Chapter 21 ONE CONDITION

Chapter 21 ONE CONDITION

DOMINIC 

“Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about, okay?” she snaps, louder this time. “If you don’t come now this time around, I’m coming to you myself.”

She hangs up before I can say another word. I just stare at my phone, my mind completely blank.

My son?

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

Is she drunk?

No. She quit drinking years ago. If she were drunk, I’d have noticed it some other way.

I slide into my car and start the engine, my thoughts spiraling.

Should I call Nick? Ask him if something’s going on with Mum?

No. That's a bad idea. That brat would turn this into something else entirely, and I don’t have the patience for it tonight.

I pull out of the driveway and head toward Mum’s place. I tell myself I’m not in a hurry, but my foot presses harder on the accelerator anyway.

Questions flood my head one after another. By the time I reach the gate, I honk once. It opens immediately.

As I step out of the car, Wilson meets me at the entrance. He nods as I approach, forcing a polite half-smile.

“Good evening, sir,” he says.

I’ve known Wilson since I was a child. That look on his face tells me everything. He’s definitely not fine.

I pause, my hand hovering over the door handle. “Everything okay?”

He bows slightly, his hands clenched at his sides. “Yes, sir Dominic.”

I study him. “You don’t look okay. Is this about my mum?”

He hesitates, then exhales. “Mrs. Santos…” he begins, lifting his eyes to mine briefly. “She found out my son brought his dog into the house. It’s the same dog that caused Miss Grace’s accident earlier today.”

I blink. “What? A dog?”

Oh hell.

She hates dogs. Hates them so much she doesn’t even allow neighbors who own one to visit, mostly because my father owned the entire estate.

She must have been furious.

“I’m sorry, sir,” Wilson mutters.

“So she’s angry about the dog?” I ask.

He shakes his head slowly. “I don’t know why she insisted my boy stay with her, but she’s been… different since she saw him.” His voice drops. “Please, sir, help me plead with madam if she’s still angry with Jayden. I didn’t know he brought the dog along with the driver—”

“Hey,” I say gently, resting a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay. You know my mum. She doesn’t hurt kids. She loves them, no matter how angry she gets, alright?”

His shoulders relax slightly. He nods and manages a small smile.

“And the dog?” I add. “I’ll talk to her. It’s not a big deal.”

“Thank you, sir.”

I return his smile, then turn and open the door.

The second I step inside, I freeze. Mum is seated on the couch, Jayden perched comfortably on her lap. Toys are scattered everywhere—cars, blocks, little figures, spilling around him like a small sea at her feet.

Isn’t this the same woman who sounded ready to tear the house apart five minutes ago?

Now she’s laughing and playing. Like the world doesn’t have a single problem.

She has got to be kidding me.

I move closer and stop in front of her. She’s so absorbed in whatever game she’s playing that she doesn’t even notice me.

Then she looks up.

“Oh! Dominic?” Her face lights up instantly. “When did you come?”

I stare at her, then at the boy again. “You made me drive all the way here, Mum. You sounded like you were about to bring the whole house down.” I pause, narrowing my eyes. “But now I’m starting to think this is one of your tricks just to see me. Am I right?”

She frowns, but says nothing. Instead, she leans down and whispers something into Jayden’s ear.

“Do you understand, Jay?” she asks, this time aloud.

He nods enthusiastically. “Alright, Grandma,” he says with a bright smile.

One of the maids approaches to take him, but for some reason, Jayden stops and looks back at me
.
“Don’t be grumpy, Uncle,” he says seriously. “Grandma says it doesn’t look good on you.”

What?

I just stare at him, completely caught off guard.

Mum clears her throat, and I know immediately she fed him that line.

“Alright, Jay,” she says sweetly. “Go with Luna and do exactly as I said, hmm?”

He nods again and follows the maid out. The moment he’s out of sight, I turn back to her.

My voice hardens. “What’s going on?”

“What do you think, son?” Her tone softens slightly, but I’m not buying it.

“I really don’t have the time or patience for whatever game you’re playing,” I say flatly. “I have another meeting with a client tonight, so—”

“When are you ever going to have time, Dominic?” she snaps. “Now I understand why you were probably too busy to even notice you might have gotten some woman pregnant out there.” She scoffs. “And thank God for fate. He brought Jayden back to us. Didn’t you see the boy?”

I let out a hard breath, not from exhaustion, but pure frustration.

Do people really act this extreme when they want grandchildren?

She wants a grandchild so badly she’s hijacking someone else’s son and slapping my name on him.

Is this some kind of sick joke?

“I saw him,” I say tightly. “But I don’t care about the boy right now. I’m worried about you.” I step closer. “Do you have any idea how terrified Mr. Wilson was when I ran into him?”

Her gaze drops for a brief moment, then hardens again.

“He thought you’d be angry at his son for bringing that dog here,” I continue. “Meanwhile, you’re out here claiming his child is mine.” My voice rises despite myself. “What the hell are you doing, Mum?”

“I know that boy is yours, Dominic,” she insists. “We both know Mr. Wilson was never married. He couldn’t possibly have a son that age.” She exhales sharply, then moves closer, her hands wrapping around mine. “And Jayden looks exactly like you did when you were five too.”

I stiffen.

“Are you sure,” she adds softly, almost pleading, “that you didn’t sleep with any woman before, honey?”

I glare at her and pull my hands away.

“I’m not doing this with you tonight,” I say coldly. “If you’re so desperate for a grandson, you could’ve waited for Nicholas. He’s the one getting married.” I straighten. “So stop making up stories and return Jayden to his father. I’m serious.”

“No, you’re not,” she fires back. “We’ll ask Wilson whether Jayden was adopted. And if he confirms it, we’re doing a DNA test. End of discussion.” Her chin lifts. “You’ll do exactly as I say.”

I shake my head slowly, my anger simmering dangerously close to bursting.

I know yelling at her won’t fix anything… But neither will walking away.

“Alright,” I finally say after a long stretch of silence. “Can we continue this tomorrow? You know I leave early on Fridays.”

She doesn’t look at me. That alone tells me she’s still angry and when she goes quiet like this, it’s never without wanting something more.

“I don’t agree with whatever story you’ve cooked up,” I continue carefully. “But…” I pause, forcing the words past the tightness in my throat. “You can do whatever you want on one condition.”

She turns to me instantly, though the anger is still written all over her face. “What condition?”

“I handle it,” I say firmly. “I mean, all of it.”

Her lips press together as she studies me, silent for a long moment, like she’s measuring whether to trust me or decline.

Finally, she nods. “Alright.” Then she lifts a finger. “But I have a condition too.”

I already don’t like where this is going.

“You don’t get to say no.”

Of course. I nod once anyway.

She adjusts her glasses slowly, and deliberately, like a judge about to deliver a sentence.

“I want you to go on a date with Violet.”

“What?” The word slips out before I can stop it.

Then… My stomach drops straight to my feet. This is a joke.