CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

«Well, I am not dangerous,» Lara said after sitting in front of the lower table. «I'm just unstable and fear things I have no clue about.»

«I see,» Nate murmured, picking up Scarlet before she could reach out to the last cookie. It was almost dinner time; she'd better wait for their meal instead of eating sweets.

«When I had the first panic attack in front of you, I felt the need to talk with a doctor. Doctor Mason was the first who replied to my call, and I set an appointment even though it was dangerous to go out.»

«So, this is what made you go out during a difficult period. I wondered about it, I confess... But to think it was for therapy... You didn't need to hide it from me, Lara.»

«I'm sorry.»

«You don't need to apologise. Also, the kids were worried together with me. Am I right?»

They nodded, still playing around their mother and giggling quietly. At the exact same moment she had realised she wasn't alone, they had felt her relief and stopped worrying. Nate was a real asset: he could make their mother stop fearing anything.

Even they couldn't help her in the past. Their wagging tails and playful ears were just enough to comfort her for a moment, but to make her sigh like that, smile soon after crying? It was something only Nate could do.

«I won't hide it anymore,» she said. «But I need to continue with the therapy... It made me improve, right? I haven't had any panic attacks since then. And I'm so close to finding out what made me like this, Nate. I feel like the answer is there.

I just need to try hard enough, and I'll find it.»

«Hey, it's okay. Whatever makes you feel better is okay to me. However, I prefer you don't go there alone for a while. Just not to be assaulted by the press. Is that okay?»

«Okay,» Lara agreed, smiling.

With him, she didn't fear anything. If Nate could accept that broken part of her, she didn't care about the rest of the world.

«And we? Can we also come?» Scarlet inquired. Was a ciscologist a place with or without food? She was curious but also wary. However, when Nate glared at her, she understood she wasn't getting any food from that place.

«It's a place for adults,» Lara explained. «It's like a doctor.»

«Oh, you also go there, mommy? The doctors said my heart makes bump-bump so well because I love my mommy,» she said. «And daddy's heart also makes bump-bump. He also loves his mommy. Or maybe my mommy, I don't remember what the doctor said.»

She scratched her head, but it didn't come to mind.

«He said I'm growing up a lot and will become tall like dad and protect mommy,» Jaden added, his face excited at the memory. He had forgotten to tell his mommy after visiting the doctor with Nate - so much time ago.

«Oh, yes,» Lara chuckled. «He told me about your adventure. I'm so happy my kids are growing up so well. And that their heart makes bump-bump.»

«Also, dad asked so many things that I couldn't talk with the doctor,» Jaden complained. «I wanted to ask him something, but dad didn't give me time!»

«Yes?»

«Yes!»

«He had a lot of questions too, for once.»

«Yes, mommy! You're the best; you always know what to do.»

«Oh, Jaden... I don't have a clue, sometimes. Nate is doing his best, so you shouldn't talk like this.»

«Oh, it's fine. He's learning.»

«L-learning?»

«Yes,» Jaden confirmed.

Lara observed his expression in search of any sign of unhappiness or hidden thoughts, but he was transparent. He was happy his dad was learning, and he seemed more excited than annoyed by it.

«How odd...» Lara murmured. So much had changed in so little time.

«I also need to learn,» Nate explained. «I wasn't born with all the knowledge. Like this, we can learn together.»

«Oh,» Lara understood. Nate and Jaden must have had a conversation about that. «So nice! My men are so smart, aren't they?»

«And I?» Scarlet butted in. She also wanted to be smart.

«My girl is so pretty,» Lara admitted.

«But I...» Her eyes widened in shock. Why didn't her mother say she was smart... Was she not? «I?»

Nate already knew the source of that small crisis, and he picked up the little girl. He made her sit on his thigh and let go of Lara - the pups were getting annoying even to their mommy.

«You are also smart,» Nate said. «In your own, special way.»

«I'm special?»

«Yes, Scarlet. Very special.»

«Oh, hehe...» she giggled. She liked the sound of that word. Being special meant that no one else was like her. Even if her mommy wanted another baby, it wouldn't have been like Scarlet.

She was irreplaceable!

«Is my mommy special?» she asked. «And Jaden?»

«Oh, yes. You three are all special to me. Your mommy most of all, but you and your brother are... you are everything.»

He bent down to peck his daughter's hair, getting used to expressing his feelings like that. It wasn't that hard with small cute things, and his daughter knew how to take advantage of it.

Nate noticed how Jaden was also observing the scene, hiding his thoughts but appearing very much jealous. He reached out to the boy as well and dragged him in a hug, kissing his head just like with Scarlet.

«You both are special,» Nate repeated.

Lara pressed a hand on her heart, that scene making her lose track of where she was. How nice it was: to look at her family getting along. It made up for every single second spent alone and in despair. With them, she didn't need much more.

«But who is the most special of all?» Scarlet inquired.

However, no one was in the mood to ruin that moment. Neither Nate nor Lara even heard her, lost in their familiar love and warmth.