"Oh! Papa, you're awake! Come! The food is almost ready!" The little girl called Louella happily greeted him as he stepped out of the bedroom .

His towering figure almost reaching the low ceiling of the nipa hut .

"What's for dinner then?" His smile can melt anyone's heart .

The lady who was cooking with her daughter timidly smiled . "We're having fish stew . You two wash your hands . It won't be long 'til it's ready . "

"Okay . " He smiled and fetched some water from the nearby pump .

She was placing plates on the table when the two came back into the house .

"Papa, please take off the fishbones for me . " The little girl requested with puppy eyes .

"Sure, Darling . " He smiled gently at her, but was startled by the glare from the lady .

"Luis, don't spoil her . She can do it herself . " She turned towards her daughter . "Louella, debone the fish yourself . Don't bother your father . He needs to eat well to regain his strength . "

"Oh . . . okay . . . " Louella had a deranged expression, bur she started eating .

"Eleanor, it's fine . She's my daughter after all . Spoiling her a little won't hurt . " He flashed his smile .

As they were having dinner, the man's thoughts were swirling around a lot of things .

He might have lost his memory, but he thought that the feeling of having a family seemed natural to him . He just regretted that he needed to know them again from the beginning . Eleanor had told him that he had gone missing at sea for a long time . That was why most neighbors do not recognize him, and that she was thankful that he had finally returned .

What convinced him more are their matching rings, signifying their marriage . When he tried to pull his, he had a mark on his finger that proved that he had worn the ring for quite some time .

_________________

In the private plane bound to City S, Midori held her sleeping son, which she failed to do for several weeks . Her thoughts were running about several possibilities .

Earlier on, Vanessa told her that a fisherman had seen her husband in their small town .

The news of Dan's death took her in a state of shock . Since the body was burnt already, they proceeded with cremation . But even in the funeral, Midori never cried, instead, she became like a lifeless doll, to the dismay of her family .

Now, she had hope that he could still be alive . But what if they were mistaken? What if the body that they recovered was really his and this is just false hope .

She kissed her son on the forehead . She had a bitter smile on her face . She felt guilty for abandoning him and not being strong enough for him .

She turned her head towards where Aoi Xiu was seated .

Amidst her strange reaction to the turn of events, her mother stood by her and even took the role of taking care of Dmitri personally .

Midori is also aware of all the efforts she put in trying to make her come around .

She knew, but at that time, it was as if her whole being did not want to do anything purposefully .

She wanted to . She knew she had to . However, she was so depressed to do anything about it .

As if feeling her stare, Aoi Xiu looked towards her direction and flashed a gentle smile .

Midori mouthed, "Thanks, Mom!" And had a warm smile .

Aoi nodded as she smiled more .

Midori adjusted her son's sleeping position on her chest as she tried to catch some rest too .

Aoi Xiu pondered . If her daughter failed to bring back her son-in-law, it might be a bigger problem .

She looked at Takagi Ryuuji, who was asleep after few days of taking care of her daughter . She pitied him . If Dan can really be rescued, then this man, whose fault was only loving Midori, would have to get out of the picture again, whether he likes it or not .