Let's get out!

“Who?” asked Gwen, curious.

“I don’t know, but he seems interested in you,” replied Dominic curtly.

“Don't be jealous,” Gwen teased her husband.

Dominic glared at her. “Who’s jealous? I don’t care who you go with as long as Grandpa doesn’t find out.”

“Good then. Thanks for being such a good husband,” Gwen replied with a smile, though she felt hurt inside. She hadn't expected Dominic to say such things, confirming her suspicion that he never really wanted her from the start.

“As a good husband, I need to protect you from that creep. Let’s get out of here,” said Dominic, grabbing Gwen's hand. They moved to another store, where Dominic wanted to buy new pants and asked Gwen to pick them out.

“I won't choose anything in bright colors. How’s that?”

“No problem, since I asked you to pick them,” Dominic replied. “Go ahead and choose; I’ll be back shortly, I need to meet a client.”

Dominic left, leaving Gwen confused. She didn’t understand why he left so abruptly. Her confusion grew when a store employee asked for Dominic's pants size, which she didn’t know.

She tried calling Dominic, but his number was unreachable. Gwen thought for a moment about whether to wait or go find him.

“Please find standard men’s pants sizes; maybe one will fit my husband,” Gwen said. The employee quickly fetched several pairs of standard men’s pants.

“These are some of the standard men’s sizes, and I’ve brought a few of our best-selling styles,” the employee said.

Gwen chose three pairs that caught her eye and asked for them in bright colors, specifically to irritate Dominic as payback for leaving her alone.

“Is there anything else I can help with?” asked the employee after handing Gwen the pants.

“My husband might want to pick more when he returns. Please wait for him,” Gwen replied. She then sat down to wait for Dominic.

After several minutes, Dominic returned. “Did you find what you wanted?”

“Where have you been? Why was your phone off? I don’t know your pants size,” Gwen blurted out.

“I had important business,” he replied, walking to the pants Gwen had chosen. “You really picked these for me?”

“Why? Didn’t I say I’d choose bright ones?” Gwen shot back, approaching Dominic. “Do they fit?”

Dominic said the sizes were correct but he didn’t like the styles. “Don’t you have any other styles? I don’t mind the colors, just the cuts.”

Gwen picked out different styles for him. Once they found suitable ones, they moved to another store, buying various items. Four hours passed quickly as they shopped at the city’s most expensive mall.

Satisfied with their shopping, Dominic invited Gwen to eat at his favorite restaurant. “You have to try my favorite dishes,” Dominic said.

“Why are you suddenly inviting me to eat your favorite food?”

“Why not? Aren’t you hungry? If you don’t want to, you can get out now,” Dominic replied.

Gwen responded with a bitter smile, not intending to leave mid-journey. She was just puzzled by Dominic's sudden invitation.

“Is the place far?”

“We’re almost there,” Dominic said without looking at her. Indeed, his luxury car soon slowed and turned left. “You get out first; I’ll find parking.”

Gwen unbuckled and stepped out, her slender legs touching the ground of a bamboo-themed restaurant. Though she passed it often, this was her first time eating there.

“Let’s go in,” Dominic invited, and Gwen followed him inside.

Upon entering, Gwen marveled at the interior. It was surprising to find such a lush, village-like setting in the bustling city.

“What do you want to order?” Dominic asked, handing her the menu.

“You choose for me,” Gwen said, unfamiliar with the dishes, leaving the choice to Dominic.

After ordering, they headed to Dominic’s favorite spot on the balcony on the second floor, which offered views of the sky and a flower garden below.

“Do you like the place?” Dominic asked.

“Of course, it’s beautiful. Thanks for bringing me here,” Gwen replied.

“No problem. This is my way of apologizing for leaving you earlier.”

Gwen looked directly at Dominic, wondering why his attitude had changed. “Why apologize all of a sudden?”

“Don’t say it like that, as if I’m always mean to you,” Dominic said.

“I know, you’re only like this because Grandpa’s people are watching us. Or maybe the guy stalking me was Grandpa’s spy. Am I right?”

“No, don’t act like you know everything. The guy watching you was a criminal; he seemed like he was planning something bad,” Dominic said.

“How do you know he was a criminal?” Gwen probed. Dominic didn’t answer, diverting his attention to his phone, which only made Gwen more certain he’d investigated the stalker. “Did you leave earlier to find out about him?”

Dominic nodded quickly and said, “Since you’re my wife, it’s my duty to protect you from threats. That’s what a husband does.”

Gwen chuckled at his words. “Why the sudden change?”

“If I can change for the better, so can you,” Dominic said, sending all the signals to Gwen. “Especially since we’re going on our honeymoon tomorrow, just the two of us.”

Gwen understood where the conversation was heading. Dominic was like any other man. “I’m not ready to get pregnant, and you promised not to touch me. Why are you changing your mind now?”

“Don’t I have the right to as your husband?”