Chapter 551 I Couldn't Ask for More
Dominic watched the solitary figure standing on the street corner, his heart aching for Aurelia. She looked so forlorn in the gathering darkness—what could she possibly be searching for out here? Had something happened that she couldn't handle alone?
"Pull over."
The driver had already begun slowing down without being asked.
Dominic rolled down his window and extended his hand. "Aurelia, get in!"
At the sound of his voice, Aurelia turned toward the car. When she saw Dominic's kind face, she hesitated for a moment before walking over and getting in from the other side.
Once inside, silence filled the car. She didn't know how to begin.
Dominic spoke first. "Aurelia, were you waiting for me?"
Aurelia fidgeted with her hands, clearly nervous. "Yes."
"We'll talk when we get home."
As Aurelia's eyes caught sight of the lucky charm hanging from the rearview mirror, she suddenly found her voice. "Mr. Sawyer, did you know my mother?"
This time it was Dominic who froze. He had known Brenda—intimately, painfully, completely.
He nodded, choosing honesty. "Yes."
The driver pulled into the underground garage and tactfully excused himself, leaving Dominic and Aurelia alone in the car.
Dominic continued, "I came to Coral Bay for business, but there was something else—something important. I wanted to visit your mother's grave, to talk to her."
That confirmed everything for Aurelia.
"Mr. Sawyer, I'm not Norman's daughter." She looked up at him suddenly, her eyes filled with a vulnerability that broke his heart.
Dominic stared at her in stunned silence, his mind reeling. He was processing this earth-shattering news—an unexpected gift he'd never dared to hope for. He had never imagined that one chaotic night could have resulted in Brenda's pregnancy.
Seeing his silence and unreadable expression, Aurelia lowered her head, feeling foolish for being so presumptuous. Perhaps it was better for people like them to stay in their separate worlds, undisturbed.
"Mr. Sawyer, I came to you because I need to ask you for something." Tears began streaming down her face, landing on her hands as she struggled to control her emotions. "I know it's presumptuous of me to come to you like this, but I have nowhere else to turn."
A large hand covered hers, and Dominic finally responded, his voice filled with emotion. "Aurelia, whatever you need—just tell me."
Her eyes red with tears, Aurelia continued, "My mother had twins—my sister and me. My sister is very sick now and needs a bone marrow transplant. Your blood type matches hers."
Her voice grew quieter as she spoke, losing confidence. She hoped he would understand the full implications of what she was telling him.
Dominic felt his heart breaking. Suddenly he experienced what it must be like to be a careful, protective father to a daughter—so different from the rough-and-tumble way he'd raised Phoenix.
He reached up to wipe her tears, his voice gentle. "Aurelia, when you talk to me—" He caught himself before saying 'dad,' afraid of frightening her. "You don't need to be so careful with me."
Dominic was being just as careful, terrified of saying the wrong thing and sending the wrong message.
His voice took on the tone one might use with a child. "Where is your sister now? Should we go see her?"
Aurelia looked at him with red-rimmed eyes. "You'll do it?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
Finding daughters in middle age—two of them at once—was perhaps the greatest blessing he could have imagined.
Aurelia wiped her face, hope lighting up her features. "She's probably resting now, and most of the medical staff have gone home. If you have time, could you come with me tomorrow to get tested for compatibility?"
Dominic's answer was immediate and decisive. "Absolutely."
Not wanting to dwell on painful memories but unable to stop himself, Dominic continued, "I met your mother at a business reception. I was barely older than Phoenix is now, and I fell for her the moment I saw her. She was elegant, articulate, well-educated—brilliant when it came to business. She was an extraordinary woman. I didn't know she was already married to Norman. If only..." He paused, his voice heavy with regret. "If I had met your mother first, who knows how different things might have been."
Aurelia's voice was thick with emotion. "My mother chose poorly. Norman destroyed her life."
Dominic's voice was filled with remorse. "That night, I thought your mother felt the same way about me. I found out later that Norman had drugged her and brought her to the reception. If I had known—when I learned she was pregnant with you two after that night, I would have taken her away from that bastard, no matter what it cost."
Silence filled the car.
Aurelia looked down and asked quietly, "Do you want to do a paternity test?"
She quickly added, "I don't mean anything by it—I won't try to claim any inheritance from Phoenix. If you think this is inappropriate, we can go our separate ways after this. As long as you agree to help my sister, I won't bother you again."
Dominic couldn't help but ruffle her hair affectionately. "Aurelia, I'm your father. Can't you tell how I feel about this?"
Aurelia froze when she heard the word 'father,' then listened as Dominic continued, "Don't laugh at me, but I actually looked up your birth date before and wondered if you might be mine. Then I convinced myself I was being delusional—that wanting a daughter had driven me crazy. A fortune teller once told me I'd have a wonderful surprise in middle age. I kept waiting and waiting, until my hair started turning gray and I was becoming an old man, but nothing happened. Turns out I was just being impatient!"
Aurelia looked up tentatively. "So you... you want us?"
Dominic laughed, almost incoherent with joy. "What father doesn't want his children? I'm thrilled—absolutely thrilled! This is more than I ever dared to hope for!"
In his eyes, Aurelia saw an emotion she'd never seen before—something Norman had never shown her. She thought carefully about his words: 'What father doesn't want his children?' Only a father who wasn't truly a father would reject his children.
"Dad!" The word came out awkwardly, but it was there.
Dominic froze, his heart melting completely. After a few seconds, he managed to respond, "Aurelia."
Dominic pulled Aurelia into his arms, that single word 'Dad' bringing tears to his eyes.
He had never imagined he could be so fortunate—to suddenly have two daughters. Even though neither child had done anything particularly heartwarming yet, that one word 'Dad' was more than enough.
"Aurelia, come upstairs with me!"
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