Chapter Nine: Dominic Meets Liam (Unknowingly)

Dominic didn't expect to find himself lingering at The Blue Harbor Café again.

It had only been a day since Camille had dropped the bombshell—that he had a son. A son she had kept from him for ten years. A son who had lived an entire life without even knowing his father's name.

It still didn't feel real.

He had spent most of the night staring at the ceiling in his rented house on the outskirts of Haven Cove, replaying every moment of the past in his mind. The years he had spent away. The choices he had made. The choices that had been made for him.

And now, here he was. Sitting in the corner of Camille's café, nursing a cup of coffee he barely tasted, watching life unfold around him.

Watching his son, completely unaware of who he was.

Liam sat a few tables away, hunched over a chessboard, studying the pieces with an intensity that made Dominic's chest tighten. He recognized that look—calculating, observant, strategic.

Just like me.

The realization hit him hard.

"Are you just going to sit there and stare, or are you actually going to say something?"

Dominic turned to find Camille standing behind the counter, arms crossed. Her tone was sharp, but her eyes held something else. Caution. Maybe even a hint of fear.

"I don't want to cause a scene," he said quietly.

She huffed. "That would require you actually talking to him."

Dominic hesitated. His hands curled into fists under the table. "He doesn't know who I am."

"And whose fault is that?" Camille shot back, her voice lower now.

His gaze locked onto hers. "Not mine."

A flicker of guilt passed over her face, but she didn't argue. Instead, she exhaled slowly and turned toward Liam, who was still deep in thought over his chess game.

Then, before Dominic could react, she called out, "Liam! You need a new opponent?"

Liam looked up, blinking in surprise. His brown eyes—Dominic's eyes—lit up. "Yeah! Michael had to go home, and I was about to play against myself."

Camille nodded toward Dominic. "He plays."

Dominic froze.

Liam glanced at him, curiosity sparking. "You play chess?"

Dominic cleared his throat, forcing himself to move. "I do."

Liam grinned, already setting the board. "Then let's see if you're any good."

Dominic swallowed hard and sat across from his son for the first time in his life.

The game began, and for a few moments, everything else faded away.

Liam was sharp. His hands moved quickly but deliberately, his mind clearly working several steps ahead. Dominic found himself impressed—not just by his skill, but by the way Liam's eyes lit up when he strategized, the slight smirk when he thought he had an advantage.

He's brilliant.

Move after move, Dominic found himself smiling. He had faced countless competitors in boardrooms, across negotiations worth billions. But sitting here, playing chess with a ten-year-old boy who had no idea he was his father?

This was the most important game he had ever played.

Liam glanced up at him. "You're pretty good."

Dominic chuckled. "You sound surprised."

Liam grinned. "Most adults are bad at this."

Dominic raised an eyebrow. "Most adults don't think five moves ahead."

Liam shrugged. "Do you?"

Dominic smirked. "Always."

Liam studied him for a moment, tilting his head. "You're new here. I haven't seen you before."

Dominic's breath caught.

Camille, who had been wiping down a table nearby, tensed.

Dominic forced a casual nod. "Just visiting."

Liam considered that. "Haven Cove is small. Not many people come here unless they have a reason."

Dominic hesitated. He did have a reason. The boy sitting in front of him.

But he couldn't tell him that. Not yet.

Liam moved his queen, capturing Dominic's knight. "Check."

Dominic let out a quiet laugh. "Smart move."

Liam grinned. "Told you I was good."

Dominic didn't doubt it for a second.

As the game continued, Camille remained nearby, watching—her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

And Dominic?

For the first time in ten years, he felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.