Love the Second Time Around

Chapter 12

Chapter 12 Do You Regret It

Me, distressed? Hah! As if! Has he taken leave of his senses?

“I’m worried about you, you dumb*ss!” ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

After blurting that out to Dominic, my gaze met his smirking gaze. In an instant, regret deluged me. Great! That’s just great! I was really off my rocker to show concern for another man right in front of my husband!

“Tsk-tsk… Sure enough, you’re a sl*t, Liliana Zanetti! You could’ve had a good life with your husband, yet you had to fool around with a cripple! What do you have to say now that I’ve caught you red-handed? I’ll tell you what, you’ve got to pay for my son’s medical expenses and the damages you wrought by having an affair!”

Coraline shot forward, almost poking me in the face with her condemning finger. Out of the blue, Dominic shifted his wheelchair. The culprit that had clipped me earlier smacked against her, the crippling pain making her wail aloud.

Upon seeing that his mother was injured, Julius could no longer be a coward and keep silent. He staggered to his feet. Despite his lingering fear of Calvin, he bit the bullet and rushed forward.

To my surprise, he didn’t charge at us but helped his mother up instead. Then, he turned and cut me a murderous glare.

“Just you wait, Liliana! I’ll show you what true ruination means. You love drawing comics, no? In that case, don’t even dream of ever doing that again for the rest of your life!”

I understood his meaning at once. He’s probably threatening to expose me for having stolen someone’s work…

With that, I glanced down at Dominic, but I remained exceedingly calm since it was something I owed him in the first place, and a reckoning was inevitable.

“Go ahead. I’m no one important, so it doesn’t matter even if I never draw comics again. It’s just a change of profession, no big deal. However, our marriage has come to an end, Julius. I’ll see you at City Hall when you’re discharged from the hospital.”

“In your dreams! It’s fine if you want a divorce, but you’ve got to pay my losses in full. You’ll never be rid of me if you give me even a cent less. I’m not going to allow you both to live happily for nothing!”

My mild temper was on the brink of being obliterated by Julius’ shamelessness. Jeez, has he forgotten everything that happened last night? How dare he condemn me for having an affair now and demand compensation? Argh! I really can’t believe his shamelessness!

“What kind of losses would you have suffered? You were the one who had an affair and hit your wife. And what about your offense of slandering an artist?”

At Dominic’s sudden interruption, I gaped at him in astonishment. Didn’t he come back this time to settle the score with me? So, why is he now saying that my stealing of his work is slander?

“Hah! Save it! She told me herself that she took the wrong manuscript but said nothing when her manuscript was selected. Therefore, this is a veritable fact that she can’t deny!”

Julius threw Dominic a triumphant look as though nothing scared him since he had dirt on me.

“Oh, really? Where’s the proof, then? And where’s the original author? Once copyright matters are involved, there must be an original author. Can you find the person and have him or her testify against Liliana for copyright infringement? If you can’t, this is no more than slander!”

“I…”

Dominic’s words had Julius dumbfounded. Likewise, I was stunned.

All at once, I plunged into a turmoil. Everything he’s doing today is to help me, but why would he do so? He told me he detested me yesterday and returned to collect the debt I owe him. So, what’s the meaning of this?

“Calvin!” Dominic called out faintly.

The man standing beside him immediately leaned down and wheeled him out the door. Meanwhile, I remained rooted to the spot in a daze, but his low and rich voice then sounded behind me.

“Why are you still standing there? Are you reluctant to leave?”

“Coming…” I walked out with him in sheer confusion.

Just after we had gone out the door, Dominic’s wheelchair came to a stop.

“Do you regret it? Do you regret dumping me and finding such a worthless piece of trash?”