Amara had grown to be at ease with her engagement with Noah after several weeks from the family gathering. However, as she got more involved in Noah's affairs, she discovered that he had more than one life.
On a particular day, she once again visited the Bennett estate. Noah had invited her for a family lunch and although she now felt more comfortable around the Bennetts, there was still some kind of hostility that she could not explain.
During their meal in the huge dining room with a grand view, Charles, Noah's father initiated a conversation about the family business. Amara had always known that the Bennetts were into real estate but at that moment she realized how massive their empire was with numerous projects all over the nation — apartments, offices, hotels and even high-class ones. A dynasty spanning centuries had been created.
Nevertheless, as Charles was talking, Amara also paid attention to something odd. There seemed to be an underlying but noticeable friction between him and Noah. It was subtle and did not take any clear form except for those times when Charles spoke or said something like an extra message within the context of business alone.
Noah played his role very well but Amara could not avoid thinking about some hidden issues in their relations which both sides kept silent about.
When they finished eating, they went for a stroll in the estate gardens. The weather was cool, and as they walked on peacefully while stepping on dry leaves.
Afterwards breaking silence for some time Amara asked "Is everything okay between you and your dad? It seemed a little… tense back there."
For an instant, Noah appeared like he would ignore her before brushing it off. In the end though he took a deep breath and gathered himself.
"It's complicated," he confessed. "There are times when my dad and I don't agree. Lately he has been pressuring me to get more involved in the family business, but I have always had my own plans." It had been several weeks since the engagement party, and Amara was starting to ease up as Noah's future wife. Nonetheless, she found out that getting deeper into Noah's world revealed more about him than she could have ever imagined.
For the umpteenth time, Amara visited Bennett's mansion. Today, he had invited her for a family lunch again. By now she had got used to the Bennetts, but there was always some kind of uneasiness in her interaction with them.
When they were seated at the immense dining table, Charles started talking with them about the business matters. Amara had an idea that the Bennetts dealt with real estate but at that particular moment she saw how much significant their property extended throughout the nation. They possessed all kinds of properties countrywide — hotels, offices, elegant vacation homes. It was a dynasty that had taken many years to construct.
However, as Charles spoke, Amara observed something odd. A slight tension between father and son could be felt although not seen directly like one would expect with naked eyes or hear with ears alone; for example there were times when Charles made innocent remarks or queries whose hidden senses went past mere money-making activities.
Noah played his role in a very composed manner but Amara kept on thinking whether this was just another case of cutting some depth off their relationship for show alone – or maybe not?
After eating lunch Noah and Amara went around walking on garden path of estate house. The cool breeze blew as they moved along causing leaves from trees around them turning yellow and red which made crackling sounds under their footsteps but neither spoke a word.
Finally, breaking the silence Amara said, "Is everything okay between you and your dad? It seemed a little… tense back there."
He clenched his jaw and for a second she thought he would dismiss her question altogether. However, he breathed out heavily and ran his hand through his hair.
"It's complicated," he said. "My father and I… we don't always see eye to eye. He's been pushing me to take on more of the family business, but I've always wanted to do things my own"