leonardwarren Chapter 524 A Family Of My Own
Chapter 524 A Family Of My Own
"Speaking of family..." Camila suddenly said, her voice light with a hint of mischief. "...there's something on the label that I think you missed, Kafka."
Confused about her words, I furrowed my brow and looked down at the jar in my hands. I turned it slightly, scanning the label more closely.
At first, it was just the same beautiful design Bella had created, with the cute illustrations and the playful font. But then my eyes caught something at the very top of the label.
"Kafka's Family Sauces..."
I froze, my breath catching in my throat. The brand name was prominently displayed right underneath, simple yet striking.
My eyes widened in disbelief as the realisation hit me like a bolt of lightning.
"K-Kafka's Family?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
I slowly looked up at them, my expression a mix of shock and awe. Camila and Bella were both grinning widely, their faces filled with pride and anticipation, as if waiting for my reaction to fully set in.
Bella was the first to speak, her excitement bubbling over. "How's the name, Daddy? Pretty cool, right?" She asked, practically bouncing on her heels. "At first, we were going to call it the Vanitas Family, but...We thought it wouldn't feel as personal. Not as intimate, you know? So we kept it as 'Kafka's Family'...What do you think?"
Hearing those words, my heart raced even more. I couldn't believe what I was hearing—or seeing.
They had named the entire brand after me, centred it around the idea of family, and made it something so deeply personal.
"W-Why?" I managed to say, my voice trembling slightly. "Why name it after me? Y-You could've chosen so many other things, so why did you choose my silly name?"
Camila stepped closer, her hand resting lightly on my arm. Her voice was soft but steady as she replied,
"Because you're the reason we did this, Kafka. Your love for this family, your belief in all of us, it's what brought this to life...You're the heart of this, whether you realise it or not."
Bella nodded, her grin softening into a warm smile.
"It's true. You're always the one who brings people together, Daddy, just like you did with me and my mom."
She paused, her cheeks tinging pink as she glanced down at the jar in my hands, then back at me.
"Y-You're like...the magnet that keeps everyone close to each other, Daddy." She added, her voice quieter but filled with sincerity. "You're the one who ties this family together...S-So it's only natural that your name is up front."
I stared at her, speechless. The weight of her words, the sincerity in her voice—it all hit me at once. I found it hard to breathe, and I had to take a deep breath to steady myself.
Camila stepped closer, her smile filled with warmth and pride. "She's right, Kakfa." She said softly. "This family...It wouldn't be what it is without you. You've always been the heart of it, even if you don't realise it."
I looked between the two of them, my heart swelling with so many emotions that I didn't even know where to begin. My gaze dropped back to the jar, the words 'Kafka's Family Sauces' staring back at me, making everything feel even more real.
"Fine." She muttered, her tone softer now. Slowly, her arms came up to return the hug. "But he's squishing me." She grumbled under her breath, though I knew she was happy to be in my embrace at the moment.
I honestly couldn't speak. The words were stuck in my throat, drowned out by the sheer weight of the moment. All I could do was hold them tighter, feeling the overwhelming mix of gratitude, love, and disbelief coursing through me.
At that moment, my mind replayed Camila's words: You're the heart of this family. And Bella's: You're the magnet that ties us all together.
How had I gone from being a boy no one wanted to the man standing here, surrounded by love and warmth I'd never dared to hope for?
How had I been so lucky to find people who didn't just see me but believed in me, who loved me enough to make me the centrepiece of something so incredible?...Who knows?
Camila's hand then rested lightly on my cheek, drawing me out of my thoughts. She leaned in close, her voice barely above a whisper. "You've given us so much, Kafka. This was just our way of giving something back to you."
Bella, still pressed against me, muttered, "Yeah, Daddy, and you better not forget it. This wasn't easy, you know."
I let out a choked laugh, my voice trembling. "I don't deserve any of you." I managed, my words coming out rough and raw.
Camila pulled back slightly, just enough to meet my gaze. Her eyes were warm, shining with the kind of love that could break through even the darkest memories.
"Don't say that." She said firmly, her smile gentle. "You deserve all of this and more. And we'll keep reminding you of that until you believe it."
Bella nodded against my chest, her earlier teasing replaced with sincerity. "You're stuck with us now, Daddy. No takebacks."
I laughed again, pulling them both tighter one last time. My tears were flowing freely now, but I didn't care.
For the first time in years, I didn't feel like I had to hold anything back.
As the moment stretched on, Camila leaned her head against my shoulder, her arms still wrapped around me. Bella relaxed fully into the hug, her own arms tightening as if she'd finally understood the importance of what we shared.
And there I stood, one man overwhelmed by the love he never thought he'd have, holding two of the many women who had given him a family he'd always dreamed of, while they hugged him back with everything they had to give.
But just as the mood was settling into something serene and beautiful, a sudden knock echoed through the house, followed immediately by the sharp ring of the doorbell.
The sound cut through the quiet moment like a blade, making all three of us stiffen.
Camila pulled back slightly, her brows knitting together. Bella straightened, glancing toward the door with wide eyes.
There was nothing inherently alarming about a knock or a doorbell, but something about it—about the timing—sent a faint shiver down my spine.
I exchanged a glance with Camila, whose expression now held a flicker of unease. Bella shifted on her feet, biting her lip.
I don't know what it was, but something told me this wasn't going to be someone delivering good news...