Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

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.

He washed his hands and got to work on the meal. The kids sat in their chairs, cheerfully calling out, "Mommy, mommy." Emma smiled, gently tousling their hair.

Two hours later, Dustin served up a meal 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, and he'd even made pancakes just for the kids. After serving them, he filled Emma's plate. "Emma, let's eat."

Emma lowered her lashes and 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 she knew little beyond nursing them. Barely touching her food, she went to wash the dishes.

Dustin tried to persuade her to sit down, but Emma insisted, making further discussion pointless. "Where's the bathroom? I'll give Jamie a bath," he asked. Emma pointed towards the bathroom, which was thankfully equipped with a bathtub.

Dustin filled it 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. "No splashing, let's get you all cleaned up."

When Emma entered, Dustin had

somehow found a little hat for Jamie, keeping shampoo suds out of his eyes, it seemed he came prepared. The bathroom was spacious, with an extra stool. Emma wanted to help but felt awkward. She held Jamie's hand, and he smiled at her, his long eyelashes making him look like a cherub.

The child's skin was soft, slippery like an eel in Emma's grasp, but Dustin held him securely, gently drying him off. Jamie laughed, bare-bottomed in Dustin's arms, and Emma noticed Dustin's pants were almost soaked through. Dustin lightly tapped Jamie's bottom, and Jamie looked up, accidentally tugging at his "little buddy." Dustin

quickly caught his hand, "Careful, or

you'll regret it when you're older."

He carried Jamie to Emma's bedroom, placing him on the bed where Jamie rolled around happily. "Daddy, daddy." "Stay here for a bit, I'll take your sister for her bath." Jamie obediently nodded, "Okay."