Chapter One: Dominic’s Diagnosis

The steady beep of the heart monitor filled the sterile silence of the doctor's office. Dominic Hayes sat across from Dr. Evelyn Carter, his fingers clenched into a fist on his lap. He could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on his chest, making it harder to breathe—though whether that was from the sickness or the fear creeping in, he couldn't tell.

Evelyn sighed, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. She had been his doctor for years, but today, the calm professionalism in her gaze felt heavier, edged with something close to pity. He hated that.

"I won't sugarcoat it, Dominic," she said finally, her voice steady but gentle. "The results confirm what I suspected. It's cardiomyopathy. A rare, degenerative heart disease."

Dominic inhaled sharply, his grip tightening. He had known something was wrong—he wasn't an idiot. The exhaustion, the shortness of breath, the way his body had started betraying him over the past year. But hearing it aloud made it real.

"How bad?" His voice came out rough, almost a growl.

Evelyn hesitated before answering, and that was enough to tell him everything.

"We don't have a definitive timeline. Could be years, could be months. The disease is unpredictable." She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice as if softening the impact. "There's an experimental treatment, but it's risky. And even with it, there are no guarantees."

Dominic scoffed, shaking his head. "There are never any guarantees."

He pushed a hand through his hair, his pulse hammering in his ears. He was Dominic Hayes, for God's sake. Billionaire, real estate mogul, a man who built empires with his bare hands. He had spent his entire life forging his own path, dictating his own fate. And now, his body—his own damn heart—was turning against him.

Evelyn studied him carefully. "If you go through with the treatment, you'll need to make changes. Less stress, more rest." A small, humorless smile tugged at her lips. "Which means stepping away from work."

Dominic let out a dry chuckle. "That's not happening."

"Then you need to decide what really matters," she countered. "Because if you ignore this, you might not have as much time as you think."

He looked away, out the window where the city skyline stretched endlessly before him. It was everything he had built—his success, his legacy. But for the first time, it all felt… hollow.

What really mattered?

The question echoed in his mind long after he left the office. And by the time he stepped into the back seat of his car, the answer had already begun to take shape.

Haven Cove.

Camille.

The past he had tried so hard to bury.

He exhaled, his jaw tightening with resolve. It was time to go back.