Chapter 4 - The Cottage by the Sea
The drive from the Bellmore estate to Cape May took two hours. Dominic drove himself, pushing his black sports sedan through the winding coastal roads under the moonlight.
His mind was a storm.
For years, Dominic had lived in a world where power was defined by force, money, and leverage. His marriage to Vanessa Sterling was supposed to be a strategic move—a transaction to solidify his family’s dominance on the Eastern Seaboard. He had convinced himself that emotional warmth was a luxury he couldn't afford in his line of work.
But seeing his home reduced to a cold, dysfunctional husk without Ivy had shattered that illusion.
He recalled every brief interaction he had ever had with her. The quiet way she placed his espresso on his desk just before a hard meeting. The gentle, reassuring smile she gave him when he returned home exhausted at 2:00 AM. The way her full, graceful figure moved through the estate, bringing order and peace wherever she went.
He had taken her for granted. He had allowed a snake like Vanessa into his sanctuary, and Ivy had paid the price.
At 11:30 PM, Dominic pulled up to a small, weathered wooden cottage near the edge of the ocean. Light spilled softly from the front porch window.
He stepped out of the car, the cool sea breeze whipping against his coat. He walked up the porch steps and knocked gently on the door.
A moment later, the door creaked open.
Ivy stood on the threshold.
Dominic’s breath caught in his throat.
She was wearing a thick, oversized cream knitted sweater and dark jeans. Her long, flowing hair was gone—replaced by a sharp, chin-length bob that revealed the elegant line of her neck and cheekbones. Without the baggy uniform apron, her stunning, voluptuous curves were undeniable.
She looked breathtaking. Modern, fierce, and entirely transformed.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The sound of waves crashing against the beach filled the silence between them.
"Mr. Bellmore," Ivy said quietly, her voice smooth and composed. "What are you doing here?"
"Ivy," Dominic said, his voice surprisingly rough with emotion. He reached out an instinctive hand, stopping just short of touching her newly cut hair. "I... I just returned from Chicago. Margaret told me what happened."
Ivy looked at him calmly. She didn't cry. She didn't look bitter.
"I see," she replied gently. "I apologize if my sudden absence caused operational delays at the estate."
"Operational delays?" Dominic stepped closer, his dark eyes searching hers. "Ivy, Vanessa assaulted you. She humiliated you in front of my staff. And you’re apologizing to me about operational delays?"
"I am a senior employee, Mr. Bellmore," Ivy said, stepping back slightly to invite him inside out of the cold. "My job was to maintain order. I failed to de-escalate the situation with your fiancée."
Dominic stepped into the warm, tea-scented living room. He turned to face her, his chest tightening.
"She is not my fiancée anymore," Dominic said firmly. "I have locked her in her suite. Tomorrow morning, she will be escorted off my property, and I am severing all business ties with the Sterling family."
Ivy raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "Severing ties? Mr. Bellmore, the Sterling family controls the political backing for your northern shipping routes. Breaking that contract will cause you massive financial and logistical problems."
Dominic took two steps toward her, closing the distance between them until he was standing right in front of her. He looked down into her deep brown eyes.
"I don't care about the shipping routes, Ivy," he said, his voice thick with raw honesty. "When I walked into that house tonight, it felt dead. The staff was silent. The light was gone. And when Margaret told me what she did to you... what she did to your hair..."
He slowly raised his hand. This time, he didn't stop. His warm, calloused fingers gently brushed against the soft strands of her chin-length hair.
Ivy shivered slightly at his touch, her breath hitching.
"Your grandmother was right," Dominic whispered, his eyes locked onto hers. "'Hair grows because hope grows.' Vanessa thought she was destroying your dignity, Ivy. But looking at you right now... you look more powerful than she could ever dream of being."
Ivy felt a lump form in her throat. For four years, she had buried her feelings for this powerful, guarded man, convincing herself she was invisible to him. Hearing him say these words shattered the walls around her heart.
"Why did you really come here, Dominic?" she asked softly, using his first name for the very first time.
May you like
Dominic looked at her, his expression softening into a vulnerability he had never shown another living soul.
"Because I realized I was running a empire without a heart," he said softly. "I came to ask for your forgiveness. And I came to ask you to come back... not as my maid. Never as my maid again."
