She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 773

Just as Leila had predicted, becoming Dominic's girlfriend took almost zero effort.

In return, Dominic fulfilled her ambitions, leveraging the Lockridge family's resources to elevate her status into a rising star within the design community.

Everything seemed to be going perfectly according to her plan.

Use the Lockridges, secure financial backing, launch her own brand, become a celebrated designer, and then—

Marry Dominic and secure her place among the elite.

Leila firmly believed her path to the top would be smooth sailing, save for one massive roadblock.

Melanie.

Initially, Leila assumed that since Melanie had ruined the Hale family, Dominic would despise her with a burning passion.

So, during a casual conversation, she offhandedly remarked, "Melanie is just a bitch anyway." Dominic instantly backhanded her.

That was the first time Dominic ever hit her.

It left her completely stunned.

Ever since she became his girlfriend, he had spoiled her relentlessly.

When she wanted to win a design competition, Dominic rigged the results behind the scenes.

When she wanted to host a jewelry exhibition, he threw money at the problem to make it happen.

She genuinely thought she had him wrapped around her finger, that she was the apple of his eye—

Until she insulted Melanie.

The slap in The Velvet Orchid that day had stung fiercely, leaving her cheek burning.

She had sobbed her heart out, expecting sympathy.

But Dominic hadn't apologized. He hadn't comforted her. Instead, he warned her that if she ever dared to insult Melanie again, he would beat her face to a pulp.

That was the first time Leila felt genuine terror toward Dominic.

And the first time she realized he didn't love her at all.

She didn't believe Dominic loved Melanie, either.

Melanie was the architect of his destruction, the woman who left him with nothing.

She refused to believe any man could be that pathetic.

But...

If he didn't love her, why would he react so violently to an insult against her?

He shoved his phone directly in her face, screen glaring.

It was the trending article about Melanie and Gabriel's alleged affair.

"Did you do this?" Dominic demanded.

He knew she had bought the trending spot because the marketing firm involved was tied to the Lockridge network—a connection he had personally set up for her in the past.

Leila flashed a smug smile.

"I saw how furious you were, I thought something terrible happened! It's just this!"

She let her guard down.

"Yes, I did it. That Melanie thinks she can throw her weight around. She had Stellaris's Vice President kick me out right in front of Director Thorne, so I just—"

Slap!

Before she could finish, Dominic delivered a vicious backhand across her face.

The force of the blow made her scream as she nearly crumpled to the floor.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?! You went out of your way to manufacture a smear campaign against the Vice President of Stellaris?! And you tried to frame him with a sex scandal?! What if he finds out it was a marketing firm connected to the Lockridges? If he decides to target Lockridge operations as payback, are you going to take the fall for it?!"