Prologue

Maze's

The delicious smell of my favorite mac and cheese tingled my nose when I entered the kitchen. 

My eyes automatically looked for my husband and there I saw him preparing our dinner table. 

Aside from mac and cheese, I can see that he also made my favorite steak and other delicious foods for our 11th year anniversary. 

And I can't help but smile as I crossed my arms against my chest while leaning at the doorframe and just watched my wonderful wife do all the work. 

Life with Gabriel was, is and I am sure will always be beyond wonderful. 

We have our ups and downs as a couple but that didn't make me love him less. In fact, I loved him even more as years passed by and he showed me how wonderful it is to have someone like him in my life. 

I honestly think that I'm the luckiest man on earth as I'm able to get myself a very good-looking and the best husband I could ever wish for and also a wonderful son that makes life brighter for the both of us. 

It's also exactly two years ago when we welcomed a five year old sweet boy into our home and I can really say that Nathaniel made the house more livelier. 

There are days that I actually don't want to go to work and just spend the rest of the day with Gabriel and our son. And that's the best feeling ever.

Knowing that in the morning, I'll wake up and get to see their beautiful faces and they would bid me goodbye and wish me luck every time I went off for work. And it makes me more happy knowing that I'll go home at night and they will both welcome me with a warm hug and tell me how much they miss me the whole day. 

They made me feel like I was never from a broken family. 

And Nathan never failed to let Gabriel know that he's the best dad he could ever have. 

I can still remember how he hesitated upon my request to adopt a child but now he's the one who never wants Nathan out of his sight. 

I'm not complaining, though. Cause that's what I wanted. For him to love and cherish our son just like his own. Our own. And he never once failed doing so. 

One thing I love the most about Gabriel is he never made me feel envious about the attention he's giving to our son. 

He never made me feel deprived of his affection even when he had to take care of Nathaniel while I manage our business.

And I am utterly proud of what he had become. 

From a very impatient dork1 to a very loving dad. 

It's really lovely. 

He's lovely. 

It was then, I couldn't take it anymore and I walked towards him with long strides just so I could reach him as soon as possible. 

He jumped slightly when I wrapped my arms around his waist and he turned to look at me while I buried my face on the side of his neck. Sniffing his scent. 

I'm not looking at him but I know that he's smiling when he hummed and patted my hands just above his tummy. 

"Welcome home." He said sweetly and I can't help but smile as I continued sniffing and feeling his hot and soft skin. 

It was then I raised my head and put my lips against his ear. I can feel how he stiffened just by the mere gesture and it made me grin to no end. 

"Happy anniversary, my lovely husband." I whispered against his ear and I heard him gasp. So I turned him around so that he'll be facing me and he invited my lips to touch his and so I did. 

It was a long and passionate one. 

The same kiss we shared all throughout the years. 

It never changed. 

We were both gasping for air when we pulled away from each other and I can't help but smile as I leaned my forehead against his. 

His hot breath fanning my cheeks as I stare at his lovely orbs. 

Who would've thought that I'll end up with the one I used to hate, right?

But I can never regret anything that has happened. 

Not when it all led to this beautiful life I have now with him and our son.

"Happy anniversary too, my cocky husband." He smirked at me and I couldn't help but chuckle as I pulled him closer.

"Cocky, huh? You wanna know how cocky I am later tonight?" I said and he smiled while raising both of his eyebrows pretending to be clueless and I still find him cute when he does that. 

So I showered him light kisses all around his face and he accepted all that while giggling. 

We were both smiling happily when I stopped and we stared at each other for a while. 

Indulging the silence as we show how much we love each other through gazes. 

It was then I realized that something's missing, or someone perhaps. 

"Where's Nathan?" I asked him and he patted my shoulder. 

"He's with Tim and Top. They are out to buy some wine while the others are on their way here to celebrate with us." He said and I nodded. "I actually don't want him to go but I can't manage to see him sulking the whole night so I just let him be." He said before pouting, prolly castigating himself for being not able to resist his son's cuteness.

And I laughed at him. 

He had really took a whole turn from being a dork to a very considerate dad. 

I can't blame him, though. Cause even I can't resist pur son's cuteness. 

And we both promised that as long as it's not bad for Nathan, we would never deny him anything in this world cause he deserves nothing but the best. 

And I smiled as I pat his head for doing the right thing. It's not as if Top would let anything bad happen to our son. After all, he's one of the most trusted people in our life. 

It was then my phone rang so I fished it from my coat's pocket only to see an unregistered caller ID. 

I don't know but my heart started beating abnormally just by staring at the caller's number. 

I have a bad feeling about this.

But then, I decided to take the call, thinking that I'm just over thinking and that everything's fine. 

I looked at Gabriel as I placed the phone against my ear and I can see that he's also curious about who the caller is.

"Hello?" I asked on the other line. Few seconds and the caller didn't say anything yet. "Hello? Who's this?" I asked once again. Louder this time as nervousness started to creep in my whole system. 

"It's been a while since I last heard your voice, Maze. And I missed it. Don't you miss me too?" My whole body turned rigid as I recognized the familiar voice from the other line. 

This can't be happening. 

But I can't also be wrong. 

I know very well who the owner of the voice is. 

And I can't help but to grip tightly on my phone while frowning deeply. 

I can see Gabriel's worried expression while he's looking at me.

"Who are you?" I asked through gritted teeth, pretending to not know him.

"C'mon, Maze. I'm the only person you can never forget for the rest of your life." He even laughed when he said that and it triggered my anger to no end. "I'm back. And I'll be taking what is supposed to be mine with a bonus." He added and I frowned at what he said. 

"What do you mean?" I asked him, raising my voice cause I know for a fact that he can't mean any good. 

"You made the right decision to get yourself an heir, Maze. And I'm willing to do everything this time just to have the both of you." 

I feel like my heart stopped beating when I heard what he said. 

I can't help but to feel nervous not only for myself but for Gabriel and our son as well. 

I've never seen this coming. 

I thought, I was already able  to end it there. 

But it seems like, I got it all wrong. 

It's not yet over.

"Are you ready to crawl back to my mercy, my Son?"