The seawater rushed in, and Alessia felt the cold touch gradually invading her breath.
The more she struggled, the more she felt sinking.
Alessia's swimming skills were originally not good, and as the seawater drilled into her throat, it stung painfully. Her vision gradually began to blur.
In a daze, she felt a force pulling her back to the surface.
Then, her lips softened, and a hot breath entered her.
Alessia opened her eyes again, only then realizing what had happened.
Dominic's lips pressed against hers, helping her breathe.
Their faces were so close that Alessia could even see the distinct eyelashes floating in the water.
In her mind, images from five years ago flashed back.
Dominic forcibly pressed her down on the bed and kissed her.
This familiarity made her psychologically uncomfortable.
Needing to alleviate the suffocating feeling, she pushed against Dominic with force, turning towards the shore to float away.
The sensation on her lips disappeared, and Dominic was pushed away abruptly, nearly choking on water. It took him several tries to regain his balance.
He watched Alessia's figure recede into the water, feeling as if the kiss just now had been very familiar.
Why did he have this feeling?
Dominic's expression turned cold as he also floated towards the shore, lost in thought.
Alessia wrung her wet coat dry and put it back on, then saw Dominic emerge from the water.
Backlit, his clothes soaked through, his long legs and muscular chest fully exposed. Water trickled down, softening the contours of his features, making him irresistibly handsome.
Alessia admitted that his face and physique were indeed impressive, but his behavior was so childish.
She pursed her lips and took the initiative to speak, "Mr. Carter, let's talk. If this is your idea of revenge, I accept it, and we're even."
Revenge? Even? What does that mean?
Dominic's facial lines tightened, his eyes clouded with gloom.
This was another way she attracted his attention!
He was feeling inexplicably annoyed, he just helped her breathe subconsciously.
Dominic took a few steps forward, getting extremely close to Alessia, towering over her due to his height advantage, looking down at her disdainfully. "I'm not interested in playing hard to get, especially not with a married woman with children!"
With his shirt collar slightly open, his collarbone visible, and even hints of his tanned skin, it strongly stimulated Alessia's visual nerves.
Alessia tilted her head, trying to suppress the heat on her face.
Although she kept her nerves taut, she still keenly grasped the meaning behind Dominic's words.
He misunderstood her for seducing him!
Alessia lowered her eyelids. Perhaps she had guessed wrong, and Dominic wasn't the one who sent the email.
That's right, if it really was Dominic, he probably wouldn't need to go to such lengths.
After all, in this City, it could be said to be the Carter family's territory!
Alessia pursed her lips, concealing her thoughts.
It seemed that she had acted impulsively just now.
Fortunately, she didn't say much just now, nor did she reveal too much information.
Dominic, having developed the Carter family to its current state, naturally had unquestionable abilities. At the moment, he was just indulging in self-admiration, so he didn't think too much.
Otherwise, if he really started to suspect and investigate her, it would probably lead to unnecessary complications and disrupt her plans to find her firstborn.
It was better to let things be as they were, and if Dominic wanted to believe that she was seducing him, then so be it.
Alessia sighed in relief and put on an embarrassed expression as if she had been caught red-handed. "Mr. Carter, you have such sharp eyes, my little thoughts are nowhere to hide in front of you. I'm sorry, I'll make sure to be more careful next time and not be so obvious."
After saying that, she lowered her gaze and turned away, as if regretful, and walked off.
Dominic stared at the slender figure of the woman, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter.
Next time?
So this woman had deliberately followed him to the fishing area.
She must be retreating to advance!
Dominic sneered, raising his head to find that the sun had already set.
The houses were far away, with no one around, let alone any means of transportation.
He impatiently took out his phone and pressed some buttons, but the screen remained black. It seemed to have been damaged when it fell into the water.
Dominic walked a distance until he finally saw a small convenience store.
He paused for a moment before heading towards the store.
Inside the shop.
Dominic finished his call with David and turned to the shopkeeper, asking, "How much?"
"Ten dollars!" The shopkeeper, an old lady, replied with a faint glint in her eyes.
Ten dollars for a call that lasted less than two minutes.
Dominic furrowed his brow deeper and glanced at the T-shirts and shorts hanging on the wall beside the swimsuits, then spoke again, "I'll take some clothes too. Let's settle the bill together."
The astute shopkeeper's gaze shifted from Dominic's still-wet shirt, leaning against the chair, and she leaned back, saying calmly, "Settle first!"
Dominic's brow furrowed deeper. He took out his wallet, which contained various bank cards but not a single banknote.
His fingers hesitated for a moment before he took out a card and handed it over. "Swipe it!"
"It doesn't work, we only accept cash here."
Dominic had never encountered such a situation before.
He usually used cards everywhere he went, and if worse came to worst, he could use mobile payment. He hadn't used cash in a long time.
Dominic hesitated for a moment, then almost immediately reached for the valuable watch on his wrist.
But before he could take it off, the curtain of the compartment in the store swayed, and a graceful figure emerged.
With half-dried hair casually draped behind her head, the woman's pale face appeared even colder against her white T-shirt and black pants, giving her an ethereal, clean beauty.
Alessia took out two banknotes and placed them on the counter, saying, "I'll pay for this gentleman's bill."
"No need!" Dominic coldly withdrew his gaze and continued to remove his watch, placing it on the counter with a tone that brooked no refusal. "Let's make it collateral first!"
Alessia raised an eyebrow lightly. This watch was a new model from Patek Philippe this year, worth several million dollar. He was indeed very extravagant.
But since she had to make him believe that she was seducing him, she couldn't just say it. Otherwise, with Dominic's intelligence, he would sooner or later discover the truth.
Alessia made up her mind.
Regardless of whether Dominic accepted it or not, she had to continue to be attentive.
She scanned the store and walked to the shelf beside her.
Alessia picked up a box of instant noodles and handed it to Dominic, taking the initiative to ask, "Would you like to eat?"
Dominic only glanced at it disdainfully before averting his gaze with disgust.
That proud and picky expression seemed to say, "How dare this cheap food stain his eyes?"
Alessia sneered inwardly. Dominic was a typical young master, with extremely high standards for food. She had expected him not to eat it.
Since she had offered her attentiveness, she considered her task completed.
Alessia retrieved her hand without any care, skillfully opened the packaging of the instant noodles, and casually took a bite with a fork before going to ask the old lady for hot water.
Dominic had been frowning disdainfully the whole time, but caught sight of Alessia's action of taking a bite with the fork out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't help squinting, deep in thought.
The woman's behavior was completely lacking in elegance, but she could barely be considered straightforward and generous.
It was just that her action of taking a bite with the fork made him feel inexplicably familiar.
Alessia finished cooking the instant noodles and stood in front of the counter, waiting for them to soften.
A few minutes later, she slurped a few mouthfuls of noodles and looked up to find Dominic still gazing at her.
Alessia's eyes flickered slightly as she pushed the noodles towards him and generously offered, "Want some?"
***