From Forgotten Wife To Fierce Queen - Chapter 367: Chapter 367

Paisley took the bouquet and held it up to her nose, inhaling its fragrance. Dominick's gaze was filled with deep affection. For a moment, it felt as if he had traveled back to when they first met.
"Paisy, and this too," he smiled, opening a delicate gift box on the table like a child eagerly awaiting praise.
Paisley held a bouquet of flowers, the pink roses covering half of her face as she lifted her gaze.
Inside the box was a set of jewelry, each gemstone radiating a mesmerizing brilliance. It was as if their dazzling light was proclaiming to the world just how valuable they were.
Such a set of jewelry left everyone in the restaurant utterly stunned. Some even gasped audibly in shock.
"Paisy, today is your birthday. Happy birthday." Dominick beamed, his smile warm and radiant.
That smile made Paisley feel momentarily dazed. In that fleeting moment, she seemed to have traveled back to the time when they first met.
He used to whisper sweet words to her, smile at her with that same brilliance, share all his dreams and ambitions with her, and plan a beautiful future together.
"Dominick." Paisley looked at him seriously and said, "I forgive you."
"Paisy." Dominick's heart skipped a beat before pounding rapidly.
He couldn't wait to stand up, to walk over to Paisley, to take her hand, to embrace and kiss her. But before he could act, before his smile could fully bloom— He heard Paisley's next words. "But I don't love you anymore."
In that instant, Dominick froze, unable to even retract his smile.
Paisley set the pink roses aside, fully revealing her face to Dominick. "And one more thing—I stopped celebrating my birthday a long time ago."
She smiled, looking at peace. "You were right, it is a hassle. What's the point? It's just another ordinary day."
"Paisy," Dominick murmured stiffly. If he could, he wished he could travel back in time and beat his past self to a pulp.
Paisley rested her chin on one hand, speaking casually, "I'm not bringing this up to blame you. I genuinely think this way."
However, the calmer Paisley was, the more it hurt Dominick. If possible, he would rather she still hated him, resented him, even loathed him. At least then, it would mean she still had him in her heart, that his existence still mattered to her.
He didn't want to hear Paisley speaking to him so lightly, so detached, as if they were just friends. He didn't want to hear her say she forgave him while also saying she no longer loved him.
"Paisy, I know I was a bastard in the past. I've spent this time reflecting on everything. I will change—I've already started changing. Please, give me another chance," he pleaded.
Paisley shook her head. "But not loving someone means not loving them. I can't change that."
Dominick's eyes visibly reddened, his whole being seeming on the verge of breaking apart.
"At least, for Sonny and Rena, can't you give me one more chance?" He knew he shouldn't have said that—it was practically emotional blackmail. But he was desperate. Facing Paisley like this, he had no other way.
As expected, Paisley's gaze darkened at his words. "Dominick, you know that emotional blackmail doesn't work on me. The children are the children, and I am me."
As a mother, she could sacrifice everything for her children. But she would never compromise her own will for them.
Dominick lowered his head, not daring to look at Paisley. His shoulders trembled slightly. He lifted his large hands and covered his face.
"Dominick." Paisley took a deep breath. "I love my children very much. Sonny has been well taken care of by you all these years, and I'm grateful for that. I won't fight you for Sonny's custody.
"And of course, whenever you want to see Rena, I will let you. You have every right to be in her life. From now on, we can peacefully coexist as their parents. How about that?"
"No." His voice was muffled behind his hands, sounding just like a sulking child.
Watching Dominick like this, Paisley felt exhausted. She took another deep breath. "Dominick, let's both move forward. I've already walked out of the past, and you should too. Ahead of you, maybe there's someone even better, someone more suited for you, waiting."
Paisley knew her words today were harsh, but she also knew she had to be this resolute.
She had said everything that needed to be said. Paisley stood up, leaving behind both Dominick's gift and the bouquet of flowers. Without hesitation, she leaned forward and blew out the single candle on the table.
Even though she no longer celebrated her birthday, she still said, "Happy birthday to me." With that, she turned and left the restaurant.
The grand restaurant returned to silence. At this moment, the whole world seemed to darken.
Dominick sat alone, lowering his elbows onto his knees, head bowed. Large teardrops fell from his eyes. "There is no one else, Paisley. Besides you, there will never be anyone else."
He couldn't possibly let go or move on. He turned to look out the window, watching Paisley's fading figure. "Everything ahead of me, everything I see reminds me of you."