She wanted to jump back in. I need to go check. He's my employer. I have to make sure he's safe. This was also the excuse she made for herself.
Dominic bit back his unwillingness, quickly grabbing her arm, and put on his weak, about-to-faint act again. "Serena, I really don't feel well. Can you take me back first?"
Looking at Dominic's beautiful, tearful eyes, Serena immediately softened, forcing herself to look away. "All right, Young Master Dominic, wait a moment. Let me make the arrangements."
After Serena left to arrange things, Dominic's eyes immediately turned cold with jealousy. He picked up his phone.
"Rescue team. Someone witnessed Julian being rescued by someone from the Sinclair family. He really has nine lives. From now on, just tell everyone that Julian swam to shore and left on his own."
On the way back, Dominic's handsome face suddenly flushed slightly, his eyes shy as he looked at Serena. "Serena, say a woman treats me really, really well. Gives me lots of expensive gifts, and every single one is something I like. Why do you think that is?"
Hearing the person she loved ask such a question, Serena immediately tensed up, her voice turning husky. "Maybe she likes you."
Hearing this, Dominic's eyes filled with joy, and he excitedly grabbed Serena's hand. "Really? Then the eldest princess of the Ashford family really does like me. This is amazing."
The words in Serena's heart got stuck in her throat. For some reason, her emotions suddenly became complicated. But regardless, at least the person Dominic cared about was her. That was enough.
The car quickly arrived at the Langford estate. Dominic seemed to be in a great mood, his face rosy, nothing like the weakness from before. Serena seized the opportunity and nervously handed a carefully wrapped gift to Dominic.
"Young Master Dominic." Her eyes were gentle. "This is the sandalwood prayer bead bracelet I got for you. I want to tell you that I can protect you for the rest of your life. I—"
Before Serena could finish, Dominic quickly took the gift, then said with a forced smile, "Thank you. I'm a bit tired. Let's talk another time."
It was as if he was avoiding something, but Serena thought perhaps she was overthinking. Dominic was probably just feeling shy, because years ago, when they were trapped in that cave, though they were young, they had promised that if they could get out, they would protect each other for life.
Seeing Dominic like this, Serena held back her words. Suddenly, she felt a sharp, throbbing pain in her calf. Serena looked down and discovered a bloody wound there. Perhaps she had been too agitated earlier, her adrenaline surging, and hadn't noticed she'd been bleeding the whole way.
But Dominic beside her couldn't have missed it. Yet he hadn't said a word.
Seeing Serena's expression of wanting to speak but holding back, Dominic suppressed his impatience, feigning surprise. "Oh, why is there so much blood? I'm sorry, Serena. I wasn't paying attention."
Looking at his pure, innocent face, Serena couldn't help but mock herself for overthinking. Years ago in that cave, Dominic had even slit his own wrist to give her blood to drink when they were severely dehydrated. He always gave her everything first. He was brave, good, and kind like that.
But no matter how much Serena reassured herself, when she noticed Dominic had no intention of tending to her wound, she still felt a pang of disappointment.
She suddenly thought of my first year as her employer. I had said I wanted to eat noodles she made by hand. Serena, who had never lifted a finger for housework, not only made a complete mess of it, but also burned her hand. At the time, my eyes had turned red, and while bandaging her wound, I kept apologizing guiltily.
"This is all my fault. I shouldn't have made you do this. It's just that ever since my mother passed away, I haven't had longevity noodles made by someone's own hands anymore. I just miss it a little."
Not only that, I even forced myself to swallow that mushy, overcooked bowl of noodles down to the last bite, and kept praising how delicious it was against my conscience.
Only then did Serena suddenly realize that her mind had just been filled with images of me. She thought she must be going crazy.
Serena stepped aside to call her assistant. "Book out the entire Nightfall for me in three days. I'm going to propose to Dominic."
This couldn't be delayed any longer, because on the way back she had learned I made it safely to shore. Witnesses said I looked very angry, probably sulking, which was why I hadn't come back. I was vicious and cruel, ruthless in my methods. Who knew what I would do to Dominic once I came to my senses?
The assistant on the other end hesitated. "Miss Ashford, you should think this through. The master doesn't approve of this marriage. He even said, if you insist on marrying Dominic from the Langford family, don't bother coming home."
Hearing this, Serena narrowed her dark eyes slightly, gathering more courage. "Then just tell him, seven years ago, Dominic risked his life to save me in that cave. I made a vow. In this lifetime, I will definitely marry him."
The assistant had no choice but to agree. "Yes, I'll arrange it immediately."
Serena hung up the phone, then gazed up adoringly toward Dominic's room upstairs. But she didn't know that inside his room, Dominic was full of disgust, throwing the sandalwood prayer beads and their packaging into the trash, muttering curses under his breath.
"Sure, she's beautiful, and she treats me well, but does Serena Ashford really think I'd be with a lowly bodyguard like her? Does she even know her own place? The two of us may stand in the same room, but our statuses are worlds apart."
Serena knew nothing of this. For these three days, she had been preparing for the proposal. But no matter how busy she was, she kept unconsciously checking her phone, looking at the empty screen with no messages. Serena furrowed her beautiful brows, feeling restless. Why wasn't I texting her anymore?
Her phone suddenly vibrated. Serena immediately stopped everything she was doing, answering instantly, unconsciously saying, "First young master—"
Before she could finish, she heard my father's voice from the other end. "Serena Ashford, I'm informing you of something. From now on, you'll stay with Dominic. Whether as a bodyguard or piano teacher, your salary stays the same. Is that acceptable?"
Serena gripped the phone tightly, losing control as she protested. "Perhaps it would be better if I stayed with Julian."
My father was both puzzled and angry. "Why don't you want to work for Dominic? I've noticed you're always careful in your work, always helping Dominic, so I was willing to—"
Serena pressed her thin lips together, finding an excuse for herself. "Mr. Langford, you've misunderstood. I'm afraid if you arrange it this way, it will make the first young master resent Young Master Dominic."
Hearing this, my father's voice softened. "You don't need to worry about that. This was Julian's own request. Even if he wants to get angry later, he'll have no grounds."
Hearing the words "Julian's own request," Serena didn't hear anything that came after. Her mind went blank for a moment.
How could I have actively requested this? Did I really not need her anymore? That couldn't be. If that were the case, given my personality and my obsession with her, I would rather destroy her than give her to Dominic. There was only one possibility. I must be plotting something against Dominic.
My father was still talking on the other end. Serena took a deep breath and hurriedly replied, "Yes, it's my honor to be by Young Master Dominic's side."
Even though she had found an excuse for my actions, the unease in her heart was like an underground current, constantly surging through her.