Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Jamie and Heather held onto his hand, their little faces turned up towards Emma, eyes filled with eager anticipation. They were so irresistibly adorable, their gaze could melt even the coldest heart. Emma opened her mouth but couldn't bring herself to say anything harsh in

front of the children. She even wondered if Dustin had brought them on purpose.

Jamie looked at her, blinking with a hint of caution. "Mommy?" Emma's heart clenched, and she quickly crouched down, her eyes flitting back and forth between the two kids. "You've grown so much, and you're both so beautiful."

Seeing that she wasn't upset, the kids broke into big smiles. Jamie and Heather were now just over a year old and, thanks to good nutrition, they seemed to be developing faster than most, walking steadily without a wobble. Their speech wasn't quite fluent yet, but the word "Mommy" came out clear and strong, showing they'd been practicing at home.

Emma didn't really want to talk to Dustin, unsure of what to say, so she stood up. "I'll start dinner." Dustin quickly bent down to scoop up each child, placing them back on their chairs. "You rest, I'll cook."

Emma remembered Dustin's knack for cooking. He hurried into the kitchen, noticing how much the place had changed since his last visit. The house had been rebuilt beautifully, like a little slice of paradise. The fridge was stocked with fresh produce, and there was even a freshly prepared chicken, showing Emma had been taking good care of herself.

to work on the meal. The kids sat

of four dishes and a soup. The familiar aroma washed over Emma, stirring up memories from the depths of her mind. Keeping the kids in mind, Dustin had finely chopped everything and arranged the plates beautifully. The soup was thick,

quietly picked up her fork. Throughout the meal, Dustin was busy wiping the kids' mouths and gently reminding them not to be picky eaters. Emma sat there, realizing

making further discussion pointless. "Where's the bathroom? I'll give Jamie a bath," he asked. Emma pointed towards the bathroom, which was thankfully

with warm water and placed Jamie inside. Jamie, with his long eyelashes, playfully splashed the water, giggling. Dustin's clothes got soaked, but he couldn't resist pinching Jamie's cheek.

Emma entered, Dustin

spacious, with an extra stool. Emma wanted to help but felt awkward. She

but Dustin held him securely, gently drying him off. Jamie laughed, bare-bottomed in Dustin's arms, and Emma noticed

his