Dominic rose with a warm smile, pulling out the chair for Amy in a gesture of old-fashioned courtesy.

"You're perfectly on time—I was just early."

Amy had never been in a real relationship before. The man she'd spent the most time with had been Benjamin Carter.

But they'd known each other since childhood, and their meals together had always been casual, devoid of any formalities.

After marrying Alexander, Amy rarely dined out. And on those rare occasions, Alexander had never once pulled out a chair for her.

Now, faced with Dominic's unexpected chivalry, she found herself momentarily flustered.

She signaled the waiter and turned to Dominic with a smile. "Order whatever you like—don't hold back. This is my treat."

Dominic's smile was soft, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "All right, thank you."

A few tables away, two young women watched the exchange with visible disappointment.

"So he's taken... I never even had a chance," one muttered.

"His girlfriend is stunning, too. They look like they belong together," the other sighed.

"Why are all the good ones already claimed?" the first girl groaned.

Amy couldn't help but chuckle at their hushed conversation.

She'd noticed them the moment she walked in. They'd been stealing glances at Dominic all evening, whispering encouragements to each other—"You go first," "No, you!"—clearly mustering the courage to approach him.

Amy's lashes lowered as she studied the man across from her, now perusing the menu.

If Alexander was the cold, distant moon, then Dominic was the warmth of a spring morning—gentle, comforting, effortlessly pleasant.

After selecting a few dishes, Dominic looked up. "I'm done ordering."

Amy blinked in surprise at the dishes he'd chosen. "You like those too?"

Dominic's smile deepened. "Always. Whenever Alex, Nathan, and I come here, these are our usual picks. Wait—you like them as well?"

Amy nodded, her expression brightening. "What a coincidence! They're all my favorites."

A flicker of something unreadable passed through Dominic's eyes. "Funny, I don't recall you ever ordering them when we went out before. I always assumed you preferred lighter fare."

Amy's smile dimmed slightly as memories from before the divorce resurfaced.

"Back then, I just went along with whatever Alexander and Liam wanted. They both have sensitive stomachs, so I always chose bland dishes for their sake."

In that moment, the rightness of her decision to leave Alexander settled over her with renewed clarity.

At least now, she could eat what she pleased, do as she wished, without being trapped in a life that revolved solely around her son's needs and her husband's comfort.

Since becoming a mother, she'd nearly forgotten what it felt like to consider her own desires.

Dominic's gaze was steady, deep as the ocean, as he studied her. "Celeste, are you truly able to let go of Liam?"

Her fingers tightened around her water glass almost reflexively. She lowered her lashes, shielding her thoughts.

"He'll probably be happier without me smothering him all the time."

Dominic exhaled softly. "Celeste, Liam is still young. He needs guidance. Alex is always buried in work and rarely has time for him. And Victoria..."

He hesitated, his voice growing heavier.

"She's constantly taking him out, keeping him up late. Just last night, he stayed out so late he ended up sleeping at her place."