A Life Debt Repaid

Sam returned to the country six months later.
Saunderia’s foreign branch was developing smoothly, and everything was on the right track.
Still, Sam returned only to attend the celebration of Zoe’s son’s birth, not because he missed home.
Time flies-Zoe was still heavily pregnant when he left, and the baby was three months old now.
Sam headed home first without telling anyone when he came back-it was dusty since it was vacant for a while, so he had
cleaners tidy up the place.
He lay on the familiar bed, alone in the house.
That night, he loved the woman he held most dear, but it was nothing more than history.
He would have worked hard to forget if he had not returned, and he had no idea if he succeeded.
Still, it had been six months since he and Quinn spoke- there were times when his parents spoke to him through video call from
Saunders Mansion. However, it was usually night and Quinn did not show up, though Sam occasionally would catch a glimpse of
her.
Sam tossed around-the celebration for Zoe’s baby was tomorrow, and he would probably be drinking with Johnny and the boys.
It had been a while since he did, and he wondered if he could still hold his liquor. Either way, he just needed some rest, and he
would be ready for anything.
He woke up very early the next morning.
His biological clock somehow took after his parents’ before he knew it-he never usually stayed up late and would wake up early
in the morning.
Dressing up smartly, he brought along the presents he prepared and left at the right time-neither too late nor too early, going with
the flow.
He used to like being late, thinking it was fashionable, only to find that childish now.
He certainly matured over the last six months, surprising even himself. He used to believe his personality would never change.

Arriving at the banquet hall, he saw Jay and Zoe greeting guests from afar, both of them visibly happy.
Who would not be, having both a son and a daughter now?
He made his way over to them, and they were both stunned to see him.
Zoe especially gaped for a while before exclaiming exaggeratedly, “You really came back?!”
She had merely notified him on Facebook, sending it in a group chat.
He acknowledged it, but she thought he was just replying out of courtesy, even if he said he was coming back when she grilled
him repeatedly.
Caught in disbelief, she was left wondering if Sam was always that loyal and actually thought better of him just then.
“So, I’m not welcome here?” Sam asked, speechless.
“No way!” Zoe exclaimed. “I’m just shocked, y’know?”
Sam smiled and nodded, while Zoe quickly said. “Hurry inside. Johnny and the rest are in there.”
“Okay.” Sam nodded. “Here. A gift for the little man.”
“Oh, a gift?” Zoe giggled as she took it. “Turned over a new leaf, Mr. Saunders?”
Sam ignored that and strode into the banquet hall, while Zoe appeared thrilled once he left