CHAPTER 3: The Midnight Visitor

Outside, the world was blanketed in a heavy, freezing white.

After finally succeeding in wrestling Annie into her winter gear, Alec held his daughter’s small hand tightly as they walked down the snowy pathway. Alec was weighed down, carrying heavy bags of groceries and a few more festive Christmas decorations. Annie trudged happily beside him, completely content as she happily munched on a fresh donut.

As they passed a group of local women standing near a storefront, hushed, giggling whispers drifted through the cold air.

"Oh my gosh, look at him... what a handsome and dashing young man," one whispered secretly.

"But he already has a daughter," another chimed in, leaning closer.

"Yeah, but it looks like he's a single father," a third joined the gossip. "I wonder if he needs a wife, haha! I could totally be it."

"I know, right?" They all giggled together, their breath clouding in the freezing air.

"Shush, he's passing right now!"

Alec marched right past them, his jaw tight as he ignored the attention. Annie looked up, her boots crunching in the snow. "Daddy, why didn't we use the car?"

"Because it's too snowy out today, sweetheart. And our destination isn't that far," Alec replied, his eyes scanning the streets, his instincts still on high alert.

Annie pulled on his arm, whispering loudly, "Daddy, those ladies are staring."

"Just ignore them, Annie."

Once they safely returned to the warmth of their home, the anxiety of the outside world melted away for a brief moment. Together, they began to decorate the house properly, hanging tinsel and lights. They baked sweet, warm cookies and prepared traditional Christmas dishes, the rich scents filling the entire house.

To top it all off, Alec dressed up in a big red Santa costume, while Annie wore a cute little elf outfit. The living room echoed with their shared laughter as they played around, singing their absolute favorite Christmas songs on the karaoke machine completely off-key.

But as the night wore on, the clock kept ticking. The heavy countdown to Christmas Eve officially began.

5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

Right as the clock struck midnight, Annie’s eyes grew heavy, her small body finally getting sleepy from all the excitement.

Ding-dong.

The sudden, sharp chime of the doorbell rang through the quiet house. Alec froze. His breath caught in his throat. Still dressed in his clumsy Santa costume, he ran to get the door, a heavy, suffocating dread sinking into his chest with every step.

He gripped the handle and pulled the door open.

The air instantly left Alec's lungs.

Standing on his porch was Dominic. He looked absolutely nothing like a man who had just spent a year behind cold iron bars. He wore a pristine, impeccably tailored designer outfit, looking drop-dead gorgeous, hot, and handsome as usual. The freezing wind ruffled his dark hair, but he didn't even seem to feel the cold.

In his leather-gloved hands, Dominic casually held a massive, elegant bouquet of flowers and a luxury box of chocolates.

His dark eyes locked onto Alec's stunned face, a slow, dangerously beautiful smirk spreading across his lips.

"Darling," Dominic murmured, his deep voice smooth and dripping with intoxicating warmth. "Merry Christmas."

The sheer, paralyzing shock on Alec's face was completely visible. The color drained from his skin, his heart hammering violently against his ribs like a trapped bird.

"H-how..." Alec's voice cracked as he stepped back, his hands shaking beneath his red suit. He stammers, "How did you find me?"