Ran Away Pregnant Came Back Alpha Heiress (Amelia and Damien) novel Chapter 267

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**Chapter 267**

**Amelia’s POV**

The moment I shared with the girls slipped away far too quickly, like grains of sand through my fingers. I yearned to hold them close, to wrap them in my embrace forever, as if that would somehow freeze this fleeting moment in time. I was acutely aware that this kind of intimacy might never grace my life again, and the thought weighed heavily on my heart.

The reality loomed large: there was a significant chance that I would never see them again. Especially if I ended up marrying Ian or someone akin to him. The very idea that he might venture to another pack to spend time with another man’s children was unfathomable to me. I couldn’t picture him doing that, and the thought alone sent a shiver down my spine.

Ian had already expressed his frustration over my decision to say goodbye, his irritation palpable in the air between us.

“You girls take care of each other and your father, okay?” I whispered softly, trying to impart a sense of strength and safety into their hearts. “Be strong and safe.” Perhaps it was my role as their aunt that compelled me to speak these words with such conviction, but I felt an undeniable bond with them. “I care about you and always will,” I assured them, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

Amy, ever the brave one, leaned in and whispered back, “You are our mom.”

Stacy nodded in agreement, her eyes bright with innocence.

I knew that wasn’t true, yet the sentiment tugged at my heartstrings, nearly bringing me to tears. These two girls were the last vestiges of a sister I couldn’t even remember, and the thought of losing them felt like losing a part of my very soul. It was baffling—how could I feel so deeply for them when we had only just met? But my heart didn’t care for logic; it simply ached with an intensity I couldn’t explain.

With a heavy heart, we finally broke our embrace, and I stood up, reluctant to let go.

Damien stood a short distance away, observing me with an expression I couldn’t quite decipher. There was a flicker of emotion in his eyes, something raw and unguarded that seemed to stir within him. But as quickly as it appeared, he blinked, and an emotionless mask fell over his features, concealing whatever he had just felt behind a blank stare.

“Goodbye, Annette,” he said, his voice devoid of warmth.

I hesitated, not wanting to utter the words that would create distance between us. But as he was leaving regardless, I felt compelled to say them, to avoid the regret of leaving them unspoken for the rest of my life.

“Goodbye, Damien,” I managed to say, swallowing down the sadness that threatened to choke me.

He moved around the girls, placing a reassuring hand on their shoulders as they began to turn away.

I watched them for a while, my heart heavy, even as Ian resumed his conversation with me.

Twice, the children turned back to give me secret waves, their little hands fluttering like butterflies. Once, Damien glanced back, meeting my gaze for just a heartbeat before looking away again.

My heart ached, longing to follow them, to be part of their world, and I couldn’t fathom why I was choosing to stay behind.

The struggle of deciding where I truly belonged was becoming increasingly overwhelming.

As they disappeared from view, a wave of grief washed over me, leaving me cranky and impatient. Just the sight of Ian irritated me, and when I noticed Jake approaching us, I braced myself for a conversation I wasn’t prepared to handle with either of them.

They had both been unkind to me lately, and in that moment, I had no desire to play nice, not even with my own brother.

When Jake drew closer, I felt the need to excuse myself. “I’m sorry,” I said, my voice low. “I’m feeling very tired. I think I’m going to head back to my room and rest.”

“The night is still young,” Ian interjected, disappointment clear in his tone.

“It’s been a long day,” I replied, my patience wearing thin.

He scoffed lightly, a sound that grated on my nerves. “And you want to keep working at the hospital, even though it makes you like this?”

His attitude only solidified my resolve to retreat early.

“Goodnight, Ian. Jake.” Without waiting for a response or an escort, I turned on my heel and walked away, eager to escape the tension that hung in the air.

**Jake’s POV**

Something had clearly upset Amelia for her to leave so abruptly. The night was still vibrant with life, with at least a dozen dances left to enjoy, likely stretching into the early hours of the morning.