At that moment, Marina finally stopped struggling, so he took the chance to pull her tighter into his arms, holding her close as his tone softened. “Enough, just let it go.”
I glared at him, my chest aching. “So, in your eyes, I’m the one who wants it both ways?”
He paused for a moment.
Isla's POV
Then Dominic scoffed, “Isla, just be honest. When you tore up that Harvard acceptance letter, wasn’t part of you betting I’d make a comeback and it'd be even bigger than before?”
Uncredulous, I stared at him.
Tightening his hold on Marina, he added, “Marina only met me after I succeeded, but she refuses every penny I offer. I didn’t force anything on her because her pride is no less real than whatever you were pretending back then.”
My voice shook as I asked, “You think I was pretending back then?”
Sighing, he replied, “If you can’t admit it yourself, fine. I'll give you face and won't burst the bubble for you. Just don’t make trouble about it again.”
“Dominic, I hope you get what you deserve!” I roared and then overturned the table in one furious motion.
Dominic’s first instinct was to shield Marina with his back as plates and papers flew.
Fuming, Marina yelled, “Isla, are you insane? Is Mr. Vale wrong? You only calm down if I’m exposed as a gold digger, right?”
She was about to lunge at me, but Dominic held her back.
Afterwards, he escorted everyone out, leaving only the wreckage and me collapsed on the floor, breathing hard, tears dropping one by one.
He had no idea that if I hadn’t stayed with him back then, if I’d chosen my own path, I’d have built something even bigger than his.
I picked my way through the mess, clutching my mother’s trophy.
If that was what he wanted, then be it. When my next project was confirmed, I’d split our assets and walk away.
Just as I finished cleaning, my assistant called in a panic. “Miss Isla, bad news. The role we just landed was reassigned to Marina!”
My phone nearly slipped from my hand upon hearing it. Quickly after the call, I stormed into Dominic’s office and slammed the contract files onto his desk.
“You gave my mother’s role to that—that bitch?” I hissed.
He took my outburst without flinching; even his cigar didn’t tremble. “Marina’s got potential. Don’t worry.”