My Husband Built Her the Same Garden Chapter 06
Dominic stopped dead in his tracks. “That’s impossible.”
The first thing that came to mind wasn’t the collapse of the business alliance.
It was Genevieve. She had publicly announced their divorce?
He fumbled back to his chat with her, and he finally saw the message she’d sent three hours ago. His hand started shaking.
How had it come to this?
He called her-once, twice, a dozen times. Not one was picked up.
He quickly typed a message.
[Genevieve, can we please talk?]
[I was wrong this morning. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.]
[Jasmine and Lily are safe now. Let’s just sit down and talk.]
He hit send. Yet the message failed to send. Dominic went still.
For five years of marriage, they had argued. They had gone through cold wars.
But this? Being blocked. Being erased. A public announcement ending their marriage alliance.
None of that had ever happened before.
He drew a sharp breath and tightened his grip on the phone. His palms were slick with sweat.
For the first time, a sinking realization crept over him-this was slipping out of his control.
A thought struck him. He called David right away.
“Look into the kidnapping. I want to know who took Jasmine and Lily, and I want to know now.”
A suspicion had already taken root in his heart. But he didn’t dare believe it.
If Jasmine had staged all of this herself… then what he’d done to Genevieve this morning…
Dominic squeezed his eyes shut. His breathing became uneven.
By the time he got back to the room with a doctor, Lily was already awake.
She burst into tears the moment she saw him. “Daddy! I was so scared!”
Dominic’s heart ached instantly. He hurried over and lifted her into his arms.
Holding Lily, he glanced over at Jasmine, who sat on the sofa as a nurse tended to her face.
Then he looked back at his daughter. “Lily. Did you see who hurt you?”
Jasmine’s back stiffened. Luckily, she’d already coached Lily on what to say.
Lily nodded. “It was that mean lady from yesterday. She made me drink yucky medicine.”
Dominic’s expression darkened. A storm brewed in his eyes.
So it really was Genevieve?
He forced down the turmoil inside him and held-Lily tighter.
“It’s okay. I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again.”
Later that night, after both Lily and Jasmine had fallen asleep, David finally sent over the investigation results.
His voice sounded hesitant. “Mr. Kensington… the findings aren’t what you’d expect.”
Dominic’s heart sank. “Go on.”
David went on, “We tracked the man who collected the five million dollars.”
“He didn’t deposit the money or leave town.”
“Instead, he disguised himself and went directly to Jasmine Hill Estate.”
“There, he placed the cash inside an abandoned mailbox and left.”
“We found him and questioned him.”
A recording began playing.
“Don’t hit me! I’ll tell you everything!” The man’s terrified voice shook.
“I’m just a junk guy! Some woman paid me a hundred grand to pick up a package from the dumpster at the factory and drop it off. That’s all I know, I swear!”
Another voice asked. “The woman on the left, or the right?”
“The left one!” The answer came immediately. “It was her!”
The recording ended.
David spoke again, “The two photographs shown to him were Ms. Whitmore and Mrs. Kensington. He identified Ms. Whitmore.”
Dominic shut his eyes. An icy cold spread from his chest to the rest of his body.
“Jasmine…” His voice came out hoarse. His breathing was ragged.
He hung up and headed back to the room, but stopped short just outside the door.
Jasmine’s voice drifted through.
“Lily, you were so good. If anyone asks, remember-it was Genevieve who made you take the medicine,
okay?”
“But Mommy, you told me to take it.”
“Shh! You can’t say that.” Her voice sharpened. “Do you want Daddy to stay with us forever?”
A small pause. “Yes.”
“Then do exactly what Mommy says.”
“Okay, Mommy.”
Outside, Dominic sagged against the wall.
His first reaction wasn’t anger-it was a bitter, hollow laugh.
She’d played him. Again. Just like five years ago.
He pushed the door open.
Jasmine’s face went ashen.
Dominic held back his fury and said only one word. “Out.”
Jasmine felt her soul leave her body.
Wasn’t he supposed to be gone? How much had he heard?
Her heart hammered as she followed him into the stairwell.
Dominic lit a cigarette. Smoke curled through the air between them.
Jasmine was so nervous she barely dared breathe.
Finally, Dominic spoke, “The five million’s your severance. I’ll arrange for you to leave the country.”
Jasmine froze. Then came the second blow.
“As for Lily…” Dominic’s expression hardened. “No child should be raised by a mother like you.”
“I’ll speak with Genevieve and have Lily brought to her place.”
Jasmine’s world shattered.
“No!” Her scream echoed through the stairwell. “You can’t do this to me! Lily’s my daughter!”
Tears poured down her face.
“Dominic, I was wrong-I was so wrong. I was just scared.”
“Please. I won’t push you to divorce Genevieve anymore.”
“I’ll stay quiet, stay hidden. Just please, don’t send me away.”
Dominic looked down at her, and for the first time, felt nothing but disgust.
She always did this-turned on the tears, used them to make him cave.
But suddenly, Genevieve’s face appeared in his mind.
Genevieve never cried. Never begged. Never lowered her pride.
She always stood tall. Maybe that was why he’d convinced himself she couldn’t be hurt-and so he’d hurt her, over and over.
A sharp pain twisted through his chest.
Dominic yanked his arm free. “There’s nothing to discuss. We’re done.”
He turned and walked away, ignoring her desperate screams behind him.
Minutes later, he was speeding toward Ashford Group.