Amara met his gaze for a second, her expression unreadable. “Keep looking then,” she muttered under her breath, trying to deflect the weight of his words.
She turned her attention back to the white tiger cub, its soft fur offering a strange sense of comfort amidst the tension.
She took a few photos of the cub, her mind wandering.
She wished Vaughn could see this. He would love the little creature, his innocent excitement a contrast to the heavy atmosphere that surrounded her with Rowan so near.
“How long will you have this tiger?” she asked, breaking the silence that had grown thick between them.
Rowan tilted his head, studying her with those piercing eyes that always seemed to see through her. “A week,” he answered.
Amara nodded thoughtfully. “Can I bring Vaughn here?”
Rowan’s expression softened for a moment, the hard edges of his face easing. “You don’t have to ask, Crimson. You can bring him anytime. This place is as much yours as it is mine.”
“Thank you,” she said quietly, grateful for his willingness.
Time passed.
She glanced down at her phone. Time had slipped through her fingers like sand. It was already nearing four in the evening, and the weight of responsibility started to press on her.
Vaughn would be waiting.
“I think we should head back,” she said, her voice tinged with reluctance.
Rowan, who had been watching her closely, gave a slight nod. “Sure,” he agreed, though there was a subtle hesitation in his voice.
Amara took a step toward the helicopter, but then she heard Rowan’s voice again. “But..”
She stopped and turned to look at him, eyebrows raised in silent question.
Rowan’s eyes darkened for a moment, a shadow crossing his face. “Nothing,” he said after a pause, brushing it off with a shrug.
Without another word, Amara continued toward the helicopter, Rowan walking in step beside her.
As they reached the helicopter, Rowan said, “I’ll send that painting to you later.”
Amara nodded, her voice quiet. “Okay.”
The flight back was uneventful, but Amara’s mind was anything but still. Rowan’s presence, his words, and the way he seemed to know her so intimately.. it was all too much.
When they finally reached the helipad where she had left her car, the day had slipped into the late afternoon. The fading sunlight cast long shadows across the ground as Amara got into her car and drove back home.
As she neared the gates of Moretti Mansion, Amara saw Vaughn standing at the gate..
And beside him were Nick and Lucas.
Vaughn was pacing back and forth, his small figure frantic, while Lucas and Nick stood by, trying to calm him down.
Amara felt a sharp pang of guilt stab at her. She had left her son for the entire day, caught up in Rowan’s world, and now Vaughn was clearly distressed. The sight of him pacing, his little hands clenched into fists, tore at her.
She pulled up to the gate, the car rolling to a stop. Vaughn’s head snapped up as soon as he saw her, and both Lucas and Nick sighed in relief. Vaughn immediately ran toward the car, his face a mixture of worry and frustration.
Amara stepped out, her heart heavy. She looked at Nick and gave him a nod. “Park the car, Nick.”
Nick nodded in return and entered the car.
She turned her attention back to Vaughn, kneeling down to meet his eye level. “Baby, what’s wrong? What happened?”
Vaughn’s small lips quivered, his brow furrowed as he tried to hold back his emotions. “Mommy… where were you?” His voice trembled, filled with a mix of fear and anger. “I thought something happened to you.”
Amara’s heart broke at his words. She reached out and pulled him into a tight embrace, holding him close. “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to make you worry.” She kissed the top of his head, running her fingers through his hair. “Mommy’s here now, okay? Everything’s fine.”
Vaughn pulled back slightly, looking up at her with teary eyes. “You were gone for so long…”
“I know,” she whispered. “I promise, I won’t leave you like that again.”
Lucas, standing a few steps away, gave her a concerned look. “He’s been worried sick all day, Miss. We tried to calm him down, but he wouldn’t listen.”
Amara nodded, her guilt only deepening. “I’ll make it up to him,” she said softly.
She stood up, taking Vaughn’s hand in hers, and began walking toward the house. As they entered the grand foyer, Vaughn clung to her, his small body pressed against hers as if afraid she might disappear again.
“Do you want to see something special, baby?” she asked, trying to lighten his mood.
Vaughn sniffled and nodded.
Amara smiled, kneeling down again. “How about we visit a special friend tomorrow? I met someone today that I think you’ll love.”
Vaughn’s eyes brightened with curiosity. “Who?”
“A white tiger cub,” Amara said softly, her eyes twinkling as she described the little creature. “He’s beautiful, just like you.”
Vaughn’s face lit up, his previous sadness forgotten. “Really, Mommy? A tiger?”
Amara nodded, her heart warming at his excitement. “Yes, baby. I’ll take you to see him tomorrow.”
Vaughn hugged her tightly, his small arms wrapping around her neck. “I love you, Mommy.”
“I love you too,” she whispered, her voice catching slightly.
As she stepped inside, she found her mother, Isabelle, standing in the hallway, her sharp eyes watching her closely.
“You’re back,” Isabelle said, her voice cool and inquisitive. “Where were you?”
Amara paused, her mind quickly racing through possible excuses. “I had some work to finish, Mom,” she replied evenly, not giving away the turmoil she had just experienced with Rowan.
Isabelle studied her for a moment, her gaze calculating, but said nothing further about her absence. Instead, she nodded, shifting the conversation. “Get ready. The guests will start arriving in an hour, and our main alliances will be here today. It’s important that everything goes smoothly.”
Amara gave a short nod, her heart still weighed down by the earlier events. “Sure, Mom.”
She turned and took Vaughn’s hand, leading him toward her room.
Her mind wandered as she thought of her birthday party which was more of a gathering of their most important allies. The night would be filled with the usual politics, quiet power plays, and watching every word and movement carefully.
As they reached her room, she glanced at Vaughn, then at the closet. Pulling it open, she sorted through the rows of dresses and suits before settling on a navy-blue suit for Vaughn… a perfect match to the navy dress she planned to wear.
She laid the suit out for him, along with a crisp white shirt and navy pants. Then she turned and pulled out her own navy-blue dress, the fabric sleek and elegant, shimmering faintly in the soft light.
Vaughn, who had been watching her with his wide, curious eyes, suddenly smiled. His little face lit up, and he looked from the suit to the dress with pure joy.
“We’re matching, Mommy?” he asked, his voice full of excitement.
Amara smiled softly and nodded. “Yes, baby. We’re matching.”
Vaughn’s eyes sparkled, and for a moment, Amara felt the tension in her chest ease.