Chapter 48
As the starting whistle sounded, both men moved with precision and intent.
Dominic’s technique was raw but determined; Sebastian was precise and unyielding.
“Your big brother really is reckless,” sneered Lauren in a crimson gown, champagne in hand.
“Putting himself on the line with no skill to back it up p>
“Don’t forget—he’s your elder too,” Lexi shot back coolly.
Lauren scoffed.
In Dominic’s eyes, neither she nor her sister were worth a grain of sand.
Lexi’s eyes flicked to the course, anxiety coiling in her chest.
Lauren, however, wasn’t done.
She shouted from the sidelines, encouraging Sebastian—and threw her champagne directly onto Lexi.
In that instant, Sebastian scored a hole, widening the gap between him and Dominic.
“Lauren, what the hell?” Lexi snapped, shoving her aside.
“Still as foolish as ever,” Lauren hissed.
Lexi quickly realized Lauren’s aim—to distract Dominic.
There was still one final hole.
If Dominic could win it, Sebastian and Lauren’s grip over them would end forever.
She cupped her hands around her mouth, shouting to Dominic: “I’m fine! Focus on the game p>
He glanced back, giving her a reassuring gesture.
Suddenly, a golf ball whistled through the air, striking Dominic squarely in the back.
Pain exploded through him; the world spun.
He collapsed to the ground.
Lexi screamed, rushing to his side, shaking him and calling his name.
He didn’t respond.
Sebastian immediately sensed the danger and ordered his men to call an ambulance.
Lexi clutched him tightly, her gaze icy daggers aimed at Sebastian.
If anything happened to him… she would never forgive Sebastian.
Dominic was rushed into emergency surgery.
Lexi waited outside, every step heavy, her mind locked on the one thought: he will survive.
No matter what.
Connor, Sebastian’s aid, approached, eyeing both Lexi and Sebastian with equal concern.
Sebastian Blackwood gave a slight nod, and then Connor spoke in a low voice.
“Boss, the golf ball that hit Dominic is missing. It must have been taken while we weren’t paying attention. Whoever did this clearly intended to frame you—just like the timed bomb incident in your car last time p>
Sebastian frowned, his jaw tight.
“Have you checked all the surveillance footage?” His voice was icy, betraying just a trace of unease.
He didn’t want Lexi to ever suspect him.
Most importantly, he needed to find out exactly who was working behind the scenes.
“All of it. Nothing suspicious shows up,” Mark said, shaking his head, a shadow of frustration crossing his face.
Multiple incidents like this were inexcusable—it was his failure.
Sebastian instructed him sharply, “Keep digging. Use any method necessary to find this person. If this isn’t resolved, tomorrow the media will run with it: ‘Prominent businessman Dominic attacked on Blackwood Golf Course,’ and our reputation will be tarnished p>
Golf courses have caddies, security, groundskeepers, and staff—but who among them could have sent that ball flying at Dominic?
Sebastian thought for hours, but not a single clue surfaced.
“Sebastian, you’ve had a shock today. Let’s go home,” Lauren said softly, noticing the dark cast over his features.
Sebastian glanced down at Lexi, crouched and pale, and spoke firmly, “I’ll handle this. As for Dominic, I’ll make sure things are settled p>
Lexi wanted to believe it had nothing to do with him—but could she really?
Sebastian’s reputation for calculated precision made her uneasy.
“Go away. I don’t want to see you,” Lexi said softly, closing her eyes, forcing herself to ignore the oppressive presence that seemed to follow him everywhere.
Sebastian knew better than to argue now—until Dominic’s safety was certain, words meant nothing.
It was better to let her breathe, to let her process.
Once Sebastian and Lauren left, the hospital lights dimmed, and Dominic was wheeled out of surgery.
Thankfully, the ball had only bruised his muscles; the spine was untouched.
A few days of rest and he could be discharged.
Lexi canceled some of her daytime side jobs to care for Dominic full-time.
Seeing her bustle around, Dominic couldn’t help but feel that taking a hit for her sake was worth every ounce of pain.
Later, Lexi left the hospital to grab a change of clothes.
A sleek black sedan roared up beside her.
The door swung open.
Connor stepped out of the driver’s seat and gestured for her to get in.
Suspicious, Lexi climbed in, and Connor scanned the surroundings nervously, as if fearing eavesdroppers.
Sebastian sat rigidly beside her, immaculate in his tailored suit, and handed her a stack of photos and audio files.
It turned out that Dominic had stationed men near the golf course, deliberately leaking Sebastian’s movements, predicting that Lexi would follow—ensuring she’d get caught up in the chaos.
Even if Sebastian hadn’t orchestrated the golf match, she could still have been set up, framed for interference.
Lexi let out a dry laugh, tossing the materials back at him.
“How much did you spend on this little game?” she asked bitterly.
She had grown up with Dominic.
No one, ever, had the right to sully his name.
And she couldn’t believe for a second that Dominic would betray her.
Sebastian, ever patient, organized the photos and slipped them into her bag.
“You don’t have to believe it.
Truth is brutal.
Though I had no proof last time with the timed bomb, Dominic isn’t cleanly uninvolved this time p>
“You’re delusional, Sebastian.
I’m not a child.
Don’t think I’ll fall for your schemes,” she said, though a flicker of unease tugged at her heart.
She opened the car door and bolted into the street, desperate to escape the suffocating tension.
She stopped by a trash can, tearing the photos to shreds and throwing them away.
No matter what, she refused to believe her big brother would do something like this.
It had to be Sebastian’s manipulation.
Meanwhile, the film Moonlight and shadows premiered to critical acclaim.
Lexi’s nuanced performance, amplified by the harsh and precise support of Nolan and Adrian, earned her Best supporting actress.