When Contracts Turn to Forbidden Kisses Chapter 125

Amelia

I felt my palms getting sweaty as Ethan drove his sleek luxury sedan toward the Black family mansion.

"Relax," Ethan said, taking one hand off the wheel to squeeze mine reassuringly. "It's just dinner with family."

"Easy for you to say," I muttered, smoothing my already-perfect skirt for the tenth time. "Your mother has never looked at you like you're something she found stuck to the bottom of her designer shoes."

Ethan chuckled, the sound warm and rich in the confines of the car. "Where's that confident doctor who once walked past me in the hospital hallway like I was invisible? Channel her."

I shot him a sideways glance.

The car rolled to a stop in front of the imposing mansion, and before I could gather my thoughts, the front door burst open. Lucas came running down the steps, his little face lighting up with pure joy.

"Mommy!" he shouted, racing toward me as I stepped out of the car. His small arms wrapped tightly around my legs, nearly throwing me off balance.

My heart melted instantly. No matter what awkwardness awaited inside that mansion, this moment made it all worthwhile.

Then I heard Ella's excited squeal. She appeared at the doorway, her little arms raised high above her head. "Mommy! Up! Up!"

I crouched down, gathering both children into my arms, breathing in their familiar scents.

"I missed you both so much," I whispered, fighting back tears.

As I stood up with Ella in my arms, I noticed Catherine and George standing in the doorway. I straightened my spine, plastering on my best professional smile – the same one I used when dealing with particularly difficult patients.

"Good evening," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "Thank you for having us."

Catherine nodded, her face unreadable. "The children have been asking about you." She gestured toward a fruit platter on the nearby table. "I had the kitchen prepare those. Ella's particularly fond of the strawberries."

I blinked, surprised by this small gesture of... was it kindness? Or just good hostessing? With Catherine, it was impossible to tell.

George's warm smile broke the tension. "Come in, come in! No need to stand on ceremony."

The mansion's interior was just as intimidating as I remembered – all marble floors and priceless artwork. Lucas stayed close to me while Ella chattered happily about a tea party she'd had with "Gweat-gwandpa."

We settled in the living room, and I watched as Ella climbed onto George's lap without hesitation. My daughter had never been shy, but her immediate comfort with the Black family patriarch surprised me.

"Gwandpa, why are your eyes all wet?" Ella asked suddenly, peering up at George's face with childish curiosity.

George patted her head gently. "Because I'm very happy to see you and your mommy here. "

He then turned to Catherine with a smile. “The new koi in the garden pond are looking beautiful today. Why don’t you take the children to see them?”

George clapped Ethan on the shoulder. “You go with them. I’d like a word with Amelia.”

My stomach dropped. What could he possibly want to discuss?

Ethan shot me a reassuring look before leading the children and Catherine outside. The door closed behind them with what seemed like an ominously final click.

"Don't look so terrified, my dear," George said, gesturing for me to sit beside him on the plush sofa. "I merely wanted a moment to speak with you privately."

I perched on the edge of the cushion, hands folded in my lap. "Of course."

"The flowers were always blooming," George said, leaning in like he was sharing a special secret. "Whenever the ones in his greenhouse started to wilt, he'd swap them out right away. He never let a day pass without fresh blooms. He used to say it was all about keeping hope alive."

The memory of the beautiful greenhouse flashed in my mind.

"He did that... for me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

George nodded, satisfaction evident in his expression. "That boy may be brilliant with financial strategies, but he's terrible at expressing his feelings. Always has been."

Before I could respond, the door burst open and Ella ran in, giggling wildly with Lucas hot on her heels. The moment for private conversation had passed, but George's words remained, echoing in my mind.

Dinner was a surprisingly pleasant affair. Catherine had prepared several home-cooked dishes herself, which apparently was a rare occurrence worthy of Ethan's raised eyebrows. She took particular care with Lucas's plate, cutting his food into perfect bite-sized pieces.

"I don't like carrots," Ella announced, pushing the orange vegetables to the side of her plate with a dramatic pout.

Catherine, instead of showing irritation, leaned in conspiratorially. "If you finish your carrots, Grandma has made your favorite chocolate pudding for dessert."

Ella looked at me, clearly seeking backup. I nodded encouragingly, and she sighed with the weight of the world on her tiny shoulders before reluctantly eating a carrot.

"My mother is spoiling them," Ethan whispered in my ear, his breath warm against my skin. "She never even made pudding for me."

Watching Catherine with the children revealed a side of her I'd never seen – patient, attentive, even warm.

The ride back to my apartment was quiet, both of us lost in our thoughts. The children had fallen asleep in their car seats, exhausted from the excitement.

"Why did you change the flowers in your greenhouse so often?" I asked suddenly, turning to face Ethan's profile illuminated by the dashboard lights.

His hands tightened on the steering wheel. "George told you about that, huh?"

"He mentioned it."

Ethan was silent for a long moment, then sighed. "The first time you came to my place, I saw how much you loved the flowers in the greenhouse. As long as those flowers kept blooming, I felt like I had a reason to keep trying to find you in Boston."

The simple honesty of his answer caught me off guard. I leaned over and kissed his cheek gently. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For not giving up on us," I whispered.

Back at the apartment, Ethan carried Lucas while I took Ella. Getting them ready for bed was a familiar dance – one that Ethan participated in with surprising competence. He struggled slightly with Lucas's pajama buttons but managed to get them right with concentrated effort.

"Daddy," Ella mumbled sleepily, raising her arms toward Ethan. "Carry me. I'm tired."

Without hesitation, Ethan lifted her into his arms, and she immediately nestled her head against his shoulder, falling asleep almost instantly. The sight of my daughter so comfortable with her father made my heart ache in the best possible way.

After both children were tucked in, Ethan followed me to the living room. "These past years must have been hard for you, raising them alone."

I nodded, unable to deny it. "We managed."

I then remembered my cousin's upcoming visit. "Ethan, about the Astors... When they come this week, I need to keep our reconciliation quiet for a while."

His expression darkened immediately. "Why? Are you ashamed of me? Not good enough for the Astor name?"

"No! It's not that at all," I protested. "It's just... complicated. Daniel has been very protective since our separation. I need time to explain things to him properly."

Ethan looked unconvinced but eventually nodded. "Fine. But I'll arrange their hotel accommodations, Deal?"

I smiled, relieved he understood. "Deal."

As I walked him to the door, I realized how much had changed between us. The walls I'd built so carefully were crumbling, and for once, I wasn't terrified by the thought of letting him back in.