Chapter 33
Dominic’s POV
I stood there as she left. The urge to go after her nearly consumed me, but something stopped me, a bitter mix of shame and realization of the fact that I hurt her, that I pushed her away, and now, she did not want anything to do with me.
I had no right to demand anything from her. Not after what I had done.
The frustration simmered just beneath my skin, fueled by both anger and regret. Regret for the years I had let slip by without finding her, and anger at myself for being the reason she had left in the first place.
My chest felt tight as I turned back toward my mother’s house. I had come here hoping for answers, for some kind of clarity, and instead, I was left with more questions and a gnawing sense of failure.
“She’s not going to make this easy for you.”
I looked up sharply to see my mother standing on the porch with her arms crossed over her chest. She was watching me with that knowing look she always had, the one that told me she had seen and heard everything.
“Did you talk to her?” she asked.
“She wouldn’t listen,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “She’s still so angry.”
My mother raised an eyebrow. “And you’re surprised?”
I shot her a look but did not respond. What could I say? That I thought six years would be enough time for her to forgive me? That I thought I could just show up and things would fall back into place?
“Dominic,” my mother said, her voice was softer now as she stepped closer. “You can’t expect her to just forget everything that happened. You hurt her, deeply.”