Chapter 174: The baby
Dominic released him instantly, confusion crossing his face, but only momentarily.
The next second, he gave him a cold and hard look. "Really? He killed the former king. And now, he is looking for me. It’s clear as day. He wants me dead."
The man took a deep breath to calm himself. "I have been loyal to Mathius for years. I worked closely with him. Nothing escapes my eyes. It’s not him. His close allies are plotting the whole thing and pinning the blame on him."
Dominic was still skeptical. He didn’t want to believe a word he said.
"It’s true that there were some disagreements between Mathius and Alejandro back then. It was only territorial matters that they had resolved privately. But those who were looking for an opportunity to throw the most powerful men from the throne didn’t miss it."
After a bit of a pause, he added, "Marco was already angry with Alejandro for choosing you as his successor. It was easy to turn him against his own king. He didn’t hesitate to join hands with Victor and plot the assassination. But the mastermind is someone else."
"Who?" Dominic asked.
"Luke Bellini."
Dominic had his doubts that Luke might have plotted his accident. But he didn’t have any proof against him.
Hearing him take Luke’s name, his heart clenched in fury.
That man had kept him captive for two months and caused his separation from his beloved woman in the name of protecting them. He had made him believe that Mathius was against him.
All these days, he had been working for him as a puppet to destroy Mathius.
’Luke played with me.’
The realization burned him from within.
"Luke is very smart," the man continued. "He influenced other core members and made them believe that Mathius was using them, overshadowing them with his wealth and power. But the truth is, Mathius always treated them as his partners. He wanted the business to run smoothly. But Luke..."
He let out a deep sigh. "He is ambitious. He wants the power Mathius yields. He wants his position. So, he started plotting against him. It’s he who funded Victor, not Mathius."
Dominic felt as though a thunderbolt had struck him. It turned out that he had been helping the one who had killed Alejandro, destroyed his gang, and almost killed him. His blood boiled.
"Mathius knew his game, but he could do nothing," the man continued. "He had no proof. His men died one after another in accidents. His intel failed. His business deals were cancelled. And the core team members started questioning him. They no longer listen to him. The team is breaking. Luke is forming a new team under his leadership."
Dominic was aware of it. He had been helping him in this.
"If he succeeds in this, he will be unstoppable," the man said with growing anxiety. "He will destroy Mathius completely. He will kill you once his purpose is served."
He grabbed his hand. "You need to stop helping Luke. Or he will become the most powerful man in the world. No one can defeat him."
Dominic stared at him for a long moment, reflecting on his words.
"You need to help Mathius," the man said, his voice turned pleading. "In return, he will make you the king. You will become his most trusted ally. I’ll talk to him."
Dominic looked back at the man. "Alright, I’ll help him. But I need the protection of Mila and my child."
"Done."
"Everything will happen according to my plan. I don’t want any interference."
"Sure. Mathius won’t have a problem with that."
In the meantime, Dominic’s phone buzzed. He checked his phone and saw a message.
’Mila gave birth to a boy.’
At first, Dominic couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Then joy erupted within him.
"Mila gave birth to my son," he murmured, a wide smile appearing on his face.
The man on the sofa stiffened. "So that child in Dr. Mila’s womb is yours?"
Dominic glared at him. "Or else? Luke made Mila marry Max in the name of protecting her and the baby from Mathius. He played with all of us. And now, I’ll play with him."
He quirked his lips. He had already given Celeste the poison, and he was certain she had used it. Soon, its effect would be seen. Slowly and steadily, Luke’s health condition would deteriorate.
"I’ll call Mathius right now and fix a meeting for you."
"We can’t meet yet," Dominic said. "I’m going to meet Mila and my child."
He turned and left.
Behind him, the man quickly dialed Mathius. "Boss, Dominic is alive. And he is willing to help up."
Dominic arrived at the hospital in record time.
After making sure no one recognized him, he slipped into a doctor’s coat, pulled a surgical mask over the lower half of his face, and quietly entered Mila’s hospital room.
The room was silent.
Mila was asleep, exhaustion still evident on her pale face. Beside her, a tiny baby slept peacefully in the crib.
Dominic stopped in his tracks. For a long moment, he simply stared.
His heart trembled. An overwhelming rush of emotions crashed over him all at once.
He had become a father. His feet seemed to move on their own as he slowly approached the crib. Looking down at the tiny bundle wrapped in a soft blanket, his vision blurred.
A single tear slipped down his cheek.
"My son..." he whispered hoarsely.
Almost unconsciously, he reached out to touch him. But halfway there, his hand froze.
The baby looked impossibly small, so fragile.
Dominic suddenly became afraid that his calloused hands might accidentally hurt him. Slowly, he curled his trembling fingers into a fist before resting them against the edge of the crib.
He leaned forward, unable to take his eyes off the tiny face.
His son had a tiny nose, delicate lips, and thick dark hair. He was perfect.
Unable to resist any longer, Dominic carefully reached out again. This time, he gently brushed the back of one finger against the baby’s soft cheek.
The newborn stirred.
Dominic instantly pulled his hand back. His eyes widened.
"Waaah..." His loud cries filled the quiet room.
Dominic froze. Panic flashed across his face.
"What..." He looked around helplessly. "What do I do?"
The fearsome don who could face bullets without blinking now looked completely lost.
Hearing the baby’s cries, Mila slowly opened her eyes. She immediately noticed the tall figure standing beside the crib. Even without seeing his face, she recognized him instantly.
"Dominic..."
He turned around, looking more nervous than she had ever seen him. "The baby..."
He pointed helplessly toward the crib. "He is crying."
Mila couldn’t help smiling. "I’ve seen you fight dozens of armed men without flinching."
Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "And now you are afraid of holding one tiny baby?" She teased gently. "Your own son?"
Dominic looked back at the crying infant. "He... he is so tiny."
His voice was unusually hesitant. "I’m afraid I’ll hurt him."
Mila’s smile grew even warmer. "He is your son."
She spoke gently, encouraging him. "And right now, he needs his father."
She nodded toward the crib. "Go on. Pick him up. You can do it."
Dominic swallowed nervously. His hands, which had never trembled while pointing a gun at an enemy, were now shaking as he carefully slipped them beneath the baby’s tiny body.
He lifted the baby into his arms as though he were holding the most precious treasure in the world.
Almost immediately, the crying stopped.
The baby blinked sleepily before wrapping his tiny fingers around Dominic’s thumb.
Dominic stood frozen. His breathing caught. A bright smile slowly spread across his face.
"He... He stopped crying."
Mila smiled tenderly. "Of course, he did. He knows his father."
Dominic’s eyes immediately filled with tears. He lowered his head and gently kissed his son’s forehead.
"From today onward, your name is Cassian."
"Cassian," Mila softly repeated the name. A smile blossomed across her face. "I love it."
Dominic walked to the bedside without taking his eyes off their son. For years, he had buried every emotion deep inside himself. But today, he couldn’t hold back any longer.
He looked at Mila with eyes full of gratitude and love. "Thank you."
His voice cracked. "Thank you, my love, for giving me the greatest gift of my life."
He glanced down at the sleeping baby before looking back at her. "I swear... As long as I live, no one will ever hurt you or our son."
He gently kissed Mila’s forehead. "I’ll protect both of you even if it costs me my life."
