Submitting to my Ex Uncle-Chapter 228

To my incredible reader, MissyDionne, you’re my current top fan, and that means more to me than words can express. Thank you for believing in the dreams of this little teenage girl. Your support keeps me going.

A big shout out to you 🙊😍💞

.....

The doorbell rang before Celeste would respond.

The sound wasn’t loud, not really. But in the silence of the apartment, it might as well have been thunder.

Amara’s smile wiped off her lips immediately. She froze. Her fork clattered softly against the plate.

For a single heartbeat, her chest forgot how to rise.

She felt a cold, irrational fear that wrapped around her spine and tugged at her. Her pulse quickened before her mind even caught up.

The words Elias had left her with replayed sharply, like an echo she couldn’t shake off: Don’t open your door for anyone, Amara. Promise me.

Her eyes darted to her room door that led downstairs.

Celeste glanced up too. Her brows furrowed slightly at her friend’s sudden stillness. "Hey," she murmured, "it’s okay. It’s probably Rodger or a delivery."

Amara’s lips parted, but no words came out. She could feel her own heart thudding against her ribs. Every part of her wanted to believe that it was nothing but the last few days had taught her that safety could be an illusion.

Before she could say anything, Celeste was already standing.

"Stay there," Celeste said gently, tucking a stray curl behind her ear as she walked toward the door.

Amara could only watch her go, her throat dry.

The soft click of the lock filled the room as Celeste closed the room door behind her, and went downstairs. The door opened, and the world seemed to pause.

Dominic stood there.

For a moment, even the air changed. Celeste immediately broke into a smile.

He was dressed in a simple shirt and slacks, sleeves rolled, the faintest trace of cologne curling into the room. That familiar cold aura surrounded him, was steady and unreadable until he saw her.

The moment his eyes met hers, everything in his face shifted. The ice melted and his jaw relaxed softly. His eyes also brightened.

Celeste blinked, startled first, then, she smiled in disbelief. "Dominic?"

He didn’t answer with words.

In one stride, he closed the space between them, cupped the back of her neck, and kissed her.

The world slipped sideways. Everything blurred except the warmth of his mouth and the deep exhale that left her as his hand steadied her back.

She never knew how much she needed him these past few hours until he appeared here. Her hands curled up, clenching his sleeves.

She didn’t even realize she had been holding her breath for so long when he was away. He also felt the same way.

When he finally pulled back, his thumb brushed the corner of her lip as if he wasn’t ready to stop touching her. "You weren’t picking up," he said, his voice low, and gravelly.

Celeste blinked up at him, the faintest laugh leaving her. "I was going to call you back," she said, her voice soft. "Something came up with Amara."

Her fingers slipped easily into his hair. They belonged there. She traced his temple fondly, the gesture both teasing and tender. "You worried?"

Dominic’s lips curved into a smile. "Turns out I always am."

He kissed the top of her head. It was a small, grounding press, and then, he stepped into the apartment with his arm still loosely around her waist.

The tension in the air began to lift. He felt the tension, and his arm unconsciously held her a bit firmer. He needed her to know that he was with her

Amara exhaled slowly from where she sat. Her pulse was still steadying, but she found herself smiling as she watched them. Her smile was a little faint, and also a bit wistful.

Dominic turned toward her. His usual unreadable expression softened by the glow in his eyes. "Amara," he greeted, nodding politely.

She nodded back, her lips twitching faintly upward. "Dominic." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

He looked at Celeste again — that quiet, claiming look that somehow always seemed to say mine even when he never voiced it. "I came to take my queen home," he said, his voice smooth and teasing but not without that weight beneath it.

He blurred the line that’d get Amara to think she had an opinion.

Celeste blinked. "What?"

Dominic’s gaze landed on Celeste, and then, he smiled a little. "You’ve had a long day. You shouldn’t stay here tonight."

Before she could respond, she turned to Amara, who was already watching her with that familiar mischievous gleam in her tired eyes.

Celeste shook her head stubbornly. "Amara needs me—" she began.

Amara cut her off gently. "No," she said, shaking her head. "Amara needs rest."

Celeste frowned softly. "I don’t want to leave you alone—"

"I’ll be fine," Amara interrupted again, this time smiling fully. "Go. Please. I insist. I want you to rest, Celeste. You know why.c"

Celeste hesitated, torn between worry and the warmth still lingering on her lips.

Amara stood and walked toward them, her expression soft. When she reached Celeste, she pulled her into a tight hug.

"Go with him," she murmured against her hair. "You need to breathe too."

Celeste’s eyes stung a little. "You sure?"

Amara nodded, pulling back just enough to meet her gaze. Then she smirked, tired, but playful still. "And please," she whispered close to her ear, "no sex tonight."

Celeste froze, her cheeks flooding instantly with color.

"Amara!"

Amara laughed softly. This was the first genuine laugh that had left her lips in days. "I mean it," she said, winking. "Also Dominic, she hasn’t got something in her stomach tonight. She refused it "

Dominic’s eyebrow lifted, amused, though his hand never left Celeste’s waist. "Noted," he said quietly, his lips curving.

Celeste groaned, "I_"

"Hush, darling," Dominic gently cut her off. He turned to her, and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Your appetite has been down for days. I asked the chef to make lots of meals. Surely, something would grab your attention. Right?"

Celeste swallowed softly. She nodded, staring at him. She turned to Amara. "We’ll leave now."

Amara nodded. She followed them to the threshold. For a moment, she just stood there, watching them. She watched Celeste tucked against Dominic’s side, with his hand resting protectively over her lower back.

She thought of Elias, and of all the promises and pain that still burned in her chest. But for a heartbeat, it didn’t feel unbearable. Seeing them like this reminded her that love could still exist without breaking something.

"Text me when you get home," she said softly.

Celeste nodded. "I will."

Dominic inclined his head. "Goodnight, Amara."

"Goodnight, Dominic," she returned, her voice softer than before.

The door closed behind them, leaving Amara alone in the quiet apartment.