Dominic’s fingers withdrew a folded piece of thick paper from the inner lining of his tailored vest. He smoothed it out against the polished dark quartz of the kitchen island.

That evening, after the wedding guests had departed and Lily was fast asleep in her bed, my mother asked to see Dominic and me in her room one last time.

The room was dim, lit only by a small bedside lamp. Margaret lay propped up against her pillows, her breathing slow and shallow, but her eyes bright with a profound, beautiful clarity.

"Come sit with me," she whispered.

Dominic and I sat on the two chairs beside her bed. I reached out to take my mother's hand, while Dominic respectfully placed his hand on top of ours.

"I know," Margaret said softly, looking directly at Dominic.

I froze. "Mom... know what?"

"I know this was a setup," Margaret murmured, a gentle, sad smile touching her pale lips. "I know my little granddaughter asked you to be her mommy's boyfriend because she thought her mama was sad."

I felt tears instantly sting my eyes. "Mom... I’m so sorry... we didn't mean to lie to you—"

"Shh, my sweet child," Margaret interrupted, squeezing my fingers weakly. "You didn't lie to me. You gave me the greatest gift a mother could ask for."

She looked up at Dominic, her gray eyes searching his face with deep tenderness.

"You brought a man into this house who stood up to your father when he was wrong," Margaret whispered. "A man who defended your dignity against the coward who abandoned you. A man who sat on a garden bench for twenty minutes letting a three-year-old paint his nails pink."

Dominic looked down, a rare, genuine flush of emotion touching his sharp cheekbones.

"Dominic," Margaret said, her voice dropping to a fragile whisper. "You told me you wouldn't let anyone hurt her again. Was that part of the lie?"

Dominic lifted his head. He looked at my mother, and then he turned his dark gray eyes to mine. The quiet, distant billionaire was completely gone; in his eyes burned a raw, fierce truth that made my heart stop.

"No, Mrs. Carter," Dominic said, his voice ringing with absolute certainty. "That was the only real thing I’ve said all week."

Margaret closed her eyes, a look of ultimate peace washing over her face. "Then I can rest easy," she murmured softly. "I love you, Sophia."