Bella's soft laughter floated through the living room, light and carefree, and for the first time 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 men 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.
