Before leaving the stage, I accidentally saw the silhouette of Baldric Harrington gliding through the wings. He performed before me, so he shouldn't be here anymore.
Just as I was asking a question, the stage lights suddenly went out. I stayed where I was because I was worried that if I moved, I would accidentally fall. The next performance hasn't started yet, and the sudden shutdown of the lights is definitely an unexpected turn of events.
Ms. Glenda reminded everyone to stay still and not move to wait for the technician to open the temple. Fortunately, about two minutes later, the stage lights were on again, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh my God!"
"Ah, what is that? God that's embarrassing."
"That girl is... oh my god these pictures are so sensitive. Was she raped? It's pitiful but honestly she looks like a slut."
The screen was showing pictures that the creepy man forced me to take with him. In the photo, even though I tried to cover up with a blanket, many sensitive parts of my body were still exposed. My face was scared and full of tears. These photos completely recreate the nightmare that I tried to forget.
"Turn it off." Veronica shouted at the technician in anger but he seemed confused and didn't understand why the projector couldn't be controlled.
"What's going on? Who would do such a terrible thing?" Miss Glenda turned her face away and covered her mouth with her hand, she couldn't believe that such a disappointing thing could happen in such a dignified place as Malibu Academy.
Principal Peter also rushed into the wings to check.
Only I sat down on the floor, eyes blank and desperate. I don't cry, I don't know why I can't cry. It's just that my heart hurts so much that I find it hard to breathe.
Suddenly, an explosion rang out.
The giant screen on the stage shattered into pieces. My embarrassing image also disappeared. Lost the shirt that was draped over my head and shielded all the splatters that were flying out.
Everyone shouted loudly, but soon they fell silent and stared up at the stage.
At some point, Dominic stepped onto the stage. He took off his vest and put it over my head.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here."
His whispering voice made my pent-up emotions and frustrations explode, I burst into tears and my whole body shook. Dominic didn't say anything more, he picked me up and took me away to everyone's surprise.
"What's going on, why does it keep happening? So that handsome investor is Dominic Arnold? It's unbelievable." A girl said in amazement.
"Did you see what Dominic just did, he blatantly pulled out his gun and shot the screen. He was brazen and scary, but also so powerful and attractive." The girl next to her replied in awe.
"But who wants to humiliate Esther Joan? And why would Dominic Arnold defend Esther?"
These are questions that none of them have answers to.
...
I don't know how the rehearsal goes, I just know that I definitely won't be chosen as the center of the "Swan Lake" stage. No matter how excellent my performance is, no one will accept a girl like me who is involved in a rape scandal to be in an important center position.
All the worst seems to be aimed at me.
Dominic took me back to the villa, we were both silent.
"Ruby, prepare Esther's hot tub and nightwear. Then have the chef cook a bowl of hot porridge for her." Dominic looked towards Ruby and gave an order.
About half an hour later, I was in bed and Dominic carried the bowl of porridge into my room.
"Open your mouth."
When I saw Dominic holding a spoon of porridge and bringing it close to my mouth, I panicked for a moment.
"I can eat by myself." I reached out my hand to take the spoon from Dominic, but he refused.
After a while of struggling, I finally couldn't convince Dominic and had to obediently open my mouth to let him feed me. This is really embarrassing. I'm not a three-year-old, and I'm not so exhausted that I can't even feed myself. Still, Dominic insisted that he wanted to take care of me on his own.
"I put him in jail." Dominic spoke suddenly as soon as I finished eating. Seeing my bewildered expression, he further explained. "The one who harmed you."
Turns out, Dominic was telling me the reason why he disappeared for the past few days.
"I'm sorry, Dominic." For some reason, I feel like I'm doing something wrong to him, like my girlfriend cheating on her boyfriend. Despite the fact that nothing unfortunate ever happened, except that I was injured.
"You didn't do anything wrong, so you don't need to apologize to me." Dominic seemed to read my mind, he looked at me reassuringly.
"I feel like I'm always in trouble. I hate the people who harmed me, but I don't have the courage to do the same to them. Because it's too cruel." I hesitated to express my thoughts.
It seems that when I am with Dominic, it is easy for me to let go of my defenses and tell him the most sincere words. Dominic listened, then he gently hugged me. This hug is like a consolation for the hurt that I have to endure.
"I asked Principal Peter to expel the girls who bullied you. I also made their families forever never have the opportunity to appear in the nobility again. They are not your good friends."
"I know. I shouldn't have trusted Layla." I nodded and hugged Dominic tighter. "It was you who came to save me that night, right?
"Um."
From what Dominic admits, I know for sure that the real person who rescued me was not Garrick Harvey but Dominic Arnold. I don't know why Garrick made me misunderstand that he was the one who helped me, but it doesn't matter to me now.
"I originally intended to help my mother recreate the stage play 'Swan Lake' that she performed. But maybe that can't happen." I leaned against his forehead, smiling painfully and regretfully. "It's okay. At least I got to see some of your efforts and achievements. That's enough for me."
"Not enough. You could be more greedy, Esther. I'll help you get what you want." Dominic looked me straight in the eye and confirmed.
"Oh, Dominic." I kissed his lips, his cheeks, and his nose to express my joy. I realized that whenever I needed him, he showed up just in time.
There is one more important thing that I just realized. Maybe I already fell in love with this man. Even though I only spent three months with him as a fiancée and secret mistress, I was satisfied. I don't dare to be greedy, because affection is something that easily kills a person. I will only love him for these three months, and then I will take my love away from him, without letting him know.