Chapter 2 The airport buzzed with activity , a symphony of distant announcements , hurried footsteps , and rolling suitcases blending into the steady hum of life .
Crowds ebbed and flowed in a rhythm that was both chaotic and strangely orderly .
The cool , filtered air carried faint traces of coffee and jet fuel , grounding Paisley in the reality of her impending departure .
Her high had begun hoarding Just as she was about to step forward to hand her boarding pass to the attendant , her phone buzzed insistently in her pocket .
She slid her ticket across the counter and answered the call without checking the caller ID .
But before she could say a word , Graysons young voice shrilled through the speaker .
1 wam rainbow pasta ! Paisley paused mid step , glancing down at the phone .
It was Dominicks number Theres frozen pasta in the fridge , she replied coolly , her voice even and detached .
She collected her boarding pass and continued walking toward the catc The nanny said its all Canenim .
ponr Graysons voice climbed in pitch , sharp and grating the way childrens voices do when theyre on the verge of a Paisleys lips tightened .
Shed worked hard to instill discipline in Grayson , especially when it came to shouting or making demands in public .
But this naughty boy had his fathers stubborn streak , and lately , her corrections only seemed to irritate him further .
Her tone remained indifferent as she replied with a frown , Then its gone .
Thats not fair , Grayson wailed .
His voice rose again , teetering on the edge of a full blown fit .
Come back right now and make it for me .
I want it Paisley inhaled slowly , her grip on her phone firm but calm .
Ask your precious Marissa to make it for you , she said , her voice laced with an edge that cut through his whining had to The line went silent for a few heartbeats , but it wasnt long before Graysons crying and howling began in earnest , loud enough that Paisley h hold the phone slightly away from her ear .
After a muffled scuttle on the other end .
Dominicks deep , irritated wice finally came through .
Paisley , why are you picking a fight with a child : Hes just a kid .
He doesnt understand By this point .
Paisley had stepped into the cabin , her heels clicking softly against the carpeted aisle .
She flashed a polite smile at the flight attendant and handed over her handbag before settling into her seat in first class Reclining slightly , she adjusted her tone to one of detached finality .
If a child doesnt understand , then surely the adults should , dont you think ? Her mind drifted as the seatbelt light blinked on .
Grayson hadnt always been this way .
Up until the age of two , hed been a sweet , clingy little boy who adored her , proudly declaring to anyone whod listen that his mother was the best in the world .
When did that start to change she wondered .
The answer came to her with a pang of bitterness .
It must have been when Marissa came back to Harrowfell Everything Paisley had forbidden , Marissa would indulge .
If Paisley said no to cantly , Marissa would slip it to him behind her back .
If Paisley enforced bedtune rules , Marissa would sneak him out for late night games .
At first , the Vanderbilt family had always looked down upon Paisley .
Slowly but surely , their obvious preference for Marissa over Paisley began to мер Into Graysons perception .
In his young , impressionable mind , Paisley had been recast as a villain- meddling outsider , a scheming woman who broke up the family Dominick , Paisley said family , were divorced now .
Theres no reason for us to keep in touch anymore .
Without waiting for a response , she ended the call and switched off her phone .
As the plane ascended , Paisley stared out the window the city s shrinking beneath her until it was no more than a blur of lights and distant She took a deep breath , the hum of the engines steadying her frayed nerves .
Its over , she thought .
Tve left it all behind Four years later , in the heart of Harrowdell , inside the directors office at the prestigious Harrowfell Hospital , the room exuded an air of understated 174 Dreame Read Romance ..
Download Chapter 2 Juxury , Rich mahogany paneling adorned the walls and soft , ambient lighting cast a warm , golden glow , Paisley , however , had no interest in conforming to the rooms dignified atmosphere .
With her legs casually crossed in an unbothered fashion , she lounged on the plush sofa , leaning back as if she owned the place .
She exuded an effortless charm , her cautal demeanor oddly endearing Jonathan Walsh , the director of the hospital , strolled over with a wry smile .
He patted Paisley gently on the head .
Youre a mother now , for goodnew ule .
Cant you sit like an adult for once ! Paisley huffed and grudgingly straightened up , though the playful glint in her eyes remained .
She reached into her chic leather tote and pulled out a small neatly packaged bag of herbal tea Here .
Make it last .
Its a pain in prepare , you know .
The tea itself wasnt difficult to mix , but the ingredients were another matter entirely rare and hard to procurt .
Jonathan chuckled as he took the tea , his expression softening with gratitude .

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Youre still the most thoughtful kid I know .
My health practically depends on your herbal concoctions these days .
Sit tight .
Ill pour you some of the coffee I just bought .
Youll love it He handed her a delicate porcelain cup , and Paisley took a careful sip , her discerning palate immediately picking up on the premium quality .
Top notch beans she thought , her approval faint bin clear .
Jonathan leaned against his desk , his gaze warm but probing Passy , how long are you planning to stay in Harrowfell this time ? A while she replied , setting the cup down on the coffee table with a soft clink .
One of her screenplays had recently been adapted , and the production was set to start filming locally .
As the lead writer , she needed to be on site for the shoot .
On top of that , there were other odds and ends demanding her attention .
Jonathan grinned , his eyes sparkling with mischief , Ever thought about coming back here to see some patients ? Maybe teach a few students while youre at it ? Nope .
Not happening Paisley said , cutting him off with a dismissive wave of her hand This wasnt the first time Jonathan had tried to coax her into joining the hospitals ranks , and she had no intention of giving in Jonathan opened his mouth to press the issue further , but before he could get a word out , Paisleys phone buzzed sharply , its timing a small mirade .
She picked it up with a muted sigh of relief and answered quickly , pretending the call was urgent .
Within moments , she was making her exit .
leaving Jonathan behind with an amused shake of his head .
Not long after Paisley left , the administrative director knocked and stepped into the room .
Mr.
Walsh , Mr.
Vanderbilt is here to see you .
Jonathan straightened as Paul Vanderbilt , a spry old gentleman with sharp eyes that missed nothing , entered the office .
His gaze immediately fell on the coffee table , where a glass carafe of freshly brewed coffee sat , steam still curling lazily from the spout .
The fine aroma filled the room , unmistakably from an exclusive roast .
One look at the half empty cup and Pauls shrewd mind began to piece things together .
Paul teased , Well well .
Who was it this time that got you to bring out the top tier coffee you usually dont touch ! Jonathan chuckled , his expression as casual as his tone .
Who else could it be ? Pauls brows lifted in surprise .
You mean the traditional medicine expert youve been talking about ? Jonathan nodded , taking another sip of his coffee .
Too bad you missed her .
If youd come a little earlier , you mightve caught a glimpse , Paul sighed wistfully .
What a pity .
My healths been declining these past few years , so I couldve used some advice ? Jonathan sniffed thoughtfully , setting his cup down with a soft clink , Strange .
I remember you being in great shape a few years ago .
When did things start going downhill ? Paul Trowned , thinking back , About four years ago , I guess ..
It had started when Dominicks divorce drama began .
Ever since then , Paul had been caught in a daily storm of frustration , anger , and stress .
The constant turmoil had taken its toll , leaving him with more ailments than he cared to admit .
Jonathan glanced at Pauls tailored suit and tie , his curiosity piqued , You look sharp today .
Where are you coming from ? Oh , from the office .
My grandson , Dominick , gave in a ride over Paul , ever relaxed , shrugged off his suit jacket and tossed it carelessly onto the nearest chair , making himself at home .
On my way up , I ran into a friends another whos staying here .
Thought Id stop by to say hello .
244 Chapter 2 In the hospital elevator , Paisley leaned against the corner , illy scrolling through her phone to pass the time .
A series of entertainment headlines popped up on her screen , their bolded hashtags catching her eye .
[ The Vanderbilt familys heir is spotted with a mystery woman late at night ) ( Exclusive : Vanderbilt Groups CEO Dominick Vanderbilts imminent engagement ) .
The blurry photos accompanying the articles were enough for her to immediately recognize the figures .
One was Dominick .
The other was Marissa .
Imminent engageinent ? So theyre really getting married , huh ? Paisleys lips curled into a cold smile as her thumb froze on the screen .
Her chest tightened with a biner mix of irony and contempt , Dominick had oner sworn to her so earnestly , so convincingly that there was absolutely nothing going on between him and Marissa .
Hed dismissed Paisleys suspicions as baseless jealousy , even calling her irrational and paranoid During their marrage , shed been invisible .
Not once had they appeared in the news together .
Not once had he publicly acknowledged her as his wife .
To the outside world , it was as if she didnt exist , Shed told herself back then that it was just his way Dominicks principle of fiercely guarding his private life from the prying eyes of the media .
She had believed it , justified it , and accepted it .
Now , as she stared at the headlines and photos , a bitter realization settled over her like a storm cloud Principles ? Paisley scoffed inwardly .
Principles can crumble in an instant when it comes to the love , cant they ? As the elevator descended , there was a soft ding , and the movement halted .
The doors slid open , and someone stepped inside .
The newcomer was tall tall enough that his presence immediately cast a shadow across her line of sight .
Without lifting her gaze .
Paisley instinctively shifted slightly to the side , giving the stranger more rooms Her phone vibrated , and a call from Emery Collins flashed on the screen .
She answered , her tone playful and warm as she greeted , Hey , darling .
are you here yet ? On the other end of the line came Emerys apologetic voice .
Paisy , love , Im so sorry .
Something urgent has come up at the shop , and I have to go handle it .
I cant pick you up But dont worry .
Ive sent my friend to pick you up .
He should be there soon .
No worries , I got it .
Paisleys lips curved into a soft smile as she ended the call .
Then , all at once , she felt it a prickling sensation , as though a sharp , cold spotlight had been trained on her .
Her head lifted instinctively , and her eyes collided with a pair of deep , shadowy ones .
It was Dominick .
He stood there , his towering height dominating the confined space .
He was a head taller than her .
The past four years had sharpened him time had carved his once youthful features into something even more defined , more striking His chiseled jawline was sharper now , his cheekbones more pronounced .
And those eyes intense , penetrating , with emotions simmering just beneath the surface were locked directly on her .
Dominick took a single step forward , the distance between them shrinking , his presence heavy and suffocating .
The elevator reached the first floor with a soft chime .
Excuse me , Paisley said , her voice polite but distant .
Without hesitation , she brushed past him , maintaining her composure as though he were nothing more than a stranger in the crowd .
Not a glance was spared , not a moment lingered .
She walked away , poised and indifferent , leaving the echoes of his gaze behind her .
Her heels clicked confidently on the tiled floor , her expression serene , but her heart was steady untouched by the brief encounter .
She had prepared herself for this the moment she decided to return to Harrowfell Running into Dominick was always a possibility , And it didnt matter to her now that it had already happened .
Not anymore .
Whatever they once were , whatever had bound them together , it was all in the past now .
And Paisley had long ago decided she never looked back .
Behind her , Dominicks footsteps echoed with a sharp urgency .
Before Paisley could take another step , a strong hand grabbed her wrist , halting her escape Dominicks voice was low , grating , and filled with restrained fury .
Paisley , youve been gone for four years .
Dont you think you owe me an explanation ? 3/4 Chapter 2 At that , Paisley turned , a soft , ironic laugh slipping past her lips .
Her eyes , bright and unreadable , fixed on him as if he were a stranger .
Mr.
Vanderbilt , she began her tone dripping with cool detachment .
in what capacity are you demanding answers ? As my ex husband ? Dominicks breath hitched , his chest heaving as he struggled to keep his composure .
His gaze bore into hers , the faintest flush of red coloring the corners of his sharp eyes .
Then, as the father of your son , he questioned , each word deliberate , dont I have the right to know where youve been ? She tried to pull her wrist free , but his grip remained unyielding , like a vice .
Her voice , though calm , cut through the tension like a blade .
I gave up my son .
Dominick .
What right do you think you have to demand anything from me ? Dominicks jaw clenched , his teeth grinding audibly as he spat her name through gritted teeth .
Paisley .
The sharp , abrupt sound of two car horns shattered the charged air between them .
Both turned instinctively toward the noise , only to see a sleek car idling just behind Paisley .
The drivers side window rolled down , revealing a strikingly handsome man with meticulously styled hair that dared not defy the hold of his gel .
His smile was dazzling , the kind that could charm anyone on sight .
Paisy he called out , sticking out his head , his voice buoyant and warm , utterly oblivious to the storm brewing in the space between her and Dominick .
Im here for you .