Aunt Juliet is like a person who has the ability to manipulate other people's psychology, she waited for me for a while and still didn't see what I said, so she didn't force me to agree right away. She waited for me to think, until she felt that my feelings were no longer angry, then she continued to talk.
"About you and Dominic, I've heard you two maintain a good relationship. I've been in discussions with the Arnold family and plan to have an official engagement ceremony for you two."
"What? Engagement?" I opened my eyes wide in surprise and looked at my aunt.
"That's right. Dominic Arnold hasn't told you about this?" Aunt Juliet didn't seem to expect me to have such a surprised reaction.
"No, he hasn't. We... aren't living together right now."
Aunt Juliet let out a sigh, seemingly guessing what was going on. Women have always been sensitive to such issues.
"Love always makes people take wrong actions. You should not let emotions overwhelm your thoughts. Whatever is beneficial, you should take it."
Aunt Juliet is an independent and decisive thinker. She is similar to Dominic, in some ways, they are fierce, intelligent and self-interested. I am not like that, hesitation and doubt always exist in me, I can easily forgive someone when they do wrong, but can also hold a grudge against a person.
"This… maybe you should think about it later." I said.
"What about the two issues I mentioned earlier?" Aunt Juliet raised her eyebrows slightly. "I think you're a smart person, if you want to get something, first you need to learn how not to be alone."
I understand what she said. She knows that I am completely alone right now, and of course I am dependent on Dominic. Even though the Joans aren't really my family, at least they won't drive me away for now. They need me and I need them, like an alliance.
In the end, I decided to agree with Aunt Juliet.
After I left Joan's mansion, Aunt Juliet remained there for quite some time.
She sipped her tea, then called a maid, whispering something in her ear. The maid nodded and then left. Not long after, she returned, accompanied by a man.
He sat down across from Aunt Juliet, lighted himself a cigar, puffed out a puff of smoke.
"Basically, everything went according to plan. It's just, she needs more time to approve." Aunt Juliet let out a sigh.
"What should be hidden, hide it well. If she finds out something, I will find you first."
Aunt Juliet pursed her lips and nodded. She looked out the window, her eyes filled with thoughts.
Only later did she speak, her voice still cold but containing fatigue.
“Do you need to make things this far?”
Dominic snuffed out his cigar, picked up his coat, and walked out the door. She thought he would just leave, but he stopped in front of the door for a few seconds, then slowly spoke.
"As long as it's her, it's all worth it."
Dominic leaves, the snow begins to fall. Aunt Juliet stared at the extinguished cigar in the ashtray, a faint trail of smoke rising but quickly disappearing.
"We were wrong, we'll have to pay for it. But you're wrong too, Dominic."
Her voice was very soft, even if someone was sitting next to her, it would not be possible to hear what she said.
...
"Are you really leaving? Don’t live with that scary family, stay here with me, okay?" Veronica kept whining, rolling back and forth on the bed when she saw me packing my things in a bag.
When I come here, I don't bring too many things, most of them are new or borrowed from Veronica, so I don't need a suitcase that is too big to fit all this stuff.
My folding movement paused for a moment, then I turned to look at my best friend who was whining on the bed.
"Come on, you know I'd be too shy to stay at your house. If it weren't for the unfortunate situation, I wouldn't have thought about bothering you for the past few days." I tilted my head to look at her and smiled.
"What? Don't think like that. Isn't it fine if we live together? We practice ballet together, cook together, and then eat together." Veronica sat up, looking like she didn't agree with my thoughts one bit. "Besides, it's almost winter break. If you're here, we can spend a wonderful winter together.
Anyway, after winter break, we'll be really busy with competitions."
I zipped up my bag then lied down on the bed with her, looking up at the ceiling.
"Is that Okay?" Veronica put her hands on her face and lay on her side to look at me.
"Okay..."
Veronica gave a howl of joy and jumped up and down on the mattress, but then I continued.
"Just for tonight."
Veronica fainted and sat down, she sighed knowing that no matter how much she persuaded me, I would not change my mind.
"Fine, then I'll sleep with you tonight."
Veronica gets under the blanket and pulls me to lie down with her. We talked for a long time that night. Veronica was planning to go on a trip with her lover in the winter, and she asked if Dominic and I were going, but then she remembered that he and I were arguing.
I don't mind it too much, I'll see him sooner or later anyway, because we still have a lot to talk about. I knew that hiding was not the way, but in the end I was still afraid to face him. Until now, I have not been able to imagine how many secrets this man has or how dangerous he is.
Talking to Veronica until midnight, she got tired and fell asleep. I lay on my bed, playing with my phone.
About two o'clock in the morning, I heard the sound of a car engine, at this time I had just gone to the bathroom and was about to go to bed. Out of curiosity, I peeked through the window to see whose car stopped in front of Veronica's house. Unexpectedly, I saw Dominic there.