"Are you okay, Esther? Who did you just meet?" Veronica looked at me with worried eyes.
"No..." I was about to protest, but seeing that my hand was still holding his wool coat and handkerchief, I couldn't deny it anymore. "It's Dominic."
I lay on the bed with Veronica, she immediately took my hand.
"Your hands are so cold, how long have you been standing there?"
"I don't remember." I swear to say. My voice is a bit choked because I just finished crying.
Veronica noticed that, she gently hugged me.
"I don't know what advice to give you. I know Dominic is a dangerous man, if you love him, be careful to protect yourself too."
As for Veronica, she has never had the same emotional problems as me. She and Jeffrey know each other and love each other sincerely and peacefully, they rarely argue, maybe it's just occasional teasing.
It was the kind of love I longed for.
...
The next morning, on time, Dominic drove up to pick me up and leave. Sitting in the car, we didn't say a word to each other, as if neither of us wanted to talk about yesterday.
Joan's family has prepared a small party to welcome my return, with the participation of all Joan's family members. Honestly, this party couldn't even compare to Kaylin's annual birthday party. However, I understand that Joan's family is also reluctant to admit that I have returned home.
It must be hard for them to treat someone they once hated and despised as family, I thought sarcastically.
As usual, Dominic took my hand inside Joan's house, like a couple in love. If we don't pay close attention, no one will notice our feelings are not really comfortable and happy.
Joan's family has many children and grandchildren, some children play and run in the royal garden. If you consider the distant branch of the family line, the Joan family is indeed very large, but if only the grandchildren of Joan's great-grandfather are counted, it is only Mr. Curtis and Aunt Juliet.
Currently, Mr. Curtis is the most powerful person in the Joan family. Mr. Curtis, Mrs. Ernesta, Aunt Juliet and Mr. Michael were all sitting in the living room waiting for Dominic and I to come in.
This morning, Joan's family spokesperson, Aunt Juliet, announced to the press that I have become a member of Joan's family. She used a very clever excuse not to be criticized for their belated 'kindness'. In the announcement post, my aunt said that because Joan's great-grandfather's health had been ill for many years, Joan's family had unfortunately forgotten about me. It was not until my mother, Rowan Ambar, passed away that they took me home to take care of me in her place.
This was such an emotional announcement, the Joans playing the role of kind and loving relatives. Perhaps no one expected how estranged and indifferent they were to me.
"Dominic Arnold, perhaps we should discuss the matter of having an official engagement for the two of you?" Mr. Curtis smiled wryly, his eyes twinkling as if he were having a good time.
"Yes. Regarding the engagement, Arnold's family will ask for permission to take the responsibility of preparing. Joan's family just needs to arrange to attend." Dominic spoke politely, not too close but not too cold either.
"Very well then." Mr. Curtis nodded with satisfaction and smiled. "Okay, for now, let's enjoy the party together. Esther, the maid Mia will take you to your room."
Mr. Curtis spoke in a gentle and caring voice, much like a loving and caring father. But I know my father too well, looking through his cold eyes is quite far from his expression and voice is enough to understand, he is patiently not getting angry at me. My presence never made him happy.
I still remember nearly half a year ago, when the Arnold family came to Joan's house to discuss my and Dominic's childhood engagement. At that time, my father was eager to send me away and replace Kaylin Joan in my place. To him, only Kaylin Joan was a daughter worthy of being with Dominic. But no one expected Dominic to choose me.
I followed the maid Mia up to my room. She was assigned to become a maid to take care of me. Judging from Mia's smug appearance and uncontrollable sighs, I knew she had absolutely no interest in a once-forgotten lady like me. She must be very upset, she considers herself very unlucky to be assigned to become my maid.
Just from such a small matter was enough to see that the way Joan's family treated me was not much better than before. Dominic arranged everything for me much more carefully, a careful and skillful maid Ruby, a spacious room filled with beautiful clothes and expensive accessories and jewelry.
"Wait for me outside, I'll arrange the furniture in this room myself." I looked at Mia.
"But ma'am, Mr. Curtis has instructed me to take good care of you. Let me help you pack and clean your room." Mia bowed her head and said.
"No need. I want to do it myself." Seeing that Mia was about to say something more, I resolutely interrupted. "You're just standing here and bothering me. Shall we go down to the living room together to ask Mr. Curtis' permission to let me arrange my own bedroom? By the way, ask my fiancé's permission too?"
Seeing me mention Dominic Arnold, Mia shrank back and shook her head in fear. Then she calmly obeyed my request and left. Mia knows that Mr. Curtis can be mean to a forgotten daughter like me, but Dominic wouldn't do that to his fiancée.
After Mia left, I took a closer look at my room. I had looked through the rooms of Joan's house, so I knew that my bedroom was not one of the rooms that the lady and young master of the Joan family would live in. The area of the room is quite small, only a small window overlooking a gloomy garden corner. All furniture in this room is old and used many years ago, although it has been cleaned so that there is no trace of dirt.
In general, everything in this room is like a temporary room for guests or servants.