Chapter Five: The Shocking Truth

Dominic didn't move. He stood in the alleyway behind The Blue Harbor Café, staring at the door Camille had just disappeared through, his pulse hammering in his ears.

He had known this wouldn't be easy. He had known she would be angry.

But the finality in her voice, the way she had walked away as if he were nothing but a ghost of a past she had long buried—that was what shook him.

He wasn't leaving.

Not yet.

With a slow exhale, Dominic pushed open the door and stepped back inside.

Camille was behind the counter, wiping down an already spotless surface, her jaw set tight. Isabel stood nearby, watching warily, as if preparing for a battle.

Dominic walked forward, but before he could speak, a boy darted past him, laughing as he rushed toward Camille.

"Mom! I finished my homework early! Can I help with the orders?"

Dominic's breath caught.

Camille stiffened.

The boy turned, and for the first time, Dominic saw him.

Dark hair. Hazel eyes. A sharp, familiar jawline.

His jawline.

The world tilted.

Dominic felt the air rush out of his lungs as realization crashed over him like a tidal wave.

He barely heard the hum of customers. The clang of dishes. The sound of Camille's voice—calm, measured—answering her son.

Her son.

His son.

Blood roared in his ears.

"Liam," Camille said softly, her hand resting protectively on the boy's shoulder. "Why don't you go help Isabel in the back?"

Liam frowned. "But I wanted—"

"Now, sweetheart." Her voice was gentle but firm.

Liam huffed but nodded, disappearing into the kitchen.

Silence stretched.

Dominic's hands trembled. He turned to Camille, his voice raw. "He's mine."

Camille's chin lifted. "Keep your voice down."

His chest heaved. "He's mine."

Isabel took a step forward, but Camille shot her a look, stopping her before she could intervene.

Dominic's mind spun. A son.

He had a son.

And he had never known.

His gaze snapped to Camille. "How could you?"

Her expression didn't waver. "How could I?" she echoed, voice tight. "You left, Dominic. You left and never came back."

"I didn't know—"

"Exactly." Her voice cracked. "You didn't know. Because you never looked back."

Dominic felt like he had been punched in the gut. "You should have told me."

"And what would that have changed?" Camille's hands curled into fists. "Would you have come back? Would you have stayed?"

His throat closed. He wanted to say yes. God, he wanted to.

But the truth was… he didn't know.

Because ten years ago, he had been a different man.

And maybe—just maybe—she had been right to keep Liam from him.

Camille's voice softened, but the pain in her eyes was sharp. "You don't get to just walk back into town and demand answers, Dominic."

He swallowed hard. "He's my son."

Her jaw tightened. "He's my son."

The words sliced through him.

Dominic staggered back a step. His heart pounded. His hands shook.

Liam.

His son.

A decade of memories he had missed. His first steps. His first words. His birthdays. His scraped knees. His laughter. His tears.

All of it—gone. Stolen by time.

By her.

Camille held his gaze, her voice unwavering. "You left, Dominic. And I learned to live without you. Welearned to live without you."

The finality in her words echoed deep in his chest.

She had no intention of letting him in.

But Dominic wasn't leaving. Not now. Not after this.

He had lost ten years.

He wouldn't lose another second.