I Watched Him Marry My Replacement

Chapter 8: The Wrong Question

Adrian was unusually quiet on the drive home.Not silent.Just distracted.

The kind of distracted that made him tap his fingers against the steering wheel and check his mirrors more than necessary.Elena noticed.Of course she did.She noticed everything now.“Your event seemed successful,” she said casually, staring out at the city lights.“It was fine.”Fine.Such a small word.Such a careful one.“Your friend didn’t seem to think so.”Adrian glanced at her briefly“My friend?”“The man from earlier.”She paused deliberately.

“Dominic.”

The name hung between them.For a second—Adrian’s jaw tightened.Just enough.Then it was gone.“He isn’t my friend.”Interesting.Very interesting.

Elena turned slightly toward him.“No?”

“No.”His tone was flat.Final.The rest of the drive passed quietly.But Elena’s mind didn’t.Because people didn’t react that way to insignificant people.

And Dominic Hayes was clearly not insignificant.That night, Adrian fell asleep quickly.Too quickly.Like someone exhausted from maintaining appearances.Elena remained awake.Staring into the darkness.Thinking.

She thought about Dominic.The way he watched.The way he listened.The way he seemed to notice things other people missed.

Including her.And then she remembered something.His expression when Adrian appeared.That wasn’t surprise.That was expectation.As though he’d already known Adrian would be there.

Which meant one thing.This rivalry was bigger than she’d assumed.

The next morning Elena woke to a text.Unknown number.Good morning, Elena.

She frowned.Then another message appeared.

I hope Adrian isn’t boring you to death.Her pulse slowed.Not from fear.From recognition.

Dominic.

Elena stared at the screen,how did you get my number?The response came almost immediately.That’s the question you’re asking?A smile tugged at her lips despite herself.Should I be asking another one?

Three dots appeared,disappeared,appeared again.Then—You should be asking why Adrian never mentioned me.Elena sat up straighter.There it was.Not a warning,not exactly.But close.She typed carefully.Why would he?Several seconds passed.

Then:Because if I were him, I wouldn’t want you meeting me either.

Elena read the message twice.A third time.What did that mean?Before she could reply,Another text arrived.Have coffee with me.She blinked.Is that an invitation?It’s a conversation.Not a date,not flirting,not yet.

A conversation.Which somehow felt more dangerous.Elena should have ignored it.She knew that.But curiosity was a difficult thing.Especially when answers were involved.

And Dominic Hayes felt like a man carrying answers.The café was quieter than usual when she arrived.Dominic was already there.Of course he was.He sat near the window, dressed in dark gray, one hand wrapped around a coffee cup.Watching the street,watching people,watching everything.Except when she approached.Then he watched only her.“You’re late.”Elena slid into the seat opposite him.“I’m three minutes early.”A faint smile touched his mouth.“Good.”

For a moment neither spoke.Then Dominic leaned back.“Tell me something.”Elena crossed her arms lightly.“Depends.”“When did you realize Adrian was lying?”The question hit harder than she expected.Not because of what he asked.But because he asked it so directly.No games,no pretending.Just truth.Elena held his gaze.“You seem very confident he’s lying.”Dominic’s expression darkened slightly.“That’s because I know Adrian.”Silence.Then—For the first time.Dominic looked genuinely serious.“Better than you do.”Elena’s stomach tightened.Not from fear,from instinct.

Because something in his voice told her this wasn’t about business anymore.And whatever history existed between Adrian Cole and Dominic Hayes…It was far from over.

Dominic reached into his jacket and placed a thin envelope on the table.

He didn’t push it toward her immediately.

He simply looked at her and said:

Before you open this, ask yourself one question.”

Elena’s eyes dropped to the envelope.

Then back to him.

“What question?”

Dominic’s gaze never wavered.

“How much betrayal are you prepared to survive?”