Chapter 76

• It was not too much of a knock, but Valarie didn't get to flinch at all. She was so much into her thinking and within that turmoil that was brewing inside her. The night was cold and windy, air thrashing her hair all about and looking outside into the darkness.
• Dominic opened the door and entered the room, his searching eyes wandering across the room until they rested on a figure on the balcony. All his heart cried out as he gazed upon her. He had thought he was never going to see her again, but seeing her in that moonlight behind him seemed to be the most refreshing breath of air. The room, the mansion, everything was now alive in the absence of her presence.
• Dominic was slow and steady in his steps walking towards her. He surrounded her waist with those arms of his, pulling her closer to himself and putting his lips on her shoulder. But Valarie felt no shadow of a reaction. Instead, she repulsed away, leaving a distance between them.