The Devil Who Claimed Me

Chapter 76: Serene, Dominic’s first love.

Mila blinked, shock written all over her face.

’Alejandro’s daughter?’ The words echoed in her mind, leaving her momentarily dazed.

She hadn’t known Alejandro had a daughter. Dominic had never mentioned her—not once. He had only told her about Marco, Alejandro’s nephew.

As far as she knew, Alejandro had no children of his own. He had taken Dominic in, raised him, and named him his successor.

Then, where had this daughter come from? Why had Dominic never spoken about her?

"Dominic used to follow her all the time," Valentina said. "He couldn’t stand not seeing her. He was obsessively in love with her. Three years ago, she left for higher studies. Now she is back."

Her gaze hardened as it settled on Mila. "And you... You will be out of his life soon."

As she said that, her own heart burned.

Back then, when Serene had left, Valentina had believed she finally had a chance. She had stayed by Dominic’s side for years, waiting, hoping, but never daring to cross that final line and confess her feelings.

Then Mila appeared, challenging her. And now, with Serene’s return, even that fragile hope had shattered completely.

Bitterness twisted in Valentina’s chest. If she couldn’t have him, she wouldn’t allow Mila to have him either.

"You are nothing compared to her," she continued mercilessly. "You are just a distraction, a way for him to satisfy his sexual needs."

The last sentence slashed Mila’s heart. A dull ache spread through her chest.

Deep down, she had always known.

Dominic never treated her as anything more. He toyed with her, pushed her to the edge, and watched her break apart in his arms. To him, she was nothing but something he owned, someone he could use however he pleased.

What was she expecting from him?

Mila knew she was nothing to him, that he had no feelings for her. Yet the thought that he loved someone ached her heart.

"Now that the woman he truly loves is back, he won’t even spare you a glance," Valentina went on. "I’m warning you—stay away from him. Don’t create trouble for yourself."

She then held out a tablet toward Mila. "Take it."

Mila’s gaze dropped to the pill resting on Valentina’s palm. She recognized it immediately.

It was a contraceptive pill.

Even though she didn’t want to do anything with him, her heart still ached. A bitter thought crossed her mind—’Did Dominic ask her to give this to me?’

"You don’t want to get pregnant, do you?" Valentina asked, seeing her hesitation.

Mila’s face hardened. "Don’t worry. I’ll never carry his child."

Without flinching, she took the pill and swallowed it.

Valentina gave her one last look before striding away.

Mila closed the door. She stood there, unmoving. Tears threatened to spill, but she forced them back stubbornly.

"Don’t cry. I won’t cry." She drew in a shaky breath.

"He and I... We belong to different worlds."

There was no future.

"So sooner or later, I’ll leave."

She turned away and walked into the bathroom.

Later that afternoon...

A sleek black car rolled in and stopped in front of the mansion. A guard ran over and opened the door.

Serene stepped out, looking around the familiar surroundings.

"Welcome, Miss," the guard said with a slight bow of his head.

She glanced at him, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face. "Where is Dominic?" she asked. "He didn’t come to receive me."

She had called him the night before and told him she was coming. She had expected him to pick her up. But he had not appeared. He had not even come to welcome her.

"The boss had to attend an urgent meeting," the guard replied carefully. "The syndicate called him early this morning. He will return soon."

"I see..." Her disappointment eased slightly, but didn’t disappear.

The guard gestured toward the mansion. "Please get in."

Serene removed her sunglasses. Her heels clicked against the floor as she walked in.

Valentina was waiting inside.

"It’s been a while," Serene said lightly.

Valentina forced a smile. "Three years."

A pause lingered between them before Serene spoke again, her gaze sharpening slightly.

"Tell me, did Dominic behave while I was gone?" There was a hint of amusement in her voice, but also expectation. "Is he interested in any woman?"

"There is someone," replied Valentina.

Serene’s expression didn’t change immediately. But her eyes darkened.

"Mila," Valentina revealed. "A doctor in the profession. She saved his life. Out of gratitude, he brought her here."

Serene’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Really?" she scoffed.

Valentina nodded. "It’s not just gratitude anymore. Dominic is possessive of her. Obsessed, even. We warned him not to keep her here. But he didn’t listen."

This time, Serene’s brows drew together slightly. Interest flickered in her eyes.

Dominic? Obsessed with another woman?

That didn’t sound like him. She found it hard to believe it.

Dominic had never liked any woman to get close to him. But now he was so eager to keep Mila beside him that he had ignored his people’s warning.

Serene grew interested in Mila and wanted to meet her.

’What kind of woman is she?’

"She tried to run away. Twice," Valentina continued. "This enraged Dominic. He punished her and made her his maid—a personal maid."

That caught Serene’s attention. Her brows lifted slightly.

"She stays with him in his room at night," Valentina added.

Serene’s fingers tightened at her sides. She wouldn’t tolerate any woman next to Dominic.

’He is mine. He can only be mine.’

"But don’t worry," Valentina added, sensing her tension. "She is just a distraction. Dominic will soon get rid of her."

Serene squinted at her, doubtful. "Are you sure?"

"I am sure," replied Valentina with certainty. "He loved you for years. I saw what he became when you left. He never let any woman get close to him."

That satisfied something in Serene. A proud look crossed her face.

"Mila is nothing but a temporary attraction. It’s because she saved his life. Or he wouldn’t have spared a glance at her. Now that you are back, he will definitely let her go and come back to you."

Serene made a stern face. "He has to. Or I’ll make him regret it."

Her tone turned sharp. "Where is this woman? I want to talk to her."

Serene’s expression hardened. Possessive irritation rose in her chest.

She had been confident that nothing would change, that Dominic would remain exactly where she had left him, waiting for her. And when she came back, she learned someone else had taken her place.

Her eyes turned cold.

Dominic shouldn’t have done that. Someone shouldn’t have mattered to him.

’I’ll deal with her,’ Serene muttered silently.

"You should rest in your room. I’ll send her in a while." Valentina raised a hand and called a maid. "Take Miss Serene to her room and bring her luggage."

The maid came over and nodded at them politely. "Miss Serene, please come this way."

She led Serene down the hallway.

Valentina’s lips curved faintly. "Poor Mila. You are finished. How are you going to deal with a storm called Serene?"