I wasn’t surprised to see both men scowling at each other the next morning. I sprang up to help him, but Papa motioned me to take a seat with his gaze.
“How is your wound healing?” I inquired, but Dominic disregarded me and instead greeted my parents.
“Sit down and have your breakfast, young man.” My father gave the instruction, and his stern tone made me afraid to speak up.
Richard Vera has been difficult for several days, and I haven’t communicated with him the way we used to. When Dominic sat alongside me, I cast a peek at my father, who grimaced. “Please, Pa, don’t be too harsh on Dominic; he’s still recovering!” I requested my father to be courteous to our visitor.
Juliana appears to be in good health. My father was the one who reacted.
I pulled Dominic’s favorite food off the platter, but my father grabbed it away before I could cut some pieces for him. “Can you eat all of it, Papa?” When he had everything on his plate, I inquired.
“It’s all right. Dominic told me, “I’ll be OK without that.”
“However, you adore it for breakfast!” When Papa smashed his fist on the table, I paused to say, “Wait, I’ll make some for you-.”
Juliana, you’re not a maid in this house! Papa reprimanded me, and I apologetically looked at Dominic.
“It’s okay, Juliana,” Dominic murmured, placing his hand on top of mine.
I couldn’t tell if he was upset or not because of the way he spoke my name. I argued, “No, it’s not okay.”
“I told you it was fine!” Even when my father was nearby, Dominic snapped at me, and he looked at Dominic in surprise.
“Hold on a second, young chap. Who gives you the right to scream at my daughter like that? Act as if you’re a visitor here.” Papa remarked, and his harsh comments mortified Dominic.
Dominic answered fearlessly to my father’s comments, “Now I know where she got her stubborn temperament from.”
“Wait a minute, both of you!” I got up and walked out of the breakfast nook. Isn’t it possible that they could get along? There’s nothing left to argue about. What had to be done had to be done!
“Are you going to leave me alone with your obstinate father?” Dominic has posed a difficult question to me.
Was it his style to seek my assistance? I sighed as I returned to the breakfast nook and took a seat next to him. “Did he frighten you?” My father scowled at me when he noticed what I whispered into his ears.
He boldly replied, “No.”
“Then why did you urge me to return?” I enquired further.
He helped me fill my plate with food and said, “You have to eat your breakfast too.”
He grinned when I looked at him. Dominic treated me differently for the first time. I had no idea he was capable of being lovely and attentive if he so desired. “Thank you,” I expressed my gratitude.
After breakfast, my father told Dominic to go back to his room, and then he asked if we could talk over coffee about something. Of course, I agreed, but I didn’t think Dominic would be able to join us.
“I’ll see you later, Dom,” I vowed, my father’s brows furrowed.
Juliana, take your time. Dominic murmured something, but the way he mentioned my name was disturbing.
Anyway, as soon as Dominic had left, my father approached me and inquired about the man I had brought home. I had a feeling he’d persuade me to leave Dominic.
“Are you familiar with his parents?” Richard was the one who inquired.
“Not yet, Papa,” I say.
“Are you insane?” You fall in love with a person who has a questionable past! “Send him back to where he belongs as soon as his wound heals,” he said.
As you may have surmised, my father persuaded me to ignore my feelings for Dominic; how could I do that? “Why?” I inquired.
“It’s obvious that you love him, honey, but he’s a broken guy, and you don’t have to take on a charity project to fix him.”
“I don’t give a damn. I’m in love with him!”
“How about him? Is he head over heels in love with you?” He inquired, and when I failed to react on time, he said, “Perhaps, you should be honest with your feelings to Dominic.”
I grinned at the prospect of confessing to Dominic, but the prospect is terrifying. I vowed, “I’ll think about it soon.” “Hmmm, maybe I should pay him a visit at his place,” I suggested to Dominic, who immediately grimaced.
“No!” He didn’t like it.
“Just once?” I pleaded, pouting my lips.
Juliana, it’s non-negotiable.” He stood steadfast in his refusal to allow me to see my man. “In any case, why don’t you go back to work?”
I said, “I’ll stay for the time being.”
“Why?”
“I’m going to make him fall for me!” He was taken aback by my news and stared at me in disbelief.
“You wouldn’t!”
I said, “It’s exactly what I’m looking for.”
“One month,” he murmured, and my brows furrowed in bewilderment.
“What exactly do you mean when you say one month?” I wanted to get a clearer idea of what was going on.
“If he isn’t in love with you after a month, it’s hopeless.” He exclaimed.
“Here’s the deal. “After a month, I’ll return to work,” I stated.
“No, you’ll be reporting to work the next day.” He made an announcement.
“How can I persuade him to love me if I only have so much time?” Isn’t it possible for me to stay by his side for a month?”
“You’re asking for too much, sweetie, but we’ll work something out.”