“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.
Nathaniel held Maya's hand tightly as he sat at the head of the table and her to his left.
She gave it a gentle squeeze, drawing his attention and gave him a smile.
"Our family," Nathaniel said with unadulterated joy in his heart.
He didn't think that Maya would get to meet his family so soon, he thought that it would take months if not years to get her to the point that she would be ready to meet them.
But, to his surprise, it was Maya who called them over because she was worried about him.
"I'm so glad you decided to call mom," Nathaniel told her as he lifted his hand to his lips and brushed his lips against her fingertips.
"I'm glad I called your mom, it's obvious you need family right now," Nathaniel could feel the love as Maya looked at him. He felt like the luckiest man alive to have her by his side.