Ruby:
“Anna, sweetheart, what’s happening? Why are you so upset?” Damian asked, reaching out to gently touch his daughter’s trembling shoulder. His brows furrowed, and his eyes filled with worry as he searched her face for answers.
Tears streamed down Anna’s cheeks as she tried to compose herself, her voice shaking with emotion. “It’s nothing, Daddy,” she managed to choke out between sobs. “I just miss Mommy so much. I need her.”
Her words cut through the air like a knife, filled with raw emotion that tugged at my heartstrings, knowing I could never replace her mother, nor could she ever perceive me as such.
Soon, Damian’s own eyes welled up with unshed tears, and he wrapped his arms around Anna, pulling her into a comforting embrace, feeling utterly helpless in the face of her pain.
Feeling my gaze on him, his eyes met mine, and he gave me a nervous smile. I could sense he was struggling in this moment, unable to find the right words to comfort his daughter. It wasn’t long ago that he firmly stated that he wouldn’t resurrect his deceased mate. Yet, faced with his daughter’s emotional turmoil, I suspected he might relent and give in to her desires.
“Daddy, I need my mommy; it’s fucking time you keep your damn promise,” Anna sobbed, her voice breaking with desperation as she pushed her father away, her body trembling as she practically collapsed to the floor.
Wow!
Damian let out a frustrated hiss, irritation evident in his furrowed brow and clenched jaw as he gently chided her, “Anna, no swearing, remember?”
Yet despite his irritation, his tone softened as he reached out to console her, his vulnerability shining through in the concern etched across his face.
“Daddy, I need my mommy!” Anna’s voice pierced the air, her screams echoing with desperation. As I watched her pour her heart out, longing for her mother, a wave of confusion swept over me. My son had always been composed and mature, never showing such raw emotion. But what if he secretly longed for a father figure like Anna did, choosing to suppress his feelings to avoid disappointing me? How long could he keep up the facade?
“I’ve told you before, your mother needs time.” Damian’s voice quivered with uncertainty as he tried to comfort his daughter. His words filled my heart with doubt, and a pang of disappointment consumed me, shattering the foolish part of my heart that had held onto hope for us.
“Anna, sweetheart, what about your angel? She’s finally here with you. Didn’t you want that?” Damian murmured gently, his voice tinged with sadness. But Anna shook her head, her tears continuing to flow, as she whispered, “She’s not my mother.”
The open rejection stung.
Observing the interaction unfold stirred conflicting emotions within me. While I empathised with Anna’s longing for her mother, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in the air. It seemed inevitable that Damian would eventually give in to his daughter’s demands. Sadly, on my path, I wasn’t good emotionally with comforting children-take my own son, for example, whom I could barely make happy.
“Anna,” I began gently, moving closer to her and crouching down to her eye level.
“It’s okay to miss your mom. She loves you very much, and I’m sure she misses you too; no one can ever replace her,” I said softly, reaching out to brush a tear from Anna’s cheek. Her tear-filled eyes met mine, and my heart ached at the sight of her trembling lip. Her vulnerability was palpable, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness towards her.
“Leave me alone,” she whispered, fear evident in her eyes, her voice barely audible over the sound of her sniffles.
Undeterred, I reached out to gently brush away a tear from her cheek, offering her a soft smile. However, she pushed my hands away, avoiding my gaze, which made me sigh in resignation.
“I don’t plan on being your mother or taking her place if that’s what you think; I just want you to know that we can be friends if you want, and maybe your angel.” I murmured, my voice filled with compassion.
Friends?” she asked, her tone tinged with sadness.
“Yes, friends, Anna. Your dad and I are here for you. We’ll do everything we can to make things better, okay?” I reassured her. Anna nodded slowly, her grip tightening around my hand as she surprisingly sought solace in my touch. It felt strange, just like the first time, but it was oddly comforting.
I squeezed her hand reassuringly. While I couldn’t promise to be her friend forever, as one can never predict the future, I vowed silently to support her through whatever challenges lay ahead. Beside me, Damian’s eyes shimmered with gratitude and relief as he placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, sending shivers down my spine. It dawned on me that I might need to get used to being in their lives.
Thank you, Ruby,” he said quietly, his voice heavy with emotion. “For being here for us.”
I offered him a small smile, feeling a sense of awkwardness creeping over me. While his daughter might accept me as a friend, I couldn’t shake the uncertainty about whether my son would accept Damian.
I sensed his fear towards Damian, and to complicate matters, I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to pursue a deeper relationship with him. Was I truly ready to navigate that aspect of my life again? Despite my doubts, I knew I had little choice, having agreed to live with him and become his mate, even under the coercion of blackmail, driven by my desire for revenge.
“Anna, you cunning devil,” a voice growled behind me, abruptly interrupting my thoughts. If it weren’t for my seven years of raising Alex, I wouldn’t have recognised the harsh tone in his voice at that moment.
I turned around to see my son, his expression determined, stepping into the room with an air of authority that caught me off guard.
“Anna, I warned you, didn’t I? I warned you to leave my mother alone,” he declared, his voice laced with a hint of jealousy. His words hung heavily in the air, tension thickening as he directed a pointed gaze at Anna, who began to tremble in fear, clinging tightly to her father.
For a moment, I was speechless, taken aback by my son’s sudden possessiveness. His boldness and lack of regard for my presence and Damian’s surprised me, leaving me at a loss for words.
Damian glanced at me, his expression mirroring my own astonishment, before turning his attention back to my son.
“Hey, now, let’s calm down, buddy,” Damian intervened, his tone gentle yet firm as he attempted to defuse the situation.
“There’s no need for jealousy, buddy. Anna just misses her mom, and yours tried to comfort her, that’s all. Let’s talk about it calmly,” Damian said, but my son’s jealousy seemed to simmer beneath the surface, his eyes flashing with a mixture of emotions as he stood his ground. It was clear that he wasn’t ready to listen to Damian or consider his perspective.
“You are not my father,” Alex sneered. I exchanged a worried glance with Damian, silently acknowledging the fact that the children’s sudden behaviour was unusual and troubling.
The emotions in the room felt overwhelming, especially the complex and unpredictable feelings emanating from my son. I had never seen him act this way before, and I knew that navigating his emotions right now would require patience and understanding.
“It’s okay, Alex; you don’t need to be rude,” I said gently, but he scowled at Anna, his eyes darkening with intensity.
“Don’t touch my mother again. She is neither your friend nor your angel, so go find yours,” he spat, attempting to provoke her tears. His outburst filled the air with a cacophony of emotions, and I felt a surge of frustration building within me.