Page 12 of Dr. Damaged Protector

"I'm meeting your children for the first time; of course, I'm nervous," she replied. Even her voice expressed her panicked state.

She flashed us a smile and a little wave. I nodded. She cringed when she noticed my sisters’ gaze.

"Now that's my oldest, Lucas." Father carried on the introduction, blissfully ignoring my sisters. "Then that's Tabitha, the second oldest, Helena, Gregory, and finally, Isaac." He paused and said softly, "His mother would have been in your shoes now, but kind of a nutcase."

The woman winced at his comment and stared at Isaac. The young man was already used to his father's usual jabbing at his mother. Besides, it had been confirmed in a way.

"Oh, I don't know how to respond to that," the lady chuckled nervously.

"You don't have to," Tabitha advised. "Just stand there and look pretty."

My younger sister's sarcasm didn't go unnoticed by her target. The woman looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her immediately. I couldn't blame her.

"Why did you call all of us here?" I asked, my patience thinning.

"I was going to wait until everyone was here, but an extra seems to be late," Father replied.

"They'll get here soon," the woman assured him. "Had something urgent to do at work."

"No problems," he said with a shrug.

He turned his attention to us. "Alright, my children, it's dinner time."

I noticed the chefs and maids had been demanding at work ever since we arrived. They presented dinner in an elaborate spread, with different meals that would cater to a general palette. The last time I remember a dinner at my family's place being this lavish was only the time Father had a politician over, and we had to look good.

We started eating slowly. There was no chance he had poisoned the food, but who's to say we shouldn't be cautious?

"Oh my." Father paused as he realized something. "I introduced my children without introducing you specially."

The rest of us expected this. He was rather full of himself; that was most likely why he had forgotten.

"Children, this is Kate Kelvin," he introduced her while gesturing with the glass of wine in his hand. "A lovely lady I met in Chicago. We've been seeing each other for two months. I enjoyed her company so much that I knew I had to bring her to Richmond."

Chicago?

That could be where he also met Olivia. It still didn't make sense how he informed her about a job position with me.

"You flatter me," Kate replied with a warm smile. "You are a better company."

Father? A good company?

By pure coincidence, my siblings and I had the same visible reaction.

An amused reaction was followed by a brief look of pity. Helena went an extra step and even shook her head negatively.

"And that is why you all are gathered here." He finally got to the point. "You see, your old man has been having issues getting the love thing to work for him. My last two attempts didn't end well."

No argument there.

"Third time's the charm, so here we are," Father continued as he held her hand. "I've decided to make her my second wife."

Isaac winced at the announcement but brought the wine to his lips. The rest of my siblings weren't impressed, either. I wasn't surprised, as Sebastian had already given me a heads-up. However, a wave of relief washed over me. At one point, I started to wonder if Olivia was who he intended to marry. That would have explained the sudden distance between us.

I was reading too deeply. Assuming that she had remained on her own for two years just for the sake of one person she met at a bar for a one-night stand was just my ego speaking.

Was that the case for me? Did I still throb for her attention? I shook off the thought.

"Congratulations," Isaac said to the couple, offering his warmest smile.

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