“You abandoned me in the middle of the night! You left me alone for five years!” Maya hissed as he lifted his hand to touch where her slap had left its mark. “I left to protect you! I left because I love you!” Nathaniel protested in a futile attempt to defend himself. —————————————————— Five years ago, Nathaniel De La Rue found love and a new life in Arlington City, but his past soon caught up with him and forced him to leave behind everything he had built, including his beloved Maya Miller. Now, Nathaniel is done running. He must confront his past to protect those that matter the most to him. After fighting for his right to live and accepting his rightful place in the De La Rue family, he finally returns to Arlington City. However, upon his return, Nathaniel finds that his world is not the same as he left it. Maya, the woman he loves, is engaged to another man. His best friend now works for the man who stole Maya from him. Furthermore, the woman who had cared for Nathaniel like a mother is being abused by her husband. It’s as if he has to start from scratch. But things have changed. This time he has the De La Rue Family by his side.
Laughter echoed through out the house as Nathaniel's family and Maya's sat in the living room, making jokes at Maya's and Nathaniel's expense.
"I guess the party started without us," a new voice said as Nathaniel, Clark, and Maximillian stood by the door.
"You finally joined us," Emilia told Maximillian, her eyes lighting up before dimming once more, as if trying to hide that she was excited to see him.
"This one finally calmed down," Maximillian said as he pointed at Nathaniel.
Maya smiled up at her boyfriend, she was about to stand up and welcome him back, but she was beaten to it by her son.
Gabriel quickly jumped off his Uncle Ezra's lap, someone he seemed to be quickly attached to, and ran up to his father.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Gabriel called out as he ran through the room.
"Gabriel, be careful," Maya called out after him.