From Forgotten Wife To Fierce Queen - Chapter 218: Chapter 218

In the Harrowfell new district, at a large construction site, Dominick, the head of the project's investment and contracting parties, was accompanying the government officials for an inspection.
"Vanderbilt Group is one of our top companies. Since you're in charge of this project, we have complete trust in you," the official said with a smile.
Dominick stood by the official's side, his expression neither servile nor arrogant, and nodded slightly. "Thank you for the praise, sir."
"Mr. Vanderbilt, keep up the good work." The official clearly liked Dominick, and the vibe was very harmonious.
The group moved forward in a grand procession.
Dominick's phone rang at that moment, disrupting the harmony. He took it out and glanced at the unfamiliar number, choosing to ignore it.
But the person clearly wasn't ready to give up, as the calls kept coming, and even the official beside Dominick noticed.
"What's the matter? Is someone calling you? Don't worry, go ahead and take it," the official kindly suggested.
"It's not important," Dominick replied, turning to the official with a slight smile. Just as he was about to turn off his phone, the same unfamiliar number sent a message. The first word was "Paisley."
Dominick's face darkened. Before he could open the message, the phone rang again.
This time, Dominick didn't hang up. He apologized to the official and turned to Julian.
Julian immediately understood, smiled, and stepped forward to take Dominick's place, continuing to explain to the official.
Dominick stepped aside, answered the call, and said, "Who is this?"
"This is Max," replied Max.
The unexpected name reached Dominick's ears, and he furrowed his brow. "What's going on?"
"I can't get in touch with Paisy."
Dominick's eyes turned icy, and every word he spoke felt like it was coated in frost. "What does that have to do with me?"
Max's voice on the other end hesitated for a moment before he spoke again, urgency lacing his tone, "Dominick, if it weren't absolutely necessary, I wouldn't have called you. I can't find Paisy, and I'm worried something might happen to her."
"What do you mean? What kind of problem?" Dominick's grip on the phone tightened, and his throat constricted slightly.
"It's complicated. I can't explain it all in one or two sentences. But Paisy's state of mind is very unstable right now. I'm worried she might do something reckless. So, please, I'm begging you, help me find her. Can you?" Max pleaded from the other end.
Dominick stared into the distance, his face tense. "I'll find her, but I'm not doing it for you."
He hung up the phone without saying another word and ran straight toward the car.
They had been walking slowly, waiting for Dominick, but when they saw what was happening, their expressions changed.
The leader frowned slightly, "Mr. Vanderbilt, where exactly are you going?"
His voice had lost its earlier warmth, making Julian's heart tremble. He quickly forced a smile. "I'll go ask him. Please wait a moment."
With that, Julian shot forward like an arrow, chasing after Dominick.
"Dom!" Julian blocked the car and gripped the driver's side window. "What are you doing? The leaders are still here!"
Dominick had already started the engine. "Handle the rest. I have an urgent matter."
"What urgent matter?" But Dominick had already rolled up the window and driven off, leaving the construction site.
Julian stood there, dumbfounded, watching the car disappear into the distance, then turned back to see the leaders' darkened faces.
Inside the production set, Paisley was guiding the actors through a scene.
Just as they reached a crucial moment, a sharp screech of brakes sounded from outside the studio, interrupting everyone who had been fully immersed in their roles.
"What's going on outside?" Gary asked, displeased.
Before anyone could respond, Dominick rushed in, his face tense with urgency.
"Mr. Vanderbilt?" Gary was startled but still stepped forward to greet him—after all, he was the one funding the project.
But Dominick, with a cold expression, walked right past him. Under everyone's watchful eyes, he headed straight for Paisley. Ignoring her struggles, he pulled her out of the crowd.
"Dominick! What are you doing? Are you out of your mind?" shouted Paisley.
Dominick remained silent, lips pressed tightly together. He dragged her to the brightest spot and carefully examined her from head to toe. "You're okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Paisley was completely baffled.
But after hearing her response, Dominick's face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.
His chest heaved violently, frustration rising in his throat. "You're fine? Then why didn't you answer your phone? Is your phone just a decoration? Are you deaf?"
Hearing Dominick's words, Lucy ran over to Paisley's chair and grabbed the phone she had left there.
She checked the screen—it showed multiple missed calls.
And they were all from either Max or Dominick.
"I was working. I was focused, so I put my phone on silent. Is that a problem?" Paisley explained patiently.
"A problem?" Dominick let out a frustrated laugh. "That Godard guy called me, saying he couldn't reach you and was afraid you'd do something stupid, so he called me instead.
"Paisley, do you have any idea how many important people I abandoned to come find you? And now you're asking me if it's a problem?"
"Talk about work! Is that all your life consists of? It's just work! You couldn't even spare a second to pick up the phone?"
As she watched Dominick lose his temper, Paisley remained unusually calm. "Dominick, I just realized something—you're such a hypocrite."
"What did you just say?" Dominick's face turned livid. He had been worried sick, yet now this woman was calling him a hypocrite?
"Mm-hmm." Paisley nodded, her tone flat. "I've asked you the exact same thing many times before. Do you remember how you used to respond?"
Dominick froze. The burning rage inside him suddenly felt like it had been doused in ice water, extinguished completely.
"You said, 'Don't bother me unless it's important. If it is, call Julian.'"
And that wasn't even the worst response—most of the time, he hadn't even bothered to reply.
"I..." Dominick opened his mouth, but no words came out. He could no longer bring himself to blame her.
Just then, Max called Paisley again.
Right in front of Dominick, she answered, "Mm-hmm, I'm fine. Don't worry. I was working and put my phone on silent. Sorry for making you worry."
When she had walked out of the city bureau earlier, her mood had been terrible.
The officer's final words about her birth mother had struck a deep chord and hit her hard.
She had walked out of the office pale and trembling. Seeing her state, the officer had informed Max.
That was why Max had been unable to reach her—he had thought she might do something reckless. But in reality, she had just sat in her car for a while and gradually calmed down. Her mental strength wasn't so fragile.
She did hate Christina and would make her pay—but not yet.
Her voice was gentle as she spoke on the phone, completely different from the formal tone she had used with Dominick just moments ago.
The contrast was so obvious that not only Dominick, but everyone around them noticed.
When the call ended, Paisley looked up and met Dominick's wounded, broken gaze.
"Now what?" she asked.
"Paisley, am I some pathetic fool to you? Do you think it's fun to use me as a tool for your little flirtations with him?" Dominick was truly furious this time, his eyes burning red as he glared at her.
Paisley knew Dominick had misunderstood something and was about to explain briefly.
However, Dominick turned around and stormed off, furiously kicking a prop on set. His eyes were red as he spun back and shouted at Paisley, "Paisley, if I ever talk to you again, I'm a damn dog!"