Chapter 16 Amelia
Seattle stretches before us, vibrant and unrelenting, much like the energy pulsing between Dominic and me. The city has become more than a backdrop to our story—it’s the foundation upon which we’ve rebuilt something fragile and rare.
Tonight, beneath the twinkling skyline, we celebrate.
The air buzzes with conversation and laughter as we step into the event hall, the grand yet understated venue packed with guests mingling over glasses of champagne.
This isn’t just any event—it’s a gala dedicated to the initiative Dominic worked tirelessly to bring to life, one that intertwines his corporate empire with the medical world I’ve devoted myself to.
We move through the room, shoulder to shoulder, his hand brushing against the small of my back—a silent reassurance, a promise that this is real.
We belong in this moment together.
Kate spots us first, her eyes flickering with knowing amusement as she approaches.
“Well, look at you two. Seattle’s favorite power couple.”
Dominic smirks. “Flattery will get you anywhere, Kate.”
She raises a brow. “Good. Then how about a donation to the hospital’s new technology wing?”
I stifle a laugh as Dominic chuckles, shaking his head. “You never miss an opportunity, do you?”
“Not when it involves a good cause and deep pockets,” she quips.
His fingers brush against mine, a silent question.
I squeeze his hand in return, our unspoken understanding solidifying.
Tonight isn’t just about a charitable venture—it’s a declaration that we are standing together in every possible way.
The evening unfolds in a blur of speeches and introductions, of moments where I catch Dominic watching me with something fierce in his gaze—something that speaks of devotion, of certainty.
I feel it too, the overwhelming understanding that this is no longer about circumstances forcing us together.
This is choice. This is ours.
Near the end of the night, Dominic takes the stage. A hush falls over the crowd as he speaks, his voice steady, magnetic.
“This initiative was never about a corporation seeking goodwill,” he begins, his gaze sweeping across the room. “It was about building something meaningful, something that could leave a lasting impact on the city that has shaped so much of my life.”
He pauses, then glances toward me.
My breath catches as his expression softens.
“It was also about realizing that true change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when we allow others to challenge us, to push us toward something greater.”
The meaning behind his words isn’t lost on me.
This isn’t just a speech about business philanthropy.
It’s about us.
After the event, we step onto the rooftop balcony, the cool night air wrapping around us.
Below, Seattle hums, alive and sprawling, but up here, it feels like we’ve carved out a space just for ourselves.
Dominic turns to me, his hands finding my waist, grounding me.
“You know,” he murmurs, “I spent so long trying to figure out who I was supposed to be. But with you, it’s the first time I’ve ever just... been.”
Emotion swells in my chest.
“You were never lost, Dominic. You just needed to stop running.”
His fingers tilt my chin up, his lips a breath away from mine.
“And I’m never running again.”
He kisses me then, slow and deep, a seal on everything we’ve fought for.
Seattle, our city, stands as witness.
We linger in the quiet space between our past and our future, the sounds of the city a hum beneath us.
Dominic pulls me closer, his breath warming my skin as he murmurs, “There’s something else.”
I tilt my head, studying him. “Something else?”
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a folded piece of paper, his fingers hesitating for a brief moment before handing it to me.
My heart stalls.
“I know it’s unexpected,” he admits, his voice laced with uncertainty, “but this isn’t just about timing. It’s about what’s right.”
My hands tremble slightly as I unfold the paper, my breath catching as I scan the words. It’s an itinerary—open-ended, no return date set, just a series of destinations. Attached is a handwritten note: No expectations. No deadlines. Just us.
“I don’t need an answer now,” he continues, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “But I need you to know that this—us—it’s not temporary. It’s something I want to choose, every day.”
Tears prick at my eyes as I exhale a shaky breath. “Dominic…”
He shakes his head, his grip steady. “No pressure. No obligations. Just something to remind you that wherever we go next, we go together.”
I press the paper gently against my heart before standing on my toes to place a soft, lingering kiss on his lips.
“I already know my answer.”
His eyes darken, his arms wrapping tighter around me. “Yeah?”
I nod. “But I want to decide the first destination when it’s just us. No schedules. No cameras. Just us.”
A slow smile spreads across his face, and he nods. “Then I can wait.”
The next morning, we wake up tangled in each other’s arms, sunlight slipping through the curtains, painting golden streaks across the room.
Dominic pulls me closer, his lips trailing over my temple.
“Good morning, doctor.”
I let out a soft laugh. “That’s more accurate.”
“Still,” he murmurs, brushing a kiss over my shoulder. “You know what I mean.”
The thought of more time with Dominic is no longer terrifying but exciting and what I want more than anything.
It feels inevitable, like something we’ve both been moving toward, piece by piece.
We spend the morning wrapped in lazy conversation and slow kisses, the kind of intimacy that feels like the start of something solid, unshakable.
The weight of expectations, of responsibilities, has shifted.
We are no longer defined by the world’s demands.
We define ourselves. By choice.
By the quiet certainty that this—us—is what we’ve both been waiting for all along.
I rest my head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart.
For the first time, our future feels entirely in our hands.
We’re ready to embrace it.
Together.