Chapter Twelve : Dominic Confronts the Past

Dominic sat in his car outside Richard Rivers' house, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white.

The past had been clawing at him ever since he set foot in Haven Cove, but this—this was the moment he had been dreading.

Facing the man who had stolen a decade from him.

Nathan had confirmed it just hours ago, after digging through every lead Dominic had asked him to chase.

Richard Rivers had lied.

A decade ago, Dominic had left Haven Cove believing Camille wanted nothing to do with him. That she had moved on. That she didn't need him. But the truth—the real truth—was that Richard had interfered. He had kept Dominic away, ensuring he never knew about the child Camille carried.

His child.

His jaw clenched as he stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut behind him. The small house was just as he remembered—well-maintained but modest, perched near the cliffs where the wind carried the scent of the ocean.

Dominic stalked up the porch steps and knocked.

A beat of silence. Then, the sound of footsteps.

The door creaked open, revealing Richard Rivers. His graying hair had thinned, and lines of age had deepened on his face, but his sharp gaze was the same. The same cold, assessing look that had once made Dominic feel like an outsider.

Now, it only fueled his rage.

"Dominic," Richard said, his tone unreadable.

Dominic pushed past him into the house, not bothering with pleasantries.

Richard sighed and shut the door. "I had a feeling you'd come knocking eventually."

Dominic turned, voice like steel. "You lied to me."

Richard met his gaze without flinching. "I did what was necessary."

A sharp, humorless laugh escaped Dominic. "Necessary? You stole my son from me."

Richard's expression darkened. "You were reckless. Irresponsible. You would've ruined Camille's life."

Dominic's blood boiled. "That wasn't your decision to make."

"She was pregnant, Dominic," Richard snapped. "And you were a young fool chasing ambition over responsibility. You think I was going to stand by and let you break her heart?"

Dominic's hands curled into fists. "I would have been there for her. For my child. I had the right to know."

Richard exhaled sharply. "And what would you have done? Dragged her into your world of wealth and power, expecting her to fit into your life like some accessory? You weren't ready to be a father. And Camille—" He shook his head. "She deserved better than being a billionaire's discarded mistake."

Dominic took a step forward, his voice deadly quiet. "You don't get to decide what she deserved."

Richard's eyes flickered with something unreadable, but he didn't back down. "And yet, here you are—ten years later, full of regret. Too late."

The words sliced through Dominic, but he refused to show it.

Too late.

That had been his greatest fear. That Camille would never forgive him. That Liam would never accept him.

But he had a choice now. He could either let Richard's words bury him in guilt, or he could fight.

He took a slow breath. "You might have succeeded back then. But I'm here now. And I'm not walking away this time."

Richard's gaze held his for a long moment. Then, with a sigh, he shook his head. "You always were stubborn."

Dominic turned for the door. "And you always underestimated me."

Then, without another word, he walked out, leaving Richard standing in the fading light.

Because now, Dominic knew the truth.

And he would make sure Camille knew it too.