293: [Bonus chapter]It’s not your loss, but theirs.

[Bonus chapter]It’s not your loss, but theirs.

[PENTHOUSE]1

Heaven hugged herself with the night robe, standing on the balcony connected to the kitchen all alone. It was already late in the night, but she couldn't sleep. Thus, she went to grab a glass of wine to unwind and think about what happened hours ago. 

As she did so, she couldn't help but admire the city lights. They were like stars on the earth, mirroring those in the sky. It somehow reminded her of that memory the original Heaven had with Paula years ago. 

Oh, how the two of them had grown apart. 

'In those memories, it seemed nothing could break this seemingly unbreakable sisterhood.' Heaven closed her eyes, drawing a deep breath as she let the night breeze kiss her cheek. 'What a twist of fate that no one should be surprised about.'

The corner of her mouth curled up as warm and strong arms wrapped around her from behind. Even before she opened her eyes, she already recognized the owner of those arms, and this attractive scent wafting through her nostrils. 

A chuckle slipped past her lips as she opened her eyes, gazing to her side.

"I rushed outside when I felt the side of the bed empty." Dominic rested his chin on her shoulder, sliding his eyes to her. "I saw an opened wine bottle on the counter. Is there something wrong?"

"I just can't fall asleep." Another short wave of chuckle escaped her mouth, setting her eyes on the city lights. "I just didn't want to wake you up, so I was idling here."

"Thinking about?" 

"Paula."

"Paula?"

The side of her lips curled up subtly. "Yes. Paula. My best friend."

"Ah..." Dominic moved his arms, snaking them around her waist while she rested her arms on his arms. 

"I know you have a different impression of Paula, but she was very nice back then," she remarked, thinking about Paula before everything about them went south. "Life had always been unfair to her as a child. Having an abusive parent, it was amazing how she endured life and worked her way to reach her dream."

"I don't see stepping on others as an amazing process."

"She wasn't always like that." Heaven smacked her lips, focusing on the memories of the original Heaven to understand their relationship even better. 

Back then, Heaven, or rather, the soul inside this body, only thought of her own perspective. She only thought of what she would do or feel, without realizing she and the original Heaven were two different people with entirely two different lives.

Hera was someone who couldn't hold on to someone because of the nature of her world. 

But Heaven... the original Heaven was different. 

Hera didn't try it before, or to be precise, she didn't try harder to understand the original Heaven deeply. That was why she wanted to do that now, considering she was already at this point. 

"Paula used to be fair and very kind. When we are in high school, many people dislike her for some reason. However, she chose to ignore them and mind her own business. Even if she worked hard when she was starting in the entertainment scene, things weren't always easy for her." Heaven took another deep breath, although she couldn't really bring herself to sympathize or feel any admiration. 

Wasn't it obvious?

If one had a dream, then one should work hard to pursue it. There were no shortcuts or easy paths. It was all part of life, a part of the success journey. Even Hera had to work hard to gain the respect of the organization she inherited. 

"It's just... a shame, that's all." She summarized everything she thought about this broken friendship that was already beyond repair. "How we had grown apart and how things turned out."

"People come and go," whispered Dominic, resting the side of his cheek on her shoulder with his eyes on her side profile. "Sometimes, love and respect aren't enough to stop others from betraying us."

Heaven slowly turned her head to face him. 

"No matter how you adore them or good your intention to them, it's never enough to stop them from hurting you. That's what I learned as a child," he added in a somber tone. "It's no one else's fault though because people change, and change is the only constant thing in this world."

A moment of silence enveloped the two of them, letting the wind take the awkwardness away with it. 

"I don't know if you already heard about it, but someone in the past hurt me in a way no one else did," he continued, peeling his eyes from her as he set them to the city light. "I trusted that man more than I trust others. At one point, I even thought of how nice would it be if he was my father, only to realize he didn't adore me just as I thought he did."

His eyes drooped, sharing a part of his past he never thought he would ever have with anyone in the present. Dominic didn't even think of mentioning that history to anyone, even to his son. But here he was, sharing this painful memory just because he felt his wife was taking a stand as he did in the past. 

"I was angry at him. I felt betrayed. But as years go by, I kept thinking to myself, just what did I do wrong for him to do such a thing to me?" Dominic took a deliberate pause, pulling her body closer before setting his eyes back to her side profile. "Was it because I trusted him too much? Or that I adored him and he found me annoying? Did I say something that hurt him?"

"I had many silly thoughts until I realize it wasn't me," he continued. "It was not my fault that I was better than him. It was not my fault I had a voice, and it was heard and appreciated by those who valued it. If I was that important to him, then speaking my truth would've never been an issue. Because I would respect his truths, even if it destroys me."

"It's the same for you and Miss Shen, my love." Dominic fluttered his eyelashes ever so tenderly, squeezing her hipbone out of habit. "It's not your fault that you loved somebody who didn't cherish that love. It's not your loss, but theirs."

Heaven couldn't help but smile. "Thank you for saying that. I never thought I needed to hear it."

"You're welcome." He smiled back, hugging her even tighter, and then planting a peck on her shoulder. "I love you."

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