CHAPTER FIVE: TENSED DINNER AND MARRIAGE THREATS.

Dominique's car pulled up to a large, imposing iron gate. The estate behind the gate was enormous, stretching as far as the eye could see. The driveway was lined with perfectly trimmed hedges, and the lawn was immaculately manicured.the house was a sprawling mansion, with tall columns and intricate stonework. The windows were large and arched, and the front door was a solid wood, with a brass knocker in the shape of a lion's head. The whole place looked like something out of a movie.

As Dominique approached the front door, he felt his heart rate increase and his palms start to sweat. His body language was tense, with his shoulders hunched and his arms tight against his sides. He held the flowers in a death grip, as if they were a talisman that could protect him from whatever lay on the other side of the door. His expression was a mix of anxiety and determination, as if he was preparing for battle.

Dominique took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. He waited, his stomach in knots, for the door to open. A moment later, the door opened and a tall, imposing woman stood before him. She was impeccably dressed, in a black pantsuit and a silk blouse. Her dark hair was pulled back into a tight bun, her expression was thunderous.

She glared at Dominique with narrowed eyes and a deep scowl. But then her gaze shifted to the bouquet of flowers in his hands, and her expression softened, ever so slightly.

"Dominique, you're late!" Joline Castillo said, her voice stern but not quite as harsh as it had been just a moment ago. "And where have you been? I've been worried sick!"

"I'm sorry, Mom," Dominique said, his voice shaking slightly. "I got caught up at work, and I lost track of the time.

She looked Dominique up and down taking in his disheveled state.

"That's no excuse!" Dominique's mother snapped, her scowl returning. "You know how important this dinner is to your father and I! Everyone have been waiting for hours,I hope you at least have a good reason for being late!"

Dominique took a deep breath and tried to collect his thoughts. He had to explain the situation without making things worse. "Mom, please, just let me explain," he said, his voice still shaking slightly. "There was a problem at work, and I had to stay late to fix it.

Dominique's mother crossed her arms and tapped her foot, clearly impatient for an explanation. "Well?" she demanded, her tone sharp. "What kind of problem was so important that you had to delay this anniversary dinner?"

"It's hard to explain," Dominique said, trying to find the right words. "But basically, there was a mistake in one of our reports, and I had to fix it before it caused any major problems. I know it's not an excuse, but I promise it won't happen again."

"I certainly hope not," Joline said, her expression softening a bit.

Joline took the flowers from him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, an unexpected gesture of forgiveness. Then she motioned for him to follow her into the dining room, where Dominique's father Lorenzo Castillo and siblings Nikolas and Maya Castillo were already seated.

As he stepped into the dining room, he felt his father's disapproving gaze immediately. A quick apology escaped his lips before his father even uttered a word. The tension in the air was palpable as his father's gaze lingered, silently demanding an explanation.

"There you are!" Lorenzo said, his tone friendly but still a bit disappointed. "We were worried you weren't going to make it. Glad to see you're here now!"

Mia and Nikolas were both sitting at the table, smirking at their brother's arrival. Nikolas who is also his best friend leaned back in his chair and said, "Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence!"

Mia giggled, adding in a teasing tone, "You're lucky Mom didn't ground you for almost missing dinner!"

Dominique shot his siblings a glare that could freeze hell over making them shrink into their seats. Satisfied by the reaction,he then turned to his father. "I'm really sorry, Dad," he said. "It won't happen again, I promise."

His father nodded, then gestured to the empty seat next to him.

"How's work going?" his father finally asked, attempting to break the ice.

With a forced smile, he launched into a detailed description of the project he had been consumed with at work, hoping to shift the focus away from his tardiness.

His younger sister's voice cut through the boring work conversation, her tone tinged with frustration. "You're always too busy for me this days! You never come around anymore. It's all about work, work and more work"

Guilt washed over him as he realized the impact his absence had on his family especially Mia who was his princess. "I know, I'm sorry," he murmured, his eyes briefly meeting his sister's "How about this weekend you come over to my penthouse and we do something fun, just me and you." He suggested making her eyes brighten like a Christmas light.

"I will really love that so much." She said in excitement.

"And what will happen to your boutique?" Nikolas asked her with a raised brow.

"I am sure Lisa can handle it for just the weekend." She waved her hand dismissively. She has been working on her recent summer collection and she needed the break.

"It's settled then." Dominique smiled at her.

His family are the only people that get to see this side of him. To the world, he was a monster.

"We need to hit the club again, man. It's been ages!" Nikolas chimed in.

He has missed his best friend. I mean Nikolas handles the fun part of the business which is the clubs and bars. While Dominique handles the boring part in the words of Nikolas, which is the paperworks and hotels.

A small chuckle escaped his lips as he nodded in agreement, grateful for the attempt to divert the conversation from his tardiness.

Over the next few minutes, the family made small talk, discussing their days and various topics of interest.

But his mother, ever the matriarch, steered the conversation back to the topic he dreaded the most. "Speaking of plans," she said, her tone casual but probing "When do you think you'll be settling down and giving us some grandchildren?"

Desperately trying to avoid the impending confrontation, he focused on the food in front of him, offering a vague compliment to his mother's cooking.

But his mother was relentless. "Don't change the subject. If you don't find a wife soon, I'll find one for you."

Her words caught Dominique off guard, who chocked on the piece of chicken he had just put in his mouth. He hurriedly drank a glass of water as he fumbled for an answer. "I... I don't know, Mom," he stammered. "I haven't really thought about it."

His mother raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

The blood drained from his face as memories of past heartbreak flooded his mind. "Mom, you know what happened last time. I'm not ready for that again," he pleaded, his voice barely above a whisper.

Silence descended upon the table, each family member lost in their own thoughts. His mother's expression softened, a mixture of understanding and determination in her eyes.

"I know you've been hurt," she began, her voice gentle yet firm. "But you can't dwell on that forever. You need to move on and start a new chapter in your life."

His heart sank as he realized the gravity of her words. "I understand, Mom. But I need time," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion.

The truth was, Dominique had sworn off marriage ever since his fiancée had left him at the altar. It had been years ago, but the pain of that experience was still raw. He was never able to get an explanation from his ex, and he was still trying to make sense of what had happened.

His family had tried to be understanding, but they still didn't fully grasp the depth of his pain. So when his mother brought up the topic of marriage, he felt a wave of anxiety wash over him.

"I know it's a sensitive subject," his mother said, her tone softening. "But you need to forget about that crass woman you almost ended up with and find a decent woman to marry" She added.

Dominique was getting agitated and Joline seemed to sense his agitation but she still pressed the issue, asking him when he was going to find a wife and settle down.

Dominique finally snapped, "Mom, I'm never getting married!"

Everybody on the table was shocked but no body could interfere whenever Joline was like this not even Lorenzo

His mother was taken aback by his outburst, and she looked hurt. "Dominique, I just want the best for you," she said, her voice shaking. "I don't understand why you're being so stubborn about this."

"I'm not being stubborn, Mom," Dominique said, his tone still sharp.

"I know some very nice women who would make excellent wives."

Dominique was starting to feel overwhelmed by the conversation. "Mom, please stop," he said, his voice cracking. "I don't want to talk about this anymore. I just want to enjoy dinner with the family."

Time seemed to stand still as the weight of their conversation hung in the air. With a heavy sigh, his mother made one final declaration. "Time's running out. If you don't find someone soon, I'll start looking for you."

As his mother issued her ultimatum, the tension in the room became almost suffocating. His brother threw him a sympathetic look, silently conveying his understanding of the pressure their mother was putting on him.

Across the table, his sister gave him a sad smile, her eyes reflecting the empathy she felt for him, knowing all too well the pain he had endured in the past.

But his mother remained resolute, her tone unwavering as she threatened, "I have plenty of friends with daughters who would be more than happy to meet you."

The weight of her words hung heavily in the air, a stark reminder of the expectations placed upon him by his family. Despite their sympathy and understanding, he knew that his mother's determination would not waver until he took the plunge into marriage once again.

He knew he had to act fast to avoid the situation she was threatening. As the meal dragged on, he tried to think of a way to convince his mother that he didn't need a wife.

With a heavy heart, he resigned himself to the inevitable confrontation that lay ahead, unsure of how to navigate the treacherous waters of love and commitment once more.