Rejected and Pregnant Claimed By The Dark Alpha Prince novel Chapter 446

Chapter 446: Pushing him to be cruel

Dominick awoke to a dull, throbbing ache that settled deep behind his eyes and across his muscles. Yet, the instant his mind flickered to Juniper, the mundane pain receded, swallowed by a familiar, far more agonizing memory.

The pain she gave him was much more severe. He simply rested his head against the cushioned headboard, allowing himself a moment of quiet, aching nostalgia for the good old days that now felt impossibly distant and gilded with lies.

Suddenly, he recalled about entering the cursed forest yesterday. "Cas saved me," he murmured. "But how?" A deep frown creased his forehead.

Shaking off his head, Dominick pushed himself out of the bed. He went first to the washroom and freshened up. After having a cold shower, he dressed in a fresh attire and immediately set off to find Casaio.

As he reached the chamber, a servant nodded and led his way in.

"Good morning, Zilia," Dominick greeted her. "Is Casaio around? I came to thank him for yesterday. I barely remember anything after..." he trailed off, not wanting to voice the fear of the forest.

"He’s getting ready now," Zilia replied, keeping her tone gentle. "Please, why don’t you take a seat?" She offered a chair directly across from her own.

Dominick lowered himself onto the chair, his posture stiff. His gaze fell to his hands, and he began to fidget with his fingers. "Zilia, I’m truly sorry for everything that has happened these past few days," he began, the apology sounding inadequate even to his own ears.

Zilia gave a soft sigh. "You don’t have to apologize. Honestly, it’s my fault too," she admitted. "I—I should have asked Cas to marry me some other day. A later day. Because of me, you and June—"

"No," Dominick interjected, looking at her again. "That’s not true, Zilia. Please don’t take that burden on yourself." He took a pause, gathering his scattered thoughts.

"I’ve thought about it a lot, more than I care to admit. And I came to a very clear, very painful conclusion: Juniper loved my rank and my title much more than she ever loved me. She desired the stability and power of a high position. She desired something else, something I represented, not the man I actually am. So please, don’t blame yourself for any of it," Dominick explained. Even while talking about Juniper, his heart was aching badly. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Zilia nodded slowly, absorbing Dominick’s painful admission. Before she could reply, her eyes widened slightly as she saw Casaio enter.

"Cas!" she exclaimed, a relieved smile lighting up her face.

Dominick instantly turned, his posture straightening as he rose from the chair. He walked toward his older brother, a genuine look of gratitude on his face. "Thank you, Casaio, for saving me yesterday. I don’t remember much, but..."

Casaio didn’t move. He stood just inside the doorway, his eyes fixed on Dominick. It was a stare that appeared cold, heavy, and utterly devoid of warmth.

Dominick’s gratitude faltered, replaced by a deep, immediate discomfort. "What happened?" he asked, taking a hesitant step closer. He searched his brother’s face for a hint of explanation for the bizarre, hostile silence.

Even Zilia was confused. She frowned, seeing the rigid set of Casaio’s jaw and the way he was looking at his younger brother, not with brotherhood, but with resentment.

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