had panicked, snatching her purse and rushing for the door.

Dominic had tried to stop her, demanding to know where she was going.

Agitated, she had snapped, "Stop asking, will you? Do I have to report everything I do to you?"

She had tossed the words over her shoulder before slamming the door. Dominic had stood frozen in the living room for what felt like hours.

Now, back in the present, guilt flickered across Isabella's face. Nonetheless, she pressed, "You should at least let me know beforehand. I came back early today, and you weren't even home."

On ordinary days, Dominic would drop Lilith off at school, head straight home, and do chores or read. But today, Isabella had returned early to find the breakfast dishes still on the table, untouched. He had been gone all day.

Dominic shook his head, gathered the dishes, and said quietly, "You should learn to handle the chores yourself or hire a housekeeper."

Isabella frowned. "What's that supposed to mean, honey? Don't I already have you?"

Dominic paused mid-motion, turned, and looked her straight in the eye. "Was I born just to do housework?"

His gaze was sharp, and it made her flinch. For years, his eyes had held only gentleness. But now, something had changed.

Isabella felt an invisible weight pressing down, unsettling her. "That's not what I meant."

She drew a deep breath and forced the unease away. "I went to the office today. Alex showed up even though he's hurt. He said he wants to explain things to you, and I don't think you should—"

"Don't you dare bring up that bastard to me!" Dominic barked and slammed the dishes down hard.

Isabella had never seen him like this. She bristled in return, her own tone sharp. "Are you done, Dominic? You're blowing this out of proportion over baseless suspicions. Alex never once blamed you, even after you hit him, yet you keep clinging to this. Don't you think you're being unreasonable?"

"Unreasonable?" Dominic scoffed, pointing at himself. "Fine, I'm unreasonable. Do you have any idea how it feels when you keep calling him your dear brother? You think he's talented and considerate? Then go to him! I won't stop you. We'll file for divorce tomorrow!"

His anger boiled over.

Isabella's eyes widened. "Y-You're bringing up divorce again?"

"Why not? Should I just sit back and watch you and your so-called brother flirt like lovers?" He shot her a cold look before turning toward the kitchen.

"Say that again!" Isabella gritted her teeth and grabbed his shirt. "There's nothing inappropriate between Alex and me! You're slandering me. You owe me an apology, or I won't let this go!"

"Get off." Dominic shook her hand away without hesitation.

She stumbled back and fell to the floor. Meanwhile, Dominic walked into the kitchen without looking back.

She sat there, dazed, for a long moment.

"Mommy, why are you on the floor?" Lilith appeared, looking at her nervously. In every parental fight, the child always bore the brunt.

Isabella forced a smile and pulled herself up. "It's nothing, sweetheart. Mommy and Daddy were just playing around."

"Don't fight with Daddy," Lilith whispered. "He's the best daddy in the world."

'And I'm the best mommy in the world too…' Isabella felt wronged, her eyes reddening.

She sniffled, then held her daughter's hand gently. "Daddy and Mommy weren't fighting. We were just discussing something."

Lilith hesitated before asking cautiously, "Are you and Daddy going to split up?"

She was only six but perceptive enough to understand.

"Of course not." Isabella shook her head firmly. "Lily, Mommy and Daddy will never split up. We'll always live together as a family."

Relieved, the girl smiled brightly.

Isabella picked up her backpack with a soft smile. "Now go to your room and do your homework."

Once Lilith was settled, Isabella stepped out and closed the door.

Dominic had already washed the dishes and leaned on the balcony, smoking.

The heat of the argument had cooled, and Isabella had calmed as well. Her expression mixed resentment with fear as she approached him from behind and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Honey, let's not fight anymore. Lily was scared."

Dominic remained silent for a long moment before speaking. "I told you to fire him and cut all ties yesterday. Can you do that?"

Isabella froze. She hadn't expected him to bring it up again. Her face tightened. "I've already told you. There's nothing between us. You're mistaken. He's talented, and the company needs people like him…"

Dominic laughed bitterly and pried her hands from his waist. "So you can't do it. Stop dressing it up as some noble sacrifice for the company. What's the point?"

Isabella's company, worth over 10,000,000 dollars, was backed by the Sinclair Group, a billion-dollar empire. What did one intern who had been there three months matter? Nothing.

She hesitated before speaking. "Don't be angry, honey. I promise I'll try to keep my distance from him. But firing him… I really can't do that."

Dominic shook his head and went back inside. If she could have kept her distance, she would have already done so. Many so-called innocent relationships between men and women escalated over time. Maybe she already had feelings for him.

The thought cut into Dominic's heart like a blade, leaving only pain.