He has responsibilities, expectations, a future. My future is with my children, David said. Not your expectations. Darling, you’re being emotional. This woman has clearly manipulated you. I’m not your darling. David cut her off. I’m a father and I’ve missed 5 years because of you. We’re done. Gloria’s maskfinally cracked. Just slightly. Done.
she whispered. “You think you can just walk away from this family? From everything your father and I built?” “I built my own company,” David said. “I don’t need the Achabi Empire. I never did.” “Your company?” Gloria’s voice dripped contempt. Your cute little real estate business. You think that survives without our connections? Without our influence? One phone call, David.
That’s all it takes to make your investors disappear. Is that a threat? It’s a reality. Walk away from me and you walk away from everything. Your career, your standing, your future. David looked at the twins, at their scared faces. At Amara, standing strong despite everything. Then he looked back at his mother. Okay, he said. Gloria blinked.
Okay, what? Okay, I’ll walk away from everything. from you, from father, from the name, the money, the connections, all of it. You don’t mean that. I’ve never meant anything more. He knelt down to the twins level. Zara, Zion, I know you just met me, but I promise you something. I’m never leaving again. No matter what anyone says, no matter what it costs, I’m your daddy and I’m staying.
Zion threw his arms around David’s neck. Zara followed. Amara watched, tears streaming down her face. Gloria watched too, but there were no tears in her eyes. Only rage, only calculation. This isn’t over, Gloria said quietly. Only Amara could hear her. You think you’ve won? You’ve just started a war you can’t possibly win. I made you disappear once.
I can do it again. She turned and walked away. Elegant, controlled, deadly, Amara watched her go, and she knew with absolute certainty that Gloria Chab was telling the truth. This wasn’t over. It was just beginning. That night, after David had checked them into a suite, after the twins had fallen asleep in the big hotel bed, Amara stood by the window looking at the Houston skyline.
David came up behind her. Didn’t touch her, just stood there. I’m sorry, he said. For what? For believing her. For not trying harder to find you. For not being there when they were born. When Zion was sick. When you were struggling. I’m sorry for all of it. Amara was quiet for a long time. You didn’t know. She finally said, “I should have known.
I should have felt it. I should have.” David, she turned to face him. We were both lied to by someone we should have been able to trust. That’s not our fault. It’s hers. I’m going to fix this. David said, “I don’t know how yet, but I’m going to fix it. You and the twins. You’re never going to struggle again.
I don’t need your money.” Amara said, “I’ve survived this long without it. I’ll survive longer. I know you don’t need it, but I want to help. I want to be there for them and for you.” He paused. If you’ll let me. Amara looked at the man she’d loved six years ago. The man she’d thought she’d lost forever.
