The Doormat Wife’s Ultimate Glow-Up novel Chapter 44

Dominic’s eyes softened as Reese spoke. The disappointment and blame faded, replaced by a deep, heavy sigh.

“This was your choice,” he said quietly. “You gave up a master’s at MIT, left the research institute, just for someone like that. Do you regret it?”

Reese’s eyes went red in an instant.

Back then, marrying Sebastian was partly about having a child, partly because Mr. Ratcliff promised to invest in her uncle’s company. And most of all, she’d received nearly two million from the Ratcliff family as compensation.

She’d wired that money overseas to Zach.

Now, whether it was Zach or her son Robbie, all she got from them was coldness and contempt.

Dominic saw the pain on her face. Even if he still felt let down, he just couldn’t bring himself to be harsh anymore.

“All right, that’s enough. Focus on your work at BlackOak. When this project’s done, I’ll be waiting for you back at the institute.”

“Okay, Professor.”

Those words eased some of the tension in Reese’s chest. She finally knew that in Dominic’s mind, her leaving the institute was finally in the past.

She packed up her things and headed out.

The elevator doors slid open. She paused when she saw the tall figure inside but stepped in anyway, pressing the button for the parking garage.

“Tara’s pregnant,” Zach suddenly said, breaking the silence.

Reese nodded. “Congrats.”

She’d already guessed as much after seeing them at the hospital’s OB-GYN.

“Her moods have been all over the place lately. You’ve done this before. Maybe you could check in on her sometime.”

Zach stared at the smooth back of Reese’s neck, then gave a sharp, mocking grin.

“Do you ever regret breaking up with me for Sebastian?” he asked. “You’re on your second kid now, and he’s still showing off other women in public. He even embarrassed you for her. How did I never realize you were this patient?”

A tight, suffocating feeling wound through Reese’s chest. She said nothing. As soon as the doors opened, she walked out quickly and made straight for her car.

She gripped the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned white. Only when the lights outside blurred did she finally let the tears fall.

The next morning, Reese walked into the office and spotted several sales team members hurrying out.

“Yeah, you know—the stuff about how you slept your way to the top. That’s all over the internet,” he said, reaching for her hand.

Reese pulled back and stood up. “Mr. Cooper, please show some respect.”

“Respect?” Cooper sneered. “Do you want this contract or not? I heard BlackOak lost a bunch of partners lately. Mr. Ratcliff sent me here to give you one last shot.”

This was Sebastian’s handiwork?

Reese’s face turned cold.

“We don’t need favors from you or anyone else.”

Just then the door opened and Alan strode in, moving to stand between them.

“Take a message back to whoever sent you, Cooper. Whatever his plans are, Reese isn’t someone he can mess with. Please leave. BlackOak has no interest in working with people like you.”

Realizing he’d lost, Cooper straightened his suit and left the room with a scowl.

“Fine. This isn’t over.”