Fated to the Ruthless CEO

It was a rare family gathering, and the tension was evident. Amber was aware that Devlin and his parents hadn’t been in contact for several years. How long was that…she had no specific idea. The strained atmosphere hung like a thick fog. Amber felt like an outsider, caught in the middle of a reunion that held mixed emotions.

As they moved to the living room, Devlin’s mother couldn’t help but steal glances at Amber. She had never fully accepted their relationship especially that they married in haste five years ago. Amber’s presence was a constant reminder of the divide that had grown between her and her son. She tried to put on a pleasant facade, but her eyes revealed a deeper unease.

Devlin’s father, on the other hand, was quieter, carrying a weight of regret. He had missed out on so much of his son’s life, and now that they were finally face-to-face again, he struggled to find the right words. His longing gaze at Devlin spoke volumes, and it was clear that he wanted to make amends.

Amber, aware of the fragile relationship between her husband and his parents, tried to maintain a cordial tone. She respected the fact that they are Devlin’s parents, despite their past differences. Her demeanor was polite but guarded, her words carefully chosen to convey goodwill without going into their complicated history.

The long silence was so deafening. No one dared to break the ice or strike up a conversation. Amber took a deep breath and decided it was time to do something about it. She cleared her throat and excused herself from the awkward situation, using the need to check on dinner in the kitchen as her escape. She left Devlin with his parents so they could start talking as family.

As she entered the kitchen, the scent of a simmering pot on the stove enveloped, providing a moment of comfort. She was glad to see the housemaids busy preparing food for dinner, their bustling activity adding a sense of warmth to the room.

“Good evening, madam,” greeted one of the housemaids with a friendly smile, her hands expertly chopping vegetables on a wooden cutting board.

“Good evening.” she replied with a warm smile. “The food smells delicious. We have unexpected guests tonight. Please add more food to cook. I want to make sure everyone has enough to eat.”

They all nodded and immediately began to work together, swiftly pulling out additional ingredients and pots from the pantry. Amber was amused looking at them gracefully moving around the kitchen as they prepared to expand the dinner menu to accommodate the unexpected guests.

As they worked, the conversation continued, and the atmosphere in the kitchen remained jovial. The head cook, bustling near the stove, chimed in. “Madam, would you prefer a specific dish or simply increase the portions of what we already have?”

Amber paused for a moment, considering the options. “Let’s add a special touch to the meal tonight. How about we prepare that rich mushroom risotto that you cooked yesterday for lunch? It’s a perfect dish for our guests. Devlin and I loved it.”

Everyone exchanged knowing glances, clearly pleased with the idea. “Mushroom risotto it is, madam,” replied the head cook, and they immediately began gathering the necessary ingredients for this delectable addition to the menu.

Back in the living room, Amber heard muffled voices, indicating that her departure had prompted others to finally speak up. But Amber knew that this wouldn’t be enough to bridge the emotional gap that had formed between them all.

After checking for dinner, she returned with a tray of light snacks and drinks before dinner was served in an hour. She gestured to the spread she had brought and said, “I thought we could all use a little refreshment before dinner is served.” She looked at everyone expectantly.

She saw the relieved smile from Devlin’s dad and a hesitant smile from his mother. That’s a good start. She thought to herself. She served everyone some drinks and some light snacks. She last served her husband, who was grateful for her gesture.

“Thank you, wife.” He whispered close to her ear and lightly pinched her arm.

“So, how have you been, Amber? I heard that you own a huge company now.” It was Devlin’s father who started the conversation.

“I’m doing great, and yes, I’m now managing my own company. While it’s not yet a huge enterprise, it is experiencing success.”

“Wife, you are far too modest to share more about your accomplishments. When I was in New York, Amber received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and her company also earned the Company of the Year Award.” Devlin declared proudly of her achievements. He even put his arm on Amber’s shoulder.

Both of Devlin’s parents gazed at the joyful couple before them. It appeared that Devlin had truly found the love of his life. Mrs. Wesley had never seen her son so captivated by a woman before. The look he directed at Amber was truly priceless; she had never witnessed such a look during Devlin’s relationship with Raven.

“Congratulations, Amber! That’s truly an impressive achievement,” Mrs. Wesley said sincerely, her warmth and approval evident in her voice. She gradually felt more comfortable with his son’s wife.

Then, she cleared her throat, her nerves showing as she contemplated sharing something she had wanted to say for a long time. It was long overdue, but she knew it was high time to express her regrets, especially regarding her treatment of Amber. And she also regretted not being able to be there for her sons and not raise them herself. She knew that she didn’t treat Devlin right compared to his older brother, Dalton.

“Um… There’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you, Amber,” Mrs. Wesley began, her son and Amber both giving her their full attention. Even her husband wore a pleased expression as he looked on.

“I realize it’s been a long time coming, but I want to apologize for what happened five years ago. I misjudged you, and I’m truly sorry, Amber,” she said, her sincerity evident through teary eyes. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for you at that time, and to this day, I deeply regret everything I said back then.” She ended and now stood up to hug Amber tightly.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Amber, on the other hand, was rendered speechless. She hadn’t expected things to unfold like this, but she was overwhelmed with happiness and tightly embraced Mrs. Wesley. She felt a deep sigh of relief escape her.

“I am sincerely sorry, Amber, for everything I said and did back then. I hope it’s not too late to say this, but welcome to the family, my daughter.” Devlin’s father said with intense emotion. Amber approached him and hugged him as well.

“Thank you, so much. You never know how much I appreciate that you’ve finally welcomed me into your family. It’s never too late for anything. Devlin and I have managed to work through our issues, and I’m eager to move forward with him in my life. And now both of you.” Amber could not stop herself from crying.

Devlin came to her side. Happiness was evident on his face. He was grateful to his parents for finally accepting Amber. He never imagined this scene would ever happen. He also came forward to hug his mom and dad. Despite what happened in his childhood, they are still his parents.

“Thank you so much, mom… dad.” All he could ever say to them.

Mrs. Wesley hugged her son tightly and whispered. “You look absolutely smitten. Amber seems like a wonderful woman.”

Devlin was grinning at his mom. “Mom, she’s amazing. I’ve never felt this way before. It’s like everything just falls into the right place when I’m with her.”

Mrs. Wesley smiled warmly. “I can see that. You’re glowing, son. It’s a rare sight, I must admit.” They both chuckled softly including his dad. Amber heard everything and she turned beet red.

Dinner was served a few minutes later in the cozy dining area. The room was bathed in the warm glow of candlelight, creating an intimate atmosphere for their gathering. As they savored each bite of the delicious meal, conversations flowed effortlessly, blending the clinking of cutlery and laughter.

“I have to say this is the best mushroom risotto by far.” It was Devlin’s dad who made the comment.

“The head cook prepared it exceptionally well, which is why I requested that they serve it for tonight’s dinner. I would definitely love to learn how to cook this one.” Amber said with a wide smile.

They continued their conversations while eating. Devlin’s parents, sitting across from Amber and Devlin, couldn’t help but delve into cherished memories of their son’s childhood. They shared stories of Devlin’s humorous escapades, from the time he tried to use a bedsheet as a makeshift superhero cape to his comical mishaps with household pets. These stories brought a hearty chuckle to the table, bonding the family even closer.

Despite their past as somewhat absentee parents, Amber observed genuine sincerity in their efforts to bridge the gap with Devlin. She could see the subtle trace of regret in their eyes whenever they spoke about Devlin’s younger days. It was as if they were acknowledging their mistakes and yearning for a chance to rewrite the past.

However, happiness was also unmistakably etched across their faces. It was evident in the way they exchanged glances, the warmth of their smiles, and the twinkle in their eyes as they shared these stories.

As the evening progressed, Mrs. Wesley and Amber engaged in conversation while the father and son gathered at the poolside for some private conversations.

“Son, thank you so much for the wonderful dinner. I may not have expressed it before, but I’m immensely proud of the man you’ve become. I deeply regret that your mom and I weren’t there for you and your brother. Between you and Dalton, I know you were the one who felt our neglect the most,” he said with sincerity.

He felt grateful for his spontaneous decision earlier to visit his son and daughter-in-law. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have this kind of conversation with Devlin.

Devlin was left speechless. He never imagined hearing his father utter such words. All the anguish and pain that he had held for so many years against his parents seemed to vanish into thin air.

“And your wife, I genuinely like her. She truly brings out the best in you. She’s a keeper. Take good care of her,” his father added before patting his shoulder and returning to his wife, who was now engrossed in conversation and laughter with Amber.