Chapter 220

Maria glanced down at her rumpled clothes. "I should go home," she said, "I'll be back tomorrow."

Paisley smiled. "Rena's fine. Don't worry."

The tension draining from Maria, exhaustion washed over her. She grabbed her bag and headed for the door. Leaning against the wall, his face shadowed, stood Dominick. He looked up, his eyes losing their light when he saw it wasn't Paisley. Maria subtly indicated Dominick to Paisley with a nod. Paisley, understanding the silent plea, nodded grimly.

Opening the door, Paisley found Dominick's gaunt face shockingly altered. Hollow-eyed and pale, he looked utterly broken. His eyes, already red-rimmed, welled up as he saw her. "Paisley," he began, his voice thick with emotion. "You finally..."

"And if I hadn't come out?" Paisley interrupted, her gaze sweeping over Julian and his imposing bodyguards. "Would you have forced your way in?"

A bitter laugh escaped Dominick. "You know I wouldn't. They're here to protect you and Rena."

"I don't need them," Paisley retorted, surprised he hadn't immediately confronted her about Serena's blood type. He seemed certain Serena was his daughter. It made perfect sense; he'd likely pieced it together after she revealed Serena's O-positive blood type.

His voice hoarse, he said, "Paisley, I saw Rena's birthdate on her hospital records. You were pregnant when we divorced, weren't you?"

"What are you implying?" Paisley snapped, dreading the painful memories.

"Why didn't you tell me? I wouldn't have signed the divorce papers."

Paisley scoffed. Besides, she hadn't even known she was pregnant. Even if she had, she wouldn't have used a child to salvage a failing marriage.

Dominick saw the steely resolve in her eyes. He mentally cursed his past self. "Paisley," he pleaded, "I was wrong. Please forgive me, for Sonny and Rena's sake."

Paisley shook her head. "Dominick, Sonny doesn't need me as his mother, and Rena doesn't need you as her father. You can both find someone else."

Max appeared, carrying two food containers. Spotting Paisley, he smiled warmly. "Hungry? Leo and the others packed this for you." He then feigned surprise at seeing Dominick. "Oh, Mr. Ex is here too? Care to join us?" He might as well have been Paisley's charming new boyfriend.