Chapter 26
Leaving school, Dominick didn't go to the office. Instead, he took Grayson to Rosemont Haven, their old marital home. He hadn't been back since the divorce, four years ago. Grayson, living with his grandmother, had only faint memories of the place.
Lily, the housekeeper Paisley had hired, nearly jumped when they arrived. "Mr. Vanderbilt! What brings you here?" she asked, wringing her hands.
"Just a look around," Dominick murmured, weary.
Grayson, frowning, trailed behind. "Dad, what are we doing here? It's empty and cold." He wanted to return to his grandmother and sisters at Vanderbilt Manor.
"Are you cold, Mr. Vanderbilt?" Lily offered, anxious to please.
Grayson ignored her, pouting on the sofa. "Dad, when are we going home?"
"This is our home," Dominick said flatly, handing Grayson to Lily.
He went upstairs, the master bedroom hitting him like a punch. Paisley's clothes and jewelry remained untouched in the closet; she'd left nothing behind. A bitter laugh escaped him. No wedding photos, no casual snapshots – just the emptiness of their hasty marriage during his work-obsessed early years as company head.
Sitting on the bed, the weight of the past crashed down. A knock interrupted him. Lily entered hesitantly. "Mr. Vanderbilt's asleep. I took him to his old room."
"Hmm," Dominick acknowledged.
"Will you be staying tonight? Shall I prepare breakfast?"
"Yeah," he said, then paused. "Can you make rainbow pasta?"
Lily froze. "The rainbow pasta Ms. Sutton used to make...?"
Dominick nodded.
Lily explained, "Sir, I can't. It wasn't just pasta; Ms. Sutton used fresh vegetable juices and incredibly complex toppings. She even made the broth from scratch! It took hours, sometimes all night. She did it so you and Mr. Vanderbilt could have fresh pasta for breakfast."
Dominick was stunned. He hadn't realized the effort Paisley had put into something as simple as pasta.
After Lily left, Dominick stared at the ceiling. For the first time in years, he felt a crack inside him, a missing piece of his heart.