Chapter 223

Serena woke, the anesthesia fading. Her wound throbbed. Paisley soothed her until dawn, the pain a dull ache now, as long as it wasn't disturbed. Paisley fed her breakfast, brought early by Maria. Serena smiled with each bite, her pale face brightening.

"Why so happy?" Paisley asked, offering another spoonful.

Serena swallowed. "Seeing Mom feels so good."

The words struck Paisley. Her hand trembled. "Rena, I promise, I'll never leave you like that again." She'd almost lost her.

"Okay," Serena replied, her smile radiant.

A knock. Maria opened the door to Dominick, a large box in his hands.

"I just wanted to see Serena," he said softly.

Maria glanced at Paisley. "Paisy."

Paisley knew. She set down the bowl, wiped Serena's mouth, and approached the door. Dominick's eyes held a desperate plea. "Paisy, just let me see her. I won't tell her the truth until she accepts me."

Serena's voice cut through Paisley's hesitation. "Mom, who is it? Are they here for me?"

Dominick's expression softened. "Please, Paisy."

Paisley sighed. "Fine. But remember your promise."

Dominick hurried inside. Seeing Serena, pale and wide-eyed, his own eyes welled. He remembered her, tiny, hiding behind a tree at Sonny's kindergarten, scared but defiant. He'd planted a seed of fear then. Now, how could he uproot it?

Serena's curiosity piqued. The voice was male. "Mom, is it Max?" Disappointment flickered in her eyes. "It's not Max?"

Dominick's heart ached. Forcing a smile, he said, "Rena, it's me. I brought you a toy."

He'd chosen blindly, relying on memory of Grayson's toys.

Serena eyed the box, her face scrunching. "Mom, can I not take it?"

Dominick was stunned. Paisley's look was cryptic. "Dominick, she's three. You bought her a thousand-piece Lego set?"

Dominick froze. "But Sonny played with it the longest." Grayson still did, actually. Surely he'd like it.