Chapter 6

Six Years Later

It had been six long years since Tyrra fled on the morning of her wedding, leaving her father and her old life behind. Now she was back, stepping once more onto the soil she once swore never to return to. At her side was Samantha, her five-year-old daughter, and Maya, the nanny who had never left her.

Six years ago, she hadn’t just left home. She had left everything—her country, her family, her name. And yet here she was again. Not to face her father. Not to open old wounds. She came for one reason only: to let her daughter see the place where her story began.

But the past clung to her like a shadow. Memories came rushing back—Flavier’s lies, Grace’s betrayal, the frantic escape, the crushing loneliness of a foreign land, and the shock of carrying a child she never expected.

Her father’s ultimatum still burned in her chest. Marry Flavier, or you are no longer my daughter. Her hands tightened into fists. “He should have understood me,” she whispered, her voice shaking with a mix of anger and pain.

The hurt was still there. The anger was still there. She could never forgive him for pushing her into a cage instead of listening to her heart.

And yet… despite it all, something good had come from those dark years. Samantha. Her light. Her joy. The one treasure she would never trade for anything.

Tyrra turned to her daughter. Samantha slept soundly, her small chest rising and falling, her lashes fluttering in dreams. A soft smile broke across Tyrra’s face, washing away the bitterness in her heart. She bent down and pressed a kiss to her daughter’s forehead. “My bundle of joy,” she whispered, her voice trembling with love.

Samantha stirred, opening her blue eyes for just a second, a sleepy smile appearing before she rolled over again.

Tyrra’s breath caught. Those eyes—those unmistakable blue eyes. A memory struck her like lightning. The man from that night. The stranger who had given her Samantha.

The ghost of him lingered in her mind, pulling her back to the one moment that had changed everything.

She quickly pushed the memory aside. She didn’t want to think about the stranger, the night, or how her daughter had come into her life. She didn’t want to remember the desperate choice she made—to sleep with a man whose name she never knew, just to drown out the sting of betrayal.

No matter how good he had made her feel, no matter how unforgettable that night had been, she refused to let the past pull her back. Especially when she did not know if she would ever see him again.

The taxi rolled through the busy streets, and Samantha filled the car with her chatter—asking questions, laughing, pointing at every sight she saw. Maya answered with patience and warmth, her voice a steady comfort. Tyrra stayed quiet, listening, her mind fighting to stay anchored in the present.

The driver’s voice broke her thoughts. “Here we are, ma’am,” he said, stopping in front of the grand entrance. “Domino’s Palace Hotel.”

Tyrra paid him, her hand tightening around the bills. She stepped out of the cab—and froze.

The hotel. This hotel.

Her breath caught as recognition slammed into her. Six years ago, this was the very place she had spent that night. The night her daughter was conceived.

When she booked the hotel, she had thought little of the name. It was recommended as child-friendly, convenient. But standing here now, staring at the gold-lit entrance, she felt the air squeeze from her lungs.

Coincidence? Or something else?

Her stomach twisted, a knot of nerves and heat. The scent, the touch, the stranger’s eyes—flashes of memory cut through her mind before she forced herself to look away. She drew in a sharp breath, pressing down her racing heart.

As Tyrra and her small staff stepped into the grand lobby, a uniformed attendant rushed forward and took hold of their bags. “Welcome to Domino’s Palace, ma’am. Allow me,” she said politely, already carrying the luggage toward the reception desk.

“Thank you,” Tyrra murmured. She turned to Maya. “You and Samantha can wait over there while I check us in.” Her voice was steady, but her eyes moved restlessly, scanning the lobby as if pulled by a force she couldn’t fight. Would he ever come back here? And if he did, would I even recognize him?

The lobby sparkled with wealth and life. Crystal chandeliers spilled light across polished marble floors. Gilded frames lined the walls, and the murmur of laughter and conversation filled the air.

Maya led Samantha to a velvet sofa near the corner. The little girl’s blue eyes widened with wonder, darting across the towering ceilings and glittering glass. She climbed onto the seat, restless and curious, while Maya settled beside her.

At the desk, Tyrra gave her name. “Reservation under Tyrra Quinnara.” “Of course, ma’am,” the receptionist replied warmly. “Please give me a moment.”

Across the room, Samantha stilled. Her gaze had caught on a lone figure sitting nearby, bent over his phone. Something about him rooted her in place. She leaned forward on the sofa, staring as if she already knew him somehow.

As if sensing the pull, the man lifted his head.

Their eyes met.

For a heartbeat, the world seemed to pause. His gaze—sharp yet gentle—locked with Samantha’s wide, innocent stare. And then his mouth curved into a smile. Not just polite, not casual—but warm, knowing, almost tender.

Samantha blinked, her small lips parting in wonder. She didn’t understand why, but she couldn’t look away.

At that exact moment, Tyrra looked up from the desk. Her breath hitched sharply, her chest tightening. That smile. That face.

Familiar. Unsettling. Dangerous.

Déjà vu—or recognition?

“Hello, little one,” Lemar greeted warmly, his eyes studying the little girl in front of him.

“Mister, it’s bad for your eyes to keep your phone so close!” Samantha said matter-of-factly, pointing at his screen.

“Sammy!” Maya scolded softly, but Lemar only laughed—a low, genuine sound that made Samantha smile.

“Is that so?” he chuckled, amusement flickering in his eyes. “And who told you that, young lady?”

“My mommy,” Samantha replied proudly, as if she were sharing an important secret.

Lemar’s gaze shifted to Maya. She was watching with a calm smile, and he assumed she was the girl’s mother. He gave her a polite nod before turning back to Samantha.

“Well then, your mommy must be clever,” he whispered. “Thank you for looking out for me, Sammy.”

Samantha tilted her head. “Wait… how did you know my name?”

Lemar’s lips curved into a knowing smile, his eyes glinting with curiosity. “A little birdie told me,” he teased, though in truth he had only overheard Maya calling her. “Can I call you Sam?”

Samantha nodded eagerly.

“What’s your name?” she asked.

“My name’s Rek,” he answered smoothly. “Are you staying here at the hotel, Sam?”

“Yes!” Samantha said, bouncing a little in her seat. “We’re going to have a really, really nice room!” Her excitement bubbled over, her voice bright and full of joy.

From a short distance away, Tyrra drew in a deep breath. It was such a simple exchange—yet something in it stirred her, an unshakable sense that this man and her daughter shared more than just a passing moment.

Lemar’s smile deepened. “That sounds wonderful. You know, this hotel has a playground. Slides, swings, a jungle gym—the works. It’s every kid’s dream.”

Samantha’s eyes lit up. “Toys?”

“Exactly,” Lemar chuckled. “A whole paradise of toys.”

She turned quickly to Maya, practically bouncing in her seat. “Can we go? Please?”

“If you’re a good girl, we can go tomorrow,” Maya replied.

“I’ll be good. I promise!” Samantha said quickly, her voice bubbling with excitement.

Lemar grinned at her eagerness.

Then Samantha tilted her head, studying him with her wide blue eyes. “We have the same eye color,” she said simply.

Lemar paused, then nodded. “Looks like we do.”

“Maybe that means we should be friends,” she added, smiling.

He shook his head with a soft laugh. “Careful now. You’re not supposed to be friends with strangers, remember?”

Samantha blinked, thoughtful for a moment. Then she said brightly, “But you’re not a stranger anymore. I know your name. And you’re staying here too. That makes us neighbors for a while, right?”

Lemar laughed, the sound deep and warm. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Do you live here too? Is your room as nice as ours?” she asked curiously.

From the side, Tyrra had been watching the whole time. Her chest tightened as she saw her daughter so comfortable, so happy. A strange mixture of relief and unease swept over her. The way they spoke to each other… the way Samantha’s eyes shone at him… it all felt too natural. Too close.

“Yes, I do,” Lemar replied easily. “I’ve lived here for years. And my room…” his lips curved into a grin, “is the nicest one in the whole hotel.”

Samantha’s mouth fell open in surprise. “You don’t have a mommy and a house?”

“I do,” he whispered. “But this hotel is my home too—because I own it.”

Her eyes grew wide, sparkling with amazement. She was about to press him with more questions when Maya, who had been listening carefully, caught Tyrra’s glance. Tyrra had just finished at the front desk and was signaling for them to join her.

Tyrra paused, watching the two together. Samantha’s laughter, her easy comfort with this man—it all seemed so natural. Her lips curved into a small smile. “She’s happy,” she whispered to herself. “And Rek… he makes her feel at ease.” A flicker of relief touched her heart, though it was mixed with something else she couldn’t quite name.

Across from her, Lemar leaned back in his chair. The smile faded from his face, replaced by a furrow of unease. He had always liked children, but this little girl—with her bright eyes and fearless words—stirred something deeper inside him. A warmth he didn’t understand.

Why do I feel this way about her? He wondered, shaking his head.

He forced the thought aside, picking up his phone again. This time, he held it farther from his face, his jaw tight as he drew in a steadying breath.