Chapter 168
Since Sebastian had smashed her phone, Lexi had no choice but to ask an airport employee to call Dominic for her.
The moment Dominic received the call, he rushed to the airport.
But when he saw Lexi sitting in a wheelchair, her leg encased in a cast and her face pale and painfully thin, he could no longer contain his emotions.
He hurried over and pulled her tightly into his arms.
“Big brother, let go!” Lexi protested, her voice muffled against his chest. “You’re hugging me too tightly. I can barely breathe p>
Hearing her complaint, Dominic immediately came to his senses and loosened his embrace.
He brushed a stray lock of hair away from her forehead, his expression full of concern.
“You were only supposed to be overseas for a short trip. How did things get this bad p>
“Dominic, it’s a long story. I can’t explain everything in a few sentences.” Lexi managed a faint smile. “Please just take me home first p>
Although she’d originally gone to Paris under the pretense of shooting a photo book, Lila had specifically asked her not to tell Dominic or anyone else about the trip.
But she’d now traveled between Paris and home twice. Whether they knew the original reason or not hardly mattered anymore.
Besides, she was convinced Lauren was behind what had happened. It was difficult to imagine anyone else having the motive or opportunity.
Dominic nodded. The airport was crowded, and it certainly wasn’t the right place for a lengthy conversation.
He wheeled Lexi out, carefully lifted her into the passenger seat, and folded the wheelchair into the trunk.
With a fractured leg, Lexi needed rest. She wasn’t in any condition to go somewhere noisy or crowded.
Dominic wanted to make her a nourishing pot of bone broth, but he was hopeless in the kitchen. In the end, he asked his secretary to prepare something instead and bring it to Lexi’s home in an insulated container.
“Miss Lexi, I made black-bone chicken soup today,” Wendy said with a warm smile. “Let me pour you a bowl. Try it, and if you like it, I’ll make some more tomorrow p>
Wendy had worked for Dominic for many years and was one of his most capable assistants.
She was gentle, composed, and soft-spoken—a striking contrast to Dominic ’s fiery temper.
The two seemed to balance each other naturally, one calm where the other was impulsive.
If they ever became a couple, they might actually make a wonderful match.
Wendy was also beautiful, with fair skin and a graceful smile that made her eyes curve into delicate crescents. She had a certain elegance that could rival even the actresses Lexi worked with.
When Lexi remained distracted, Wendy called to her again.
She handed over the bowl of soup with an elegant smile.
“Careful. It’s hot p>
Lying in bed, Lexi accepted it a little awkwardly.
Then she turned toward Dominic, who was sitting nearby watching television.
“Dominic, there are glass cups in the top kitchen cabinet. Could you get Miss Wendy some water? She’s gone to all this trouble to make the soup and bring it here. She must be exhausted p>
“Of course p>
Dominic switched off the television and went to the kitchen.
While he was away, Wendy and Lexi exchanged a few polite words.
Lexi expressed her gratitude for all the trouble Wendy had taken, but the latter brushed it off as something insignificant.
Her gentle manner and warm voice made Lexi feel unexpectedly comforted.
Soon, Dominic returned with a glass of water and handed it to Wendy, who accepted it with both hands.
She took a small sip.
A faint orange lipstick mark appeared on the transparent glass.
“Oh, I’m sorry. That was careless of me,” Wendy said, noticing the mark. “I’ll clean it off right away p>
She rose and headed toward the bathroom, having forgotten to wipe away her lipstick before drinking. Leaving a lipstick stain on someone else’s glass was certainly impolite.
But the orange mark caught Lexi’s attention.
Suddenly, she remembered a night when she’d seen Dominic with Lauren in a private room.
Or at least, she’d thought she’d seen them together.
When she returned to the room a little later, only Dominic had been there.
Yet the wineglass on the table had carried an orange lipstick stain exactly like the one on Wendy’s glass.
Could she have been mistaken that night?
Perhaps Dominic hadn’t been with Lauren at all. Perhaps the woman she’d seen was simply someone who resembled Lauren.
And perhaps the strangest coincidence was that both women had been wearing the same shade of orange lipstick.
After all, the world was full of unlikely coincidences.
Wendy was living proof of that.
Lexi glanced at Dominic, who was sitting there as though nothing unusual had happened, and slowly pushed her doubts aside.
He was the man she’d grown up with, the big brother who’d always looked out for her. He’d rushed to the airport to bring her home, arranged for nourishing meals to be prepared, and even bought her a new phone.
He was practically ready to abandon his entire business just to stay by her side around the clock.
How could she suspect someone so loyal and generous, let alone distance herself from him over an uncertain memory?
A quiet wave of guilt washed over her.
After Wendy left, Lexi urged Dominic to return to work.
He couldn’t keep leaving everything to his employees while he stayed away from the company. As the person in charge, he had responsibilities he couldn’t neglect indefinitely.
Dominic considered her words for a long moment before reluctantly agreeing.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he promised gently. “If you need anything, call me p>
Lexi nodded.
She watched him put on his jacket and change his shoes by the entrance. Just as he was about to leave, she suddenly spoke.
“Dominic, you’ve been on your own for years. You have money now, and your life is certainly better than it was when we were growing up in the orphanage. But you can’t spend the rest of your life alone p>
Dominic paused and looked back at her.
Lexi smiled faintly.
“It’s time you found me a sister-in-law p>
There wasn’t much she could do to help Dominic with his business. She didn’t have the experience or influence to make a meaningful difference in his professional life.
But perhaps she could help him find someone who would stand beside him, someone who could become his partner and offer him the companionship he deserved.
It was the least she could do for the man who had always been there for her.