Chapter 20

Dominic

Dominic was surprised when he found out that Nova had a daughter the same age as Aria.

The exact same age.

As in… born on the very same day.

When he learned this information, all of the alarm bells in his head went off. Dominic immediately recalled seeing a dark-haired girl standing on Nova’s front step from afar when he first picked her up for work.

He also recalled a familiar name on the list of those who had given birth at the same hospital and the same day Aria was born.

Nova.

“Huh,” Dominic said slowly, carefully. “That’s quite the coincidence.”

Nova smiled faintly. “It is. I think that’s why I feel such a connection to Aria—she’s the exact same age as my little girl, so they act similarly. My sister’s daughter was born that day, too. There are so many coincidences in the world, aren’t there?”

“Mhm. Sure are.” Dominic took a moment to study Nova’s face. She didn’t seem to have any idea that there might be more to her “connection” with Aria than she thought.

But he wasn’t about to mention his suspicions—not until he was certain that was the case. For all he knew, it really was just that. A coincidence and nothing more.

“Well?” Nova shifted from foot to foot. “Is it alright if I take that day off? I know I told Aria I would be there for her birthday, but my daughter is really upset and doesn’t want to share her party…”

Dominic didn’t hesitate. “Of course you can take the day off. You should be there for your own daughter’s birthday. I understand why she might not want to share her birthday, especially if she’s already sharing it with her cousin.”

Nova let out a little breath of relief. Dominic tried not to notice the way it made one of those red curls fly up in front of her face.

“Thank you,” she said, but then frowned. “Are you sure Aria won’t mind? I’d hate to disappoint her.”

“She’ll understand. I’ll talk to her.”

The nanny looked a little sad, but also relieved. “Thank you.”

Her voice was softer now, and as she looked up at him through her lashes, those green eyes almost shimmering in the morning sunlight, Dominic couldn’t bring himself to remain angry with her about her ex-husband showing up at his home.

Something about hearing her voice made Dominic’s wolf push forward with excitement.

“Of course,” he said, nodding. Before he could stare too long, he turned and made his way back to the house.

…

Aria’s seventh birthday arrived all too soon.

It felt like just yesterday that she had been born. If Dominic shut his eyes, he could still feel her squirming little body bundled up in his arms, could still hear her soft cries and coos.

He missed those days more than he thought he would, even if the pain of his wife’s death had been far more raw and painful back then.

“Our little girl is seven today,” Dominic whispered to the ceiling as he laid in bed that morning. “You’d be proud of her, even if she’s not biologically ours. She still turned out like you, somehow.”

Of course there was no answer. There never was. Dominic could hardly even recall the sound of his wife’s voice; with each passing year, it faded further and further away.

Maybe that was why he held onto the sound of Aria’s first cries with such ferocity. Because, at the time, he’d thought that they were the one thing connecting him to his late wife. As if, through Aria’s voice, he could hear his mate calling his name.

But he hadn’t known then that Aria wasn’t really theirs.

Dominic was still lying in bed when he heard a soft knock at the door. “Come in,” he called out, knowing who it was without even having to see. A moment later, the door creaked open and soft footsteps padded across the floor.

“Happy birthday, princess.” Dominic lifted the covers, making room for Aria. She clambered into bed with him, bringing along her stuffed bear that had seen better days.

Dominic had considered getting her a new one, but he knew she would always prefer this one. She’d had it since she was a baby.

Aria nuzzled down into the covers with him and curled up in the crook of his arm.

“Daddy?” she asked. “When is Miss Nova coming?”

Dominic’s heart clenched slightly. “She’s not coming today.”

Aria sat bolt upright. “Huh?”

“She took the day off,” Dominic said as gently as he could. “Today is her daughter’s birthday, too.”

“Oh.” Aria stared down at her lap, clearly disappointed but not wanting to be rude. But Dominic could still see the way her lower lip pushed out slightly in a pout, her green eyes starting to water.

She really did look like Nova, Dominic thought. The same green eyes, the same red hair, the same freckles across her nose.

Was it possible that somehow, by some random chance of fate, his daughter had been swapped with the daughter of the very woman he had hired as a nanny?

For now, he pushed those thoughts away. Today wasn’t about investigating. It was his daughter’s birthday.

“We can have fun on our own, though,” Dominic offered. “Maybe we can have a picnic in the garden. And Chef Francois said he’ll bake you a yummy cake.”

Aria sighed. “That sounds nice, but… I like Miss Nova’s cooking better.”

Truthfully, Dominic liked her cooking better, too. He swore he could still taste that last meal on his tongue. The flavors, the way it had made his wolf feel… He hadn’t eaten anything like that since his wife was alive.

“It tastes extra delicious because it was made with love,” she used to say. Dominic still believed her, even now.

Although, surely Nova was just a good cook because of her training in the past.

“What is Miss Nova doing today with her daughter?” Aria suddenly asked.

Dominic paused, trying to recall, then said, “I think they’re going to the amusement park.”

Aria’s eyes lit up. “Can we go to the amusement park, too? Maybe we’ll see them there! Pleaseeee?” She clasped her little hands together, making big puppy dog eyes.

Dominic sighed, knowing that he had officially lost the battle before it had even begun. No matter how hard he tried, he had never been able to say no when Aria pulled that face. It was how he had been convinced to hire Nova.

“Alright,” he said, sitting up and running a hand through his hair. “Go get dressed. And wear something light—it’s supposed to be hot today.”

“I’ll wear my favorite yellow dress!” Aria shouted, already scampering out of the room. “I bet Miss Nova’s daughter will think it’s pretty, and then we’ll be friends!”

As his daughter disappeared, her little voice fading down the hall, Dominic shook his head good-naturedly.

Aria really did love Nova, didn’t she?

After a decadent breakfast of waffles with fruit and chocolate syrup—although Dominic mostly just nursed his coffee the whole time—Dominic and Aria walked through the amusement park gates.

The air smelled like an intoxicating blend of powdered sugar, sweat, and cotton candy. Families ran back and forth, children tugging on tired parents’ hands. A man in a clown costume walked around on stilts while a girl in a pinwheel hat made elaborate balloon animals.

All the noise and movement was a little overwhelming for Dominic, who typically preferred more solitary ventures during his leisure time, but Aria was practically vibrating with excitement.

She’d gotten a lot more outgoing since Nova had come into their lives; just a month ago, she might have been afraid of all the noise and people.

“Look, Daddy!” Aria shouted, tugging Dominic’s hand and pointing up at the massive spinning wheel up ahead. “The ferris wheel! Can we go there first?”

“Sure, princess.” Dominic let Aria lead him toward the waiting area, where he bought two tickets and stepped behind the last person in line.

Suddenly, a familiar scent hit him like a brick wall.

Dominic’s eyes widened, and he turned to see a familiar little face standing behind him. The same little girl who he had caught trespassing the other day.

The little girl gasped and ran off, hiding behind the legs of a woman in a blue dress.