Chapter Twenty: Liam Overhears the Truth

Liam sat on the stairs, gripping the wooden railing so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He hadn't meant to listen. He hadn't meant to hear the words that changed everything.

But now they wouldn't stop replaying in his head.

"I can't do this. Letting Liam get close to you. Letting myself—"

"You should have told me. From the beginning."

"What if Liam had found out another way?"

His chest felt tight, his heartbeat loud in his ears.

They had been talking about him. About his father. About Dominic.

And the worst part?emrf

No one had told him.

Liam sucked in a breath, but it came out shaky. He wanted to move, to get up and run, but his body felt frozen.

He clenched his fists, staring down at them.

He had spent weeks trying to understand why he felt drawn to Dominic—why something about him felt familiar. And now it all made sense.

His father had been standing right in front of him this whole time.

And no one had told him.

Liam's hands curled into fists.

Not his mom. Not Dominic. Not anyone.

Betrayal burned hot in his chest.

All the questions he'd asked his mother—every time she brushed them off, every time she told him it didn't matter, that his father wasn't around—it had been a lie.

He forced himself to stand, his body trembling with adrenaline.

He needed to get out of there.

Without thinking, Liam bolted down the stairs, his feet barely making a sound against the wooden floor. He reached for the door and pulled it open.

The cold night air hit his skin like a slap, but he didn't care.

He ran.

Inside the House

A gust of wind rushed in as the front door swung open.

Camille's head snapped up.

"What—" Her eyes widened.

Dominic was already moving.

"Liam!" he called, his voice sharp with urgency.

But the boy didn't stop.

Through the window, Camille saw him sprinting down the street, his small figure disappearing into the night.

Her heart leaped into her throat. "Oh my God."

Dominic was already halfway to the door. "I'll get him."

Camille grabbed his arm, her grip tight. "No—I—"

But Dominic shook his head. "Camille, I have to."

She swallowed, torn between her fear and the instinct to chase after her son herself.

Then she saw something in Dominic's face—something raw, something desperate.

And she let him go.

Dominic ran into the night.

And Camille whispered a prayer that he'd find their son.

Liam's Escape

The town was quiet at this hour, the only sounds coming from the ocean waves crashing against the shore.

Liam didn't know where he was going.

He just knew he needed to get away.

Away from the house. Away from the lies. Away from them.

His feet carried him down familiar streets, past the darkened shops, past the café, past the pier.

He kept running, breath burning in his lungs, until finally, he stopped.

And when he looked up, he realized where he was.

The beach.

The moon cast silver light over the water, the tide rolling in and out in an endless rhythm.

Liam's legs felt weak. He dropped onto the sand, his chest heaving.

He didn't cry.

He didn't want to cry.

But he felt…lost.

Like everything he thought he knew had just been torn apart.

Footsteps crunched against the sand behind him.

Liam stiffened.

A familiar voice cut through the night.

"Liam."

Dominic.

Liam kept his eyes on the waves, not turning around. "Go away."

The footsteps stopped a few feet behind him. "I can't do that, kid."

Liam's jaw clenched. He yanked off his sneakers, digging his toes into the cool sand. "You lied to me."

A heavy silence stretched between them.

Then, Dominic exhaled. "I didn't want to lie. I—"

"You knew," Liam interrupted, his voice sharp. "You knew you were my dad, and you didn't tell me."

Dominic's heart squeezed painfully.

"I wanted to," he admitted, stepping closer. "I just…didn't know how."

Liam turned then, his eyes flashing. "How about just saying it?" His voice cracked. "Instead of pretending to be some—some guy at the café who plays chess with me."

Dominic crouched down to his level. "I wasn't pretending."

Liam let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah, right."

Dominic's hands curled into fists against his knees. "Liam, I swear, I didn't even know you existed until a few weeks ago."

Liam hesitated. "What?"

Dominic's voice softened. "I only found out the same day I met you."

Liam stared at him, confusion flickering in his gaze. "Mom didn't tell you?"

"No." Dominic swallowed hard. "I left town before I even knew she was pregnant."

Liam blinked. His mom had always made it sound like his dad just…left. Like he hadn't wanted to be part of their lives.

But if Dominic didn't know…

His stomach twisted.

"Then why did you leave?" Liam's voice was quieter now, uncertain.

Dominic's chest ached.

How could he explain?

How could he put ten years of regret into words?

"I was young," Dominic said finally. "And I was stupid. I thought I was doing the right thing. But I should've fought harder to stay."

Liam bit his lip, looking back at the waves. "So…you never wanted to leave?"

"No." Dominic's throat tightened. "Not for a second."

Liam kicked at the sand. He didn't say anything.

Dominic exhaled.

"I know I can't change the past," he said. "And I know I don't deserve your trust overnight. But I swear to you, Liam—I'm not going anywhere now."

Liam glanced at him, something shifting in his expression.

Dominic held his breath.

Then, slowly, Liam asked, "Do you even know how to be a dad?"

Dominic let out a small, broken laugh. "I have no idea."

Liam huffed. "Well…you're gonna have to figure it out."

Dominic's chest swelled with something he couldn't name.

"Yeah, kid," he murmured. "I will."

And for the first time, Liam didn't pull away.