Six years after Evelyn had left her father and the country on her wedding morning, she returned with her five-year-old daughter, Samantha, and their longtime nanny, Maya. She hadn't just left her home six years ago; she'd left the country. Now, she was coming back, not to confront her past or her father, but to return to her native land with her daughter.

Images from the past six years flickered before her eyes: Michael's deception, Sandra's betrayal, her abrupt departure, the loneliness of a foreign land, and the unexpected pregnancy. A surge of anger shot through her as she recalled her father's ultimatum from that morning six years ago: marry Michael or be cut off.

"He should have handled it better," she muttered, as she always did when replaying the incident. It still hurt and angered her that he hadn't tried to understand her reasons for calling off the wedding.

But none of that mattered now. All that mattered was Samantha, the joy of her life. Being Samantha's mother was the best part of her life.

Looking down at the sleeping Samantha nestled beside her, a radiant smile lit Evelyn's face. "My bundle of joy," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion as she kissed Samantha's forehead. Samantha sleepily opened her eyes, returned the smile, and drifted back to sleep.

Looking into Samantha's blue eyes—eyes she believed Samantha inherited from her father—the memory of her night with a stranger surfaced. She pushed the memory aside. She didn't want to think about the stranger who had given her the best sex of her life and the best gift of her life: Samantha. She didn't want to dwell on sleeping with a stranger whose name and face she couldn't remember, a desperate attempt to numb the pain of betrayal. No matter how wonderful the sex had been, she didn't want to think about it, especially since she wouldn't recognize him if she saw him again.

As the cab drove them to their hotel, Samantha chattered endlessly, asking questions that Maya happily answered, while Evelyn was lost in thought. The taxi driver's voice broke her reverie.

"Here we are, ma'am," he announced, pulling up to the Luxurious Stone's Palace Hotel. Evelyn paid the fare, fumbling slightly as her charges exited the cab.

As she turned to enter the hotel, it struck her: this was the same hotel where she'd spent the night with the stranger six years ago. When the Stone's Palace had been recommended as a child-friendly hotel, she hadn't given it much thought. Was it a coincidence that this was her first stop after six years? The very place where her daughter had been conceived?

A knot of nervous excitement tightened in her stomach. It was a strange, full-circle moment, both unsettling and exhilarating. Bittersweet memories flickered at the edges of her mind, but she pushed them away and took a deep breath.

As Evelyn and her companions entered the hotel lobby, a uniformed employee appeared, whisking away their luggage.

"Welcome to The Stone's Palace, ma'am. Let me help with your bags," he offered, lifting the suitcases.

Evelyn thanked him and instructed Maya, "You both can sit over there while I check us in."

The lobby buzzed with activity. Crystal chandeliers twinkled, casting a soft glow on the plush armchairs and gilded picture frames. Taking Samantha's hand, Maya led her to a velvet sofa while Evelyn approached the reception desk. "Good evening. I have a reservation under Evelyn Quinn."

The receptionist, a young woman with a warm smile, typed on her computer. "Welcome, Ms. Quinn. Just a moment while I pull up your reservation."

Meanwhile, Maya and Samantha settled onto a plush loveseat. Maya watched serenely as Samantha gazed around, her wide blue eyes taking in the hotel's beauty.

Across from them, a man hunched over a phone caught Samantha's attention. She scooted closer, her gaze fixed on him. He looked up, a warm smile crinkling his eyes as he saw her.

"Hello, little one!" Derek greeted.

"Mister, holding that phone so close to your face is bad for your eyes!" she declared, pointing at his phone.

"Sammy!" Maya scolded, but Derek chuckled, lowering his phone. Samantha's face lit up.

"Is that right?" he asked, amused. "Who told you that, little one?"

"My mommy," Samantha replied seriously.

Derek nodded politely to Maya, whom he assumed was Samantha's mother, then turned back to Samantha. "Well, your mummy is very wise. Thank you for looking out for me, Sammy."

"How did you know my name?" Samantha asked, wide-eyed. Derek grinned.

"A little birdie told me," he said (having just heard Maya call her Sammy). "Can I call you Sam?" Samantha nodded enthusiastically. "What's your name?"

"My name is Rek. Are you staying at the hotel, Sam?"

Samantha nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! We're going to have a really nice room," she exclaimed.

Derek smiled. "That sounds wonderful. You should try out the hotel's playground. It's a lot of fun."

Samantha's eyes widened. "Playground?"

Derek chuckled. "Exactly! Slides, swings, a whole jungle gym—it's a kid's paradise." Samantha turned to Maya, pleading, "Can we go?"

"If you're a good girl, we can go tomorrow," Maya promised.

"I promise to be good," Samantha said, and Derek smiled.

Samantha turned back to him. "We have the same eye color," she noted. Derek nodded.

"That we do. Maybe it's a sign that we should be friends," he said. She shook her head.

"I'm not supposed to be friends with strangers," she said innocently.

"I'm not exactly a stranger anymore since you know my name and we're going to be neighbors for a few days," he explained.

"You live here too? Will your room be as nice as ours?" she asked. Derek laughed.

"Yes, I do. I've been living here for years. And my room is the nicest in the hotel," he said. Her mouth formed a small 'o' of surprise.

"You don't have a mommy and a home?"

"I do have a mommy and a home. This hotel is my home too because I own it."

Samantha's eyes widened, and she was about to ask another question when Maya, who had been watching with a wary smile, exchanged a glance with Evelyn, who had finished checking in.

"It's time to leave, Sammy," Maya said, rising. "Now thank Mr. Rek for his time."

"Thank you, Mr. Rek," Samantha said politely.

Derek smiled. "Enjoy the playground before you leave," he said. Maya nodded and left with Samantha.

Derek leaned back, a thoughtful frown replacing his smile. The little girl, Sam, with her bright eyes and bossy pronouncements, had stirred something unexpected within him—a warmth, a tenderness he couldn't explain. He wanted to see her again.

He shook his head, dismissing the feeling, and returned to his phone, making sure to keep it away from his face this time.