Chapter 129: Meeting dad after marriage

Alina:

The closer we got to the house, the quieter I became. It only happened before final performances that I would feel like throwing up, and my hands would go numb, my legs jelly. I never thought I would ever feel like this before meeting my parents…. especially my dad. But it was happening anyway….and there was no going back!

At first I tried distracting myself by watching the city pass outside the tinted window, but eventually even that stopped working. My fingers kept twisting my wedding ring unconsciously while my thoughts ran in circles faster than I could control them.

Dad was going to explode. I just knew that. And there was genuinely no softer way to put it.

And the worst part was that I had dragged Kieran straight into it.

I glanced sideways at him.

He sat beside me with one arm resting near the window, his posture calm enough to fool anyone else, but I could tell he was tense. Not visibly. Just in the small things. The slight tightness in his jaw.

The way his thumb tapped once against his knee before going still again. The distant look in his eyes like he was already preparing himself mentally for whatever waited ahead.

“You can still turn the car around,” he said suddenly.

I frowned immediately. “Excuse me?”

“I’m serious,” he replied, finally looking at me.

“If you’re uncomfortable, we can wait another day.”

“I’m not the only one uncomfortable, you know. And that’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one dad nearly arranged his marriage for with his own kidnapper unknowingly.”

“And you’re not the one your dad already hates.”

“Our dad!” I corrected him like a habit. He chuckled.

“Yes…of course our dad. Well he is my father in law from now on as well. So that pretty much makes him my dad.”

I gave him a “are you really that dumb” look.

“Are you forgetting Kieran? He is your biological dad, so technically, I'm his daughter in law…he is my foster dad and my real dad…” I just realized what I was about to say.

“He’s….horrible than yours.” I completed my sentence in a hushed voice.

Kieran nodded,“That was supposed to make me feel better?” He inquired, looking at me with a teasing expression.

I stared at him for a second before sighing and leaning back against the seat again.

“It was supposed to make you laugh.”

“Well it failed then.” He shrugged.

“I know. A little smile almost happened though.” I argued unwillingly.

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly anyway. I looked at him again after a moment, softer this time.

“You’re nervous too.” I said again.

That tiny hint of amusement disappeared almost immediately.

“Kieran.”

He exhaled quietly through his nose before answering. “You–our dad has every reason to react badly.”

“No,” I said firmly, turning toward him properly now. “He has every reason to react emotionally. He has his own reasons and there's a difference. It's not like he actually hates you, Kieran.” I tried again.

His gaze shifted toward me slowly.

“Doesn’t feel like he hasn't hated me all these years. You always defend him even when you shouldn’t.”

“Well somebody has to because apparently you enjoy sitting there feeling all miserable because you think your dad hates you and will throw a fit.”

That actually made him laugh under his breath. “You’re already expecting violence?”

“Well, not violence but of course a havoc to be specific. I know how he's gonna react…especially because I left his house without looking back.”

That silenced both of us for a moment. The car slowed as the gates finally came into view, and I physically felt my stomach tighten.

So this was it, we arrived at our parents’ home.

Suddenly it felt like a bad idea.

I swallowed hard and instinctively reached for Kieran’s hand before realizing I had already been holding it.

He squeezed my fingers once.“We’ll leave if it gets too much,” he said quietly, holding my hand tighter, though I could sense his hands trembling a little too.

I nodded even though I wasn’t fully listening to him anymore.

The car stopped and for a second neither of us moved. Then Kieran stepped out first and held his hand toward me. My wedding ring flashed in the sunlight as I placed my hand in his.

And somehow that tiny detail steadied me enough to walk forward. The maid opened the door almost immediately after the first ring.

The second she saw us standing together, her entire expression changed.

“Miss Alina…”

Before she could say anything else, mom’s voice came from deeper inside the house.

“Who is it?”

Then she appeared and froze completely in her place. Her eyes moved from me to Kieran, then slowly down toward our joined hands.

I watched realization hit her piece by piece, as her mouth remained open, the handkerchief in her hand going still before dropping on the floor.

Her face changed from shock, to disbelief as reality suddenly dawned on her that I finally fulfilled my promise to her.

“H-Hi mom!” I greeted timidly stepping inside with Kieran.

“Oh my God…” Her voice broke instantly as she gazed at Kieran with yearning eyes.

“Kieran…” The way she said his name with so much longing made my chest hurt.

She walked toward us quickly before stopping directly in front of him like she still couldn’t fully believe he was actually standing there.

For a second Kieran looked almost uncertain too. His eyes held so many storms, so much helplessness, he looked like a lost child that finally came back to his mom, who survived so much chaos while finding his mother, scared and alone.

Mom reached up and held his face carefully between her hands.

“You came home…” she whispered shakily. Something shifted in Kieran’s expression, and he gulped before slowly raising his hands to hold hers on his cheeks.

His shoulders loosened slightly beneath the tension he had carried all morning.

“Mom,” he said quietly. That was enough to break her completely. She pulled him into a tight hug instantly, crying openly now, and for the first time since I could remember, Kieran looked genuinely caught off guard by affection.

He looked unprepared for this situation, confused yet hungry for love.

My own eyes stung watching them like this. Mom pulled back only slightly before grabbing my hands too.

“You two…” she whispered emotionally while looking between us. “Together…”

I smiled nervously. “Surprise?”

She laughed through tears. “I prayed for this and then convinced myself I was selfish for praying for it.”

That startled me. “No mom! You were not selfish!” I held her shoulders warmly.

“You have every right to pray for your child to come back home. I promised you that I would bring him back for good didn't I? I did it because I wanted to….you know that!”

“Y-yeah,” she replied softly. “I remember, I knew you would do it Alina! Thank you so much for bringing both of my kids back to me.” She hugged me tightly, then hugged Kieran again, who was standing there, his emotions loud, he was looking at mom like he was taking in her aging features deeply.

“Come here, come sit!” Mom said eagerly, pulling us both with hands, almost dragging us towards the sofas.

But before we could even sit properly, another voice cut through the hallway sharply.

“What exactly is happening here?”

Everything changed instantly, Kieran went still, looking in the direction of voice, his expression changing from longing to cold and collective. Mom's eyes widened, her face went pale…and me? I felt like fainting then and there.

Dad stood near the staircase staring directly at us. Or more specifically….staring at Kieran.

His expression hardened almost immediately as looked at both of us one by one.

“What is she doing here?” he asked coldly. “Didn't she elope to go to him? Why is she back?”

I shuddered, Kieran gripped my hand tightly. Mom turned quickly. “Honey—”

“I asked a question.” He roared again.

His eyes moved toward me sharply. “You already walked out of this house. Wasn’t that your decision?”

The warmth in the room vanished so fast it almost made me dizzy.

“I came because I wanted to tell you something myself,” I said carefully, collecting all my writhing confidence, stepping forward.

Dad’s gaze shifted toward Kieran again. “And why is he here?”

Kieran’s fists tightened, his jaw flexed, mom immediately stood in front of him. He came in front of mom then.

“I–”

“T-that's what I'm here to tell you about dad.” I cut Kieran off immediately before he chose any violent words.

Dad gave me a keen look. I drew in a breath.

“We got married.” I announced in the flash of light.

Silence spread all around the house, absolute silence! Mom’s eyes filled again instantly, this time with happiness so obvious she didn’t even try hiding it.

Dad looked like he genuinely hadn’t processed the words.

“You……what?” He asked, gradually stepping towards us, his brows furrowed.

“We’re married,” I repeated more firmly now.

“Kieran and I got married….we love each other, and I want you to know that this is how it was meant to be, so please………..let go of the grudge, and please accept us both. We're here for your blessings. Let's start afresh dad!” I tried convincing him even if my voice faltered, I realized it was of no use.

Mom let out a broken laugh through tears and covered her mouth emotionally. Dad’s eyes widened in horror as the words finally made sense to him, he looked at Kieran like an angry bull and completely lost his composure.

“You sick bastard—”

Before I could react, he crossed the distance and punched Kieran directly across the face.

The sound echoed through the hallway.

“Kieran!” I shouted, running towards him.

His head turned slightly from the impact, blood immediately appearing at the corner of his mouth. He gritted his teeth but didn't react.

Mom gasped loudly while I grabbed dad’s arm in shock.

“What are you doing?!”

“What am I doing?” he shouted furiously. “Look at him! This disgusting creature married you because I refused him for you. What did I tell you before? He wants to take revenge from me!” He was heaving, his eyes bloodshot.

Kieran slowly wiped blood from his lip with the back of his bare hands.

“I married her……..because I love her, and you know that!” he said calmly.

Dad pushed me aside and punched him again before I could understand anything. This time the force made even me stumble back slightly.

“Oh my God!” I held my mouth at the sight.

Blood dripped from Kieran’s nose now, running all the way to his shirt. Mom started crying loudly, as dad lunged at him again. Something inside me snapped.

“STOP!” I screamed and physically shoved against dad’s arm while mom tried pulling him back too.

“How could you do this to her?!” dad shouted at Kieran. “You watched her grow up you fucking creep!”

“She was never my sister,” Kieran replied coldly despite the blood on his face. He was trying hard to hold it together.

“You practically raised her!” Dad yelled again, trying to free himself from our grip.

“No!” Kieran answered sharply this time. “I protected her! She was never my sister, we just grew up together. I always looked after her because I have always loved her since the beginning, you know that!!!”

Mom looked equally shocked at the new found information. Dad laughed bitterly.

“Listen to yourself! Do you hear how disgusting that sounds?”

My chest tightened seeing Kieran stand there silently taking every insult without once trying to defend himself properly.

“He’s not disgusting!” I shouted angrily at dad. “He loves me!”

“That’s exactly the problem!!!” Dad argued louder again, gritting his teeth.

Vocenzo suddenly stormed inside after hearing the shouting. The second he saw blood on Kieran’s face, his entire expression darkened.

“Boss—”

Kieran lifted a hand immediately, holding his jaw.

“No.”

Vocenzo looked furious, like he would burst right then and there, he gave dad a disgusted look. “He assaulted you!”

“And I said stand down.” Kieran ordered again. Vocenzo clenched his fist, looking at Kieran then at me with fierce eyes and stepped back.

Dad scoffed. “You brought your attack dog too? For what? To attack at me huh?”

Vocenzo stepped forward instantly. “Careful you–.”

“Vocenzo,” Kieran warned again, firmer this time. “He’s my father…let him.”

The room felt unbearably tense.Then dad suddenly looked directly at me.

“You really married him?” The anger in his voice cracked slightly then, just enough for something underneath it to show through.

Disbelief….maybe even hurt.

“I love him,” I said quietly, raising my hand to show him my rings. “I told you I will only marry him dad. Why don't you understand?” My voice turned into almost pleading.

Dad stared at me for a long moment before looking back at Kieran again with visible disgust.

“You should have stayed away from her.”

Kieran finally answered without looking away once.

“I tried.” That silenced the room briefly.

“I spent twenty years trying.” Something about the way he said it made my chest physically ache.

Even mom looked shaken hearing it. Dad’s expression hardened again almost immediately afterward.

“You are no son of mine.”

Then he walked out.

The front door slammed hard enough to shake the hallway. Silence followed after that.

Heavy silence.

Mom turned toward Kieran again the second dad disappeared. He looked hurt, pale even, his eyes holding so much heaviness like his soul was tired. My heart ached at that sight.

Vocenzo stepped towards him too, and I just looked at Kieran, my eyes wet, my hands trembling as I felt the weight of the situation landing on my shoulders.

This could have never ended better. Was it not worth it after all? What if dad never changes his heart for Kieran….or the both of us?

“Oh God…” mom’s voice broke my chain of thoughts.

“Look at you…” She whispered emotionally.

“It’s nothing,” Kieran said quietly.

“It is not nothing,” she snapped through tears. “Sit down.”

For once, he actually obeyed without argument. Mom rushed for the first aid box herself while I grabbed tissues quickly, getting out of the freezing zone.

Vocenzo still looked one second away from murder. “I should have stopped him.” His nostrils flared as he paced here and there helplessly.

“You were told not to,” Kieran replied calmly.

“That doesn’t mean I enjoyed listening and witnessing everything.” He punched his own hand fiercely.

“Don't mind me saying that Kieran, but I definitely don't like your father's attitude with you.” Vocenzo confessed.

“Well, that makes one of us.” Kieran shrugged, holding the tissues up to his nose as I was rubbing his back.

I froze and looked at Kieran immediately. “You are joking right now?”

“If I don’t joke, you’ll cry.”

“I might cry anyway.” My voice trembled as I replied. That softened his expression instantly.

Mom returned a second later and sat directly in front of him, carefully cleaning the blood from his mouth with trembling hands.

The entire time she kept looking at him like she still couldn’t believe he was sitting here.

“You got married…” she whispered again, smiling shakily now. “You really got married…” Her gaze went to his scarred hands and she froze for a moment, then her eyes moved towards me, pain and unanswered questions lingered there, I gestured to her to not ask any questions about it.

She remained silent for a few minutes, cleaning his face like he was still a child for her, Kieran sat there silently, warmly looking at mom like he was loving all of it.

“You brought him home.” Mom said finally, warmly looking at me as she held his face and kissed his forehead.

Emotion clogged my throat unexpectedly. “I didn’t do much.”

“You did everything,” she corrected softly.

Kieran stayed quiet while she finished cleaning the cut on his lip. Then suddenly she touched his cheek gently.

“You look tired,” she whispered.

And something about that simple motherly observation visibly affected him more than all the shouting earlier.

I saw his throat move slightly before he looked away.

“I-Im very tired mom….very much tired,” he answered quietly, I pressed my lips together, Vocenzo shifted uncomfortably.

“You both are staying for dinner,” mom declared suddenly while wiping her eyes. “And no arguing with me about it.”

A laugh escaped me despite everything. “We weren’t planning to leave early anyways.”

“Good,” she said immediately. “Then I’m cooking.” He turned to Vocenzo then. “You will stay too. You're also my son.”

Vocenzo broke the character for a moment, his eyes changing from cold to warm all of a sudden.

“Thank you mam!” He replied with a slight bow.

“It's mom for all of you.” Mom replied standing up immediately.

“And Kieran.” She turned towards him again with a bright smile.

He looked at her.

“You better keep coming back here.”

Silence stretched briefly. Then he asked, “What about hi–”

“Forget about him. My kids come first….this is my house too. And you will come to visit me whether he likes it or not….that idiot still needs time to process everything.” She said with an eye roll and I barely held a chuckle. Kieran nodded once.

“I will.”

The relief on mom’s face was immediate. She left for the kitchen then.

“Wow! That was a lot!” Vocenzo turned towards us.

“This was just your father Boss!” He said, making a thoughtful face.

“Imagine what will happen when you officially announce your marriage."

My head whipped at him, Kieran remained silent.

"You need to get tougher because there's one more person we need to deal with first of all.” Vocenzo looked at us, and I immediately knew who he was talking about.

Suddenly, my gut churned awfully at the thought of him….Mark….my real dad!