Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

Emma didn't even realize Dustin had stood up until he was right by her side, smoothly taking her bag and holding it for her.

Her belly was getting quite round now, and standing for too long made her back ache terribly. Once they settled into the restaurant, she noticed Dustin had thoughtfully reserved a private booth for them. She quickly took off her hat and mask, revealing strands of hair clinging to her sweaty forehead-a sign of just how exhausting her recent check-up had been.

Dustin frowned, feeling a twinge of concern. Is this what all moms-to-be go through?

"How many check-ups have you had?" he asked.

Emma blushed a bit, "Oh, quite a few. My morning sickness has been brutal, and I keep worrying something might be wrong with the baby. My mom didn't have much experience with all this-back in the countryside, prenatal check-ups were rare. If a child was born with issues, well, that was just life. I'm trying to be extra careful, so I go in for a check-up at the slightest discomfort. It's my first time being a mom, and I'm still learning the ropes."

Her words struck a chord with Dustin. Emma was proving to be an attentive mother, while he felt unsure about his role as a father.

"I saw you shopping for baby stuff the other day. Did you get everything?" he asked.

"Not yet. I got a bit flustered when you bumped into me last time. Plus, the morning sickness has been so bad that I've hardly been out," she admitted.

"I'll go with you after we eat," Dustin offered.

Emma wanted to refuse, knowing he was trying to make up for things. She didn't really need his help.

"Mr. Lynch-" she began, but Dustin cut her off.

"Emma, this isn't about making amends. He's my child too. Unless you plan on telling him his father's dead from day one, we need to face this together. What do you think?" he said, serving her a bowl of soup to warm her up.

"If I say I like you, you probably won't believe it. Honestly, I'm not sure I believe it myself. Even on this trip abroad, I had a brief fling. I don't want to hide anything from you. You see a different world than I do. Right now, everything with you feels new and exciting, but I can't guarantee I won't get bored someday. I can't promise you anything, but I want our child to know I'm a good father."

Every head of the Lynch family had only one spouse, and his mother always said it was an accident they ended up with a wayward son like him. But no matter how much of a playboy he was before marriage, he never intended to pretend he was perfect.

"Emma, for our child's sake, we should at least try to get along. Try to understand me, maybe even love me. I'm offering you my loyalty, okay?"

Emma's heart skipped a beat. She always thought Dustin was someone she had to look up to, someone out of her reach. But his words made it clear; he didn't want her to idolize him. They could meet as equals.

He was offering his loyalty in exchange for her love.

Dustin lowered his eyelashes, speaking sincerely.

"I can't promise to trade my love for yours. I've loved many women, and I can't belittle those relationships just to persuade you now. I cared deeply for each of them. So using my love as a bargaining chip isn't fair because I've already given it away."

For him, loyalty meant everything-something he had never promised lightly before. Offering it to Emma for her love seemed like a fair deal, right?

Emma stayed silent, gripping her spoon tightly. She tried to find a reason to turn him down, but Dustin had a knack for saying exactly what mattered. His words weren't just empty promises; he followed through.

Emma felt she might have to eat her

words. She had once advised her friend Candice to avoid getting involved with a man like him,

insisting that a woman's career net

shouldcome first. She had worked hard to leave her remote village, and she couldn't afford to waste time on a man. That would be a mistake.

She looked down, focusing on her bowl of soup. She'd already drunk half, and the warmth spread through her stomach.

Dustin nudged the other dishes closer to her. Seeing her hesitation, he took a step back.

"At the very least, let me help you get what the baby needs now," he said.

Emma finally looked up, a smile breaking across her face.

"Okay."