Chapter 6

Six Years Later

It had been six years since Tyrra ran away on the morning of her wedding. She left her father and her old life behind. Now she was back. With her was her five-year-old daughter, Samantha, and Maya, the nanny who never left her.

Six years ago, she had left everything, her family, her country, even her name. Now she was back. Not to face her father or old problems. She came for one reason: to let her daughter see where her story began.

But the past still haunted her. She remembered Flavier’s lies, Grace’s betrayal, running away, being alone in a strange land, and the surprise of having a child.

Her father’s words still hurt: “Marry Flavier, or you are no longer my daughter.”

She clenched her fists.

“He should have understood me,” she whispered, shaking with anger and pain.

The hurt and anger were still there. She could never forgive him for trying to control her instead of listening to her heart.

Still, something good had come from those hard years, Samantha. Her light. Her joy. The one thing she would never give up.

Tyrra looked at her daughter. Samantha slept peacefully, her little chest rising and falling, lashes fluttering in dreams. Tyrra smiled, and for a moment, the bitterness left her heart. She bent down and kissed her daughter’s forehead.

“My little joy,” she whispered, her voice full of love.

Samantha stirred and opened her blue eyes for a moment. A sleepy smile appeared before she rolled over again.

Tyrra’s breath caught. Those blue eyes, they were the same. A memory hit her like lightning. The man from that night. The stranger who had given her Samantha. His ghost lingered in her mind, reminding her of the one night that changed everything.

She pushed the thought away quickly. She didn’t want to think about him, the night, or how her daughter came into her life. She didn’t want to remember the desperate choice she made, sleeping with a man whose name she didn’t know, just to forget the pain of betrayal.

No matter how good it had felt, no matter how unforgettable that night was, she refused to let the past pull her back. Especially since she didn’t know if she would ever see him again.

The taxi drove through busy streets. Samantha chattered, laughing, asking questions, pointing at everything she saw. Maya answered calmly, her voice a steady comfort. Tyrra stayed quiet, listening, trying to focus on the present.

The driver’s voice pulled Tyrra from her thoughts.

“Here we are, ma’am,” he said, stopping in front of a large, grand entrance. “Domino’s Palace Hotel.”

Tyrra paid him, her hand gripping the bills. She stepped out and froze.

The hotel. This hotel.

Her breath caught. Six years ago, this was where it had happened, the night her daughter was conceived.

When she booked the hotel, she hadn’t thought much about it. It was recommended as child-friendly and convenient. But now, standing at the gold-lit entrance, she felt a tightness in her chest.

Coincidence? Or something more?

Her stomach twisted. Memories, scent, touch, the stranger’s eyes, flashed through her mind. She forced herself to look away and took a deep, steadying breath.

Inside the lobby, a uniformed attendant rushed forward to carry their bags.

“Welcome to Domino’s Palace, ma’am. Allow me,” she said politely.

“Thank you,” Tyrra murmured. She turned to Maya. “You and Samantha can wait over there while I check in.”

Her voice sounded calm, but her eyes moved nervously around the lobby. Would he ever come back here? And if he did, would she even recognize him?

The lobby was bright and busy. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, shining light across the marble floors. Gold frames decorated the walls, and people’s voices filled the air.

Maya took Samantha to a soft velvet sofa in the corner. The little girl’s blue eyes grew wide with wonder. She looked at the high ceiling and sparkling lights, climbing onto the seat while Maya sat beside her.

At the desk, Tyrra said, “Reservation under Tyrra Quinnaraara.”

“Of course, ma’am,” the receptionist replied with a smile. “Please wait a moment.”

Samantha stopped moving. She saw a man sitting nearby, looking at his phone. Something about him made her freeze. She leaned forward, staring as if she already knew him.

The man looked up.

Their eyes met. For a moment, everything felt still. His gaze was sharp but gentle. Then he smiled, warm, kind, almost tender.

Samantha blinked in wonder. She didn’t know why, but she couldn’t look away.

Tyrra looked up from the desk. Her breath caught. That smile. That face.

Familiar. Strange. Dangerous.

Déjà vu, or recognition?

“Hello, little one,” Lemar said warmly, looking at the little girl.

“Sir, it’s bad for your eyes to hold your phone so close!” Samantha said seriously, pointing at his screen.

“Sammy!” Maya said softly, but Lemar just laughed. His laugh was low and kind, and it made Samantha smile.

“Is that so?” he said, smiling. “Who told you that, young lady?”

“My mommy,” Samantha said proudly.

Lemar looked at Maya, thinking she was the girl’s mother. He nodded politely, then looked back at Samantha.

“Well then, your mommy must be very smart,” he said gently. “Thank you for looking out for me, Sammy.”

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

Lemar smiled knowingly. “A little birdie told me,” he teased. (He had actually just heard Maya call her.) “Can I call you Sam?”

Samantha nodded eagerly.

“What’s your name?” she asked.

“My name’s James,” he said. “Are you staying at the hotel, Sam?”

“Yes!” Samantha said, bouncing a little. “We’re going to have a really, really nice room!” She was so happy, her voice bright and full of joy.

From a short distance, Tyrra took a deep breath. It was a simple conversation, but something about it touched her. She felt that this man and her daughter shared more than just a quick moment.

Lemar smiled. “That sounds great. You know, this hotel has a playground, slides, swings, a jungle gym. Every kid would love it.”

Samantha’s eyes grew wide. “Toys?”

“Yes,” Lemar laughed. “A whole paradise of toys.”

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

“If you’re good, maybe tomorrow,” Maya said.

“I’ll be good! I promise!” Samantha said quickly, excited.

Lemar smiled at her energy.

Samantha tilted her head, studying him. “We have the same eye color,” she said.

Lemar nodded. “Looks like we do.”

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

He shook his head, laughing softly. “Careful. You’re not supposed to be friends with strangers.”

Samantha thought for a moment, then 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, warm and deep. “I guess you’re right.”

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

From the side, Tyrra had been watching. Her chest felt tight as she saw her daughter so happy and comfortable. A mix of relief and unease ran through her. The way they talked, the way Samantha’s eyes shone, it all seemed too natural. Too close.

“Yes, I do,” Lemar said easily. “I’ve lived here for years. And my room,” he grinned, “is the nicest one in the whole hotel.”

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

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

Samantha’s eyes sparkled with amazement. She was about to ask more questions when Maya, watching carefully, caught Tyrra’s glance. Tyrra had finished at the front desk and was signaling for them to join her.

Tyrra paused, watching them. Samantha’s laughter, her comfort with him, it all seemed so natural. She smiled a little. “She’s happy,” she whispered. “And James… he makes her feel at ease.” A small relief touched her heart, though something else stirred she couldn’t name.

Across from her, Lemar leaned back. His smile faded, replaced by a serious look. He liked children, but this little girl, with her bright eyes and fearless words, made him feel something deeper. A warmth he didn’t understand.

Why do I feel this way about her? he wondered. He shook his head and set the thought aside, picking up his phone again. This time, he held it farther away, taking a steadying breath.