Bella’s soft laughter floated through the living room, light and carefree, and for the first ti since he had arrived, Dominique felt his shoulders truly relax. The tight knot of stress he had been carrying since hearing about Bella’s condition slowly loosened, replaced by a quiet relief he hadn’t even realized he needed. The sound of her laughter, so pure and unguarded, made the heavy air feel lighter.
Then his gaze drifted upward.
Footsteps echoed from the staircase.
Leo and his father were coming down.
Dominique had seen beauty before. He worked with people who were rich, powerful, polished down to the smallest detail. He had stood beside n who commanded rooms without speaking. But the sight of father and son standing side by side made him pause for a split second longer than expected.
They looked unreal.
Alessandro carried a mature, dignified presence, the kind of authority that ca from years of experience and quiet control. Leo stood beside him, tall and composed, sharp features carved with cold elegance. The sa bone structure. The sa aura. Different generations of power standing shoulder to shoulder.
Dominique swallowed.
Damn... genetics really did not hold back.
Straightening imdiately, excitent bubbled up inside him. This was it. His mont.
"Leo!" Dominique blurted out before his brain could catch up with his mouth. "I have sothing important to say. Can we talk?!"
Alessandro stopped, casting Dominique a knowing look before turning to Leo. He patted his son’s shoulder lightly, the gesture calm and assured. "Go."
Leo nodded once. "Study."
Dominique followed him upstairs almost bouncing, his mind racing with anticipation.
Yes. Yes. This is it. I’m officially entering Leo’s good list.
Inside the study, the door closed quietly behind them, sealing the space in privacy.
Dominique didn’t waste a second.
"Leo," he said quickly, excitent clear in his voice, "after Jay told about Bella’s condition... I hacked Jessica’s phone and computer."
Leo’s head snapped up, surprise flashing across his face. "You did what?"
Dominique grinned unapologetically. "Relax. Clean work."
Leo folded his arms slowly, his gaze sharpening. "What did you find?"
Dominique leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice like he was sharing a secret ant only for the two of them. "First—this."
He pulled out his phone and swiped, turning the screen toward Leo. Displayed on it was a clear photograph of a man with gentle eyes and a familiar warmth in his expression.
"Bella’s father," Dominique said. "I thought... in case she asks. You can fra it. Give it to her. It’ll make her happy."
Leo stared at the photo.
His throat tightened.
Dominique’s grin shifted, turning sharper. "But that’s not the real thing."
Leo looked up imdiately. "What do you an?"
"I found reports," Dominique continued, eyes shining. "dical. Legal. Buried deep."
Leo’s expression darkened. "What reports?"
"Well..." Dominique said slowly, clearly enjoying this mont, "Bella was born through a surrogate pregnancy."
Leo stiffened.
"And that’s not all," Dominique added, raising a finger. "Jessica didn’t provide her sample at all."
Leo’s breath caught. "What?"
"She wasn’t interested," Dominique said bluntly. "So she asked the surrogate to use her own sample instead."
The room went completely still.
Leo’s hands trembled slightly before he forced them still.
"You’re saying..." his voice ca out low, controlled only by sheer effort, "Jessica isn’t Bella’s biological mother?"
Dominique nodded firmly. "I’m sure. The reports line up. Multiple files. Dates. Signatures."
Leo leaned back slowly, shock spreading through him like ice water.
"If Bella had dug deeper," Dominique continued, "she might’ve found it herself. But she’s a white-hat hacker. Ethical. Careful."
He puffed his chest slightly. "Unlike . I’m pure black-hacker chaos."
Leo didn’t respond imdiately.
His mind raced.
So the woman who abused Bella...Who neglected her....Who allowed others to hurt her.
Wasn’t even her mother.
His jaw clenched, anger and relief colliding violently inside him.
"Good work," Leo said finally, his voice calm but heavy with aning.
Dominique’s grin widened instantly. Confird. I’m in.
Leo leaned back against the desk, eyes still sharp with thought, then looked up again. "Did you find anything related to Bella’s original mother?"
Dominique shook his head easily. "Still looking," he said cheerfully. "These things take ti."
Leo nodded once, and then a rare smile crossed his face. "You did good work," he said sincerely. "You’re a great hacker."
Dominique froze for half a second.
Praise from Leo was rare.
"Thank you, Leo!" he replied, standing a little straighter.
Leo studied him for a mont, then spoke again. "Is there anything you want? You deserve a reward for this discovery."
Dominique blinked, then tilted his head, thinking hard. Money? Access? Power?
"I don’t know," he said finally with a small grin. "Maybe I’ll tell you when the ti cos."
Leo nodded. "Whenever you’re ready."
Satisfied, Dominique turned and left the study, his steps light as he headed downstairs.
Halfway down the staircase, his phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen and smiled. Zeke.
"Hey, Zeke," Dominique answered as he reached the living room.
Zeke had left City A just two days ago due to an ergency, handling Sinclair business matters after an issue arose at another branch.
On the other end, Zeke’s calm, familiar voice ca through. "How’s Bella?"
Dominique’s gaze drifted toward the living room floor, where Bella’s laughter still floated faintly, high and innocent, mixed with Jay’s exaggerated reactions.
He smiled softly. "She’s safe," he said honestly. "Just needs ti."
Zeke humd quietly. "Good. Take care of her."
"Always," Dominique replied.
He slipped his phone back into his pocket just in ti to see Bella’s energy finally fading. The bright sparkle in her eyes softened, her movents slowing as sleep crept in. She sat curled on the couch, blinking lazily, small fingers fidgeting with the edge of a cushion.
Leo appeared behind Dominique without a sound.
The mont his eyes landed on Bella, sothing inside him eased. The tension he carried loosened just a little, the sharp edges of his presence lting into quiet tenderness.
"Hubby!" Bella suddenly called out, her voice louder than necessary, arms stretching toward him with unmistakable grabby hands. "I am sleepy!!"
Every head in the room turned toward Leo.
Jay paused mid-movent. Scarlett smiled knowingly. Jason smirked. Dominique stepped aside imdiately, pretending not to notice the attention.
Leo ignored them all.
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