The hospital room was silent except for the faint beeping of the monitors beside Leah's bed. Amara sat by her daughter's side, holding her small hand, her eyes heavy with exhaustion but refusing to close. Damian sat quietly in the corner, his gaze fixed on Leah, but his thoughts drifting endlessly to the four years he had spent searching for Amara and the children.
Mia had been sitting with them, Leo's little hand in hers. She finally stood, her eyes moving from Leah to Amara. "Amara," she said gently, "we have to go now. It's late, and Leo has school tomorrow."
Amara looked up with tired eyes and nodded. "Okay, Mia... thank you."
Before Mia stepped out, she bent closer to Amara and lowered her voice. "I know you don't remember him, but don't make it harder than it already is for Damian. I purposely didn't want to tell you about him all this while, since you never remembered your past. But, Amara... he's been suffering too." With that, she squeezed Amara's shoulder and guided Leo toward the door.
Out in the corridor, Mia noticed Damian sitting on one of the hospital chairs. His face was pale, his hands clasped tightly together as though he was holding himself from falling apart. She stopped in front of him.
"Mr. Knight," she said softly, "I hope you can understand. Amara doesn't remember you. Please... just give her some time. Don't push her too hard."
Damian lifted his gaze to her, his eyes heavy with emotions he could no longer hide. "Thank you," he said quietly, his voice almost breaking. "Thank you for taking care of them all these years."
Leo stared at him curiously, clutching Mia's hand. His eyes lingered on Damian for a moment before he turned away, hiding his face against Mia's side. The boy didn't say a word, but Damian felt the rejection like a knife in his chest. He forced a small smile and nodded at Mia before she finally walked away with Leo.
When Damian entered the ward again, Amara was still seated beside Leah, stroking her daughter's hair. She looked up when he came in, her face unreadable.
"I'm sorry," Damian began, his voice quiet but steady. "I know all of this is too much for you, Amara. I can't imagine how shocking it must feel. But believe me, I didn't come here to take anything away from you. I came because... for the past four years, I've been searching for you every single day." His voice cracked, but he pushed on. "I've lived without you, without our children, and it nearly destroyed me. Please believe me when I say I will wait-for you, for the children. I won't force you into anything, but at least allow me to be a father to them. Let me take care of their needs, if nothing else. I beg you."
Amara stayed silent, her eyes focused on Leah. But deep inside, she felt a strange tug in her heart. Why do I pity him? Why does his voice feel so familiar? And why do I believe everything he just said? The thoughts tormented her until her eyelids grew too heavy, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep with her head resting on the edge of Leah's bed.
Damian stood watching her, his heart swelling painfully. He walked closer, removed his jacket, and gently covered her shoulders with it. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his eyes soft with longing, before moving back to the chair.
Two hours later, he was on the phone with one of his men, whispering instructions, when he heard a soft voice.
"Who are you?"
Damian froze. He turned around quickly and found Leah sitting up, her big eyes blinking at him. She looked so much like Amara-fragile yet beautiful.
"Are you my dad?" she asked again, her voice trembling.
Damian swallowed hard, tears rushing to his eyes. He nodded. "Yes, baby... I am your dad."
Leah's lips trembled. "Are you really my dad?"
"Yes," Damian whispered, his voice breaking. He moved closer. "Are you feeling okay now, baby?"
Leah suddenly burst into tears. "Are you really my dad? Where have you been all this while?" Her little voice shook the quiet room.
Her cries woke Amara, who lifted her head, confused. "Baby?" she asked.
"Mom," Leah sobbed, "he's my dad, right? He looks just like Leo."
Amara's chest tightened painfully. She stared at Damian, then at her daughter, and whispered, "Yes, baby. He's your dad."
Leah looked back at Damian, her tears streaming. "Can you hug me, Daddy?"
Damian couldn't hold back anymore. He rushed to her side, pulling her into his arms. His tears fell freely as he kissed her hair, whispering, "Daddy is so sorry. So, so sorry. I've been looking for you for so long. I never stopped."
Leah clung to him tightly, refusing to let go. "Don't leave me again, Daddy. Please don't."
"I won't, baby. I promise."
Amara sat quietly, her heart twisting with emotions she couldn't explain. Seeing her daughter so happy in Damian's arms hurt, but at the same time, it gave her a strange comfort.
When Leah finally calmed, Damian wiped her tears and tucked her back gently. "Don't cry anymore, princess. Daddy is here now."
Leah nodded and smiled faintly, then looked at her mom. "Mom, please don't let Daddy leave again."
Amara blinked back her own tears and nodded. "Okay, baby."
"I'll get you something to eat," Damian said, standing. "Stay with her, Amara. I'll be right back."
By morning, the doctor checked Leah and confirmed she was doing much better. "She can be discharged at noon," the doctor said kindly.
"Thank you, doctor," Amara replied with relief.
She quickly excused herself to go and settle the hospital bills, but at the cashier's desk, the nurse smiled at her. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but your husband already cleared everything."
Amara froze. "My husband?"
"Yes," the nurse giggled, pointing back toward the ward. "You're so lucky to marry such a handsome man. Do you know he's one of the richest men in the country? And yet he's so humble, staying here with his daughter all night." The nurses whispered and gossiped, making Amara's face flush hot.
She returned to the room to see Leah sitting on Damian's lap, giggling as she played with his hair. He let her tug at it gently, his face soft with joy.
"Leah, stop that," Amara scolded lightly.
"No!" Leah giggled, shaking her head.
Damian chuckled but quickly set her down on the bed. "Don't say no to your mom, princess. Okay?"
Leah pouted but nodded. "Is that a promise?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, Daddy. I promise," she said sweetly.
"That's my angel," Damian whispered, kissing her cheek.
Hours later, Damian's driver arrived to pick them up. Amara called Mia as they left. "We're on our way home. Are you back already?"
"Yes," Mia replied, "we just got home."
When they arrived, Leo came running out of the house, his face lighting up when he saw his mom. "Mom! I missed you!" He hugged her tightly, then looked at his sister. "Leah!" He grinned, but when he noticed she was holding Damian's hand, his expression changed.
"Leah," Leo said seriously, "won't you hug me?"
"Not until you say hi to Daddy," Leah shot back, holding Damian's hand even tighter.
"No!" Leo shouted and ran inside.
Mia laughed softly from the doorway. "Please, Mr. Knight, come in."
Damian smiled faintly, though his heart ached at Leo's rejection. He stepped into the house, knowing the road to winning his son's trust would be long and difficult.
But for the first time in four years, he was under the same roof with his family. And he silently vowed he would never let them go again.
---