Mia had already prepared dinner before they arrived. The aroma of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and freshly baked bread filled the air, spreading warmth through the house. The dishes were already set on the dining table, neatly arranged with glasses of juice and bowls of salad.
Damian walked in behind Amara and the children, his sharp eyes scanning the space. Not bad, he thought quietly, taking in how organized and homey the place felt. It wasn't the mansion he was used to, but there was something peaceful about this house-a kind of peace he hadn't felt in years.
They all settled at the dining table. Mia ushered the children into their seats while Amara gently urged Leo and Leah to start eating. The kids dug into their plates, and even Mia joined them, laughing as she teased Leah for eating too quickly. Everyone was eating-everyone except Damian. He sat watching his children with quiet intensity, almost as if memorizing the moment. The way Leah giggled, the way Leo frowned when his vegetables were too many on the plate-it was all new to him, and his heart clenched knowing he had missed out on years of these little details.
Suddenly, Leah looked at her brother. "Leo, you have to be nice to Dad," she scolded gently. "If not, I'll stop talking to you."
Leo rolled his eyes, dropping his fork. "Fine. I will," he muttered reluctantly, though his tone showed he wasn't completely ready to give in.
Before Amara could react, there was a knock at the door. The sound echoed across the dining room, startling her.
Mia frowned and looked at Amara. "Are you expecting anyone?"
Amara shook her head. "No." She stood up quickly, wiping her hands with a napkin as she made her way to the door.
When she opened it, she froze in shock. "Nathaniel?" she breathed, eyes widening in surprise.
He stood there with a warm smile, dressed neatly as always. "Amara," he greeted, his voice carrying that familiar charm that once brought her comfort.
A rush of relief and joy washed over her face as she stepped forward and hugged him. "I can't believe it-it's really you!"
"Of course, it's me," Nathaniel chuckled softly. "You didn't think I'd stay away forever, did you?"
"Please, come in," Amara said, her tone filled with excitement. She led him inside, straight to the dining table where everyone else sat.
Mia and Damian both looked up. The atmosphere shifted instantly. Damian's jaw tightened the moment he saw Nathaniel, but he stayed quiet. Leah and Leo blinked .
Amara quickly busied herself, fetching Nathaniel a plate. She began serving him food-chicken, mashed potatoes, and salad-before setting the plate down in front of him.
Mia broke the silence with a small smile. "Nathaniel... it's been a while."
"Yes, it has," Nathaniel replied, settling into his chair comfortably. His gaze lingered on Amara longer than necessary.
Mia cleared her throat and turned to Damian. "This is Damian, Amara's husband-before she lost her memory. They were married. I know it should have been Amara introducing you both, but since she doesn't remember yet, I thought it'd be better to make things clear." She looked directly at Damian. "I hope you're not annoyed?"
Damian gave a tight smile, though his eyes remained guarded. He didn't answer immediately, but Amara felt compelled to fill the silence.
"This... this actually feels awkward," she began nervously, glancing between the two men. "I don't even know-"
"It's fine," Damian cut her off smoothly, his tone calm but firm. "Mia has already introduced us. That's enough. He should know we're a couple, and these are our children. I can only hope, Amara, that one day you'll regain your memory. I'll wait as long as it takes." His last words were soft but heavy, spoken just loud enough for Leah and Leo to hear.
The table fell silent. A few moments later, Damian excused himself, pulling out his phone as he stepped away to take a call.
As Damian stepped out to take his call, Nathaniel leaned closer toward Amara, his voice lowering to something only she could hear.
"Amara, I've really missed you," he confessed, his eyes searching her face. "Why don't you pick up your calls anymore?"
Amara hesitated, fiddling with her fork. "I've just been... busy," she admitted softly. "Work, the children-it's been overwhelming."
"You know I could help," Nathaniel pressed, his tone persuasive. "I told you before, I can get you a decent job, something that pays well, and I could support the kids too. You don't have to carry all this on your own."
Before Amara could respond, Damian's voice rang out from behind. His call had ended sooner than expected, and he had clearly heard enough.
"That won't be necessary," Damian said firmly as he walked back into the dining room. His presence was commanding, his gaze sharp. "They are my responsibility."
Nathaniel looked up at him, unfazed, but his smile faltered slightly. "I was only offering to help."
"And I said it won't be necessary," Damian repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.
By then, Leah and Leo had finished eating. Damian turned toward Mia, ignoring Amara this time. "Where are their rooms?"
"Upstairs, by the lift," Mia replied, slightly caught off guard by his sudden directness. "Second door to the left."
"Good." Damian bent down, scooping Leah into his arms with surprising gentleness. "Come on, princess."
Leah giggled and clung to his neck. To everyone's surprise, Leo, who had been resistant all evening, reached out and held Damian's free hand. The gesture was small but undeniable. Without another word, Damian carried Leah while holding Leo's hand, guiding both children upstairs.
The sight made Amara's chest tighten with conflicting emotions.
As soon as they were out of sight, Mia turned sharply toward Amara and Nathaniel. "I think you're crossing boundaries," she said bluntly, her tone sharper than usual. She began collecting the empty plates, carrying them toward the kitchen without waiting for a reply.
Amara sighed heavily and turned back to Nathaniel. "Please... you should go," she whispered.
Nathaniel frowned. "Amara, are you even listening to yourself? Four years he was gone-four years. And now he shows up claiming you and the kids as his? That's insane. Don't just accept it so easily."
"I'll figure this out," Amara replied, her voice steady but tired. "Just trust me on this, Nathaniel. Please."
His jaw clenched, but after a long pause, he nodded reluctantly. "Alright. But don't forget, I've been here when he wasn't." With that, he stood, gave her one last lingering look, and left the house.
Upstairs, Damian was with the children. He had already bathed them, changed them into their nightwear, and tucked them into bed. He sat on the edge of the mattress, stroking Leah's hair as she yawned sleepily.
"Daddy," Leah murmured, "are you angry with Mom because of Mr. Nathaniel?"
Damian shook his head gently, forcing a smile. "No, baby. Daddy's not angry. You just need to sleep now, alright?"
Leo shifted under his blanket, frowning. "Mr. Nathaniel has always been with Mom. I don't like him." With that, he pulled the pillow over his head, signaling he didn't want to talk anymore.
Damian sat with them a while longer, his heart aching at how much the children had endured. Slowly, they both drifted off to sleep.
Downstairs, Amara and Mia sat facing each other in the quiet living room.
"I told you," Mia said firmly, her eyes piercing. "That man-Damian-is your husband. You should at least respect him, even if he feels like a stranger right now. One day, you'll regret treating him this way."
"Why are you talking like this, Mia?" Amara asked, frustration creeping into her voice. "Nathaniel is just my friend. And besides, I've already accepted Damian as my husband-because he's the father of my kids. Stop twisting things."
"I'm not twisting anything," Mia shot back. "But introducing Nathaniel into this situation the way you did-it wasn't right."
"I'm done with this talk," Amara muttered, standing as if to end the conversation.
At that moment, Damian walked downstairs, his expression unreadable. "Mia, the children are asleep," he said simply. Without another word, he strode past them and out of the room.
Mia rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath as she stood. "Stubborn," she grumbled before heading to her room.
"Come on, Mia, why are you mad at me?" Amara called after her, but there was no response. Amara sank onto the couch, burying her face in her hands. "Oh God, this is so confusing," she whispered.
Across town, Nathaniel sat in his private study, his mood dark and simmering. He picked up his phone and dialed one of his trusted men.
"Check the background of Damian Knight," he ordered coldly. "And Amara too. I want to know if they were truly married, everything about them. Do it quietly."
"Yes, boss," the man replied before the call ended.
Nathaniel leaned back in his chair, his expression hardening. "I will never let him take Amara away from me," he muttered into the silence of his room.