Chapter 201: A heart-to-heart conversation

Chapter 201: A heart-to-heart conversation
Meredith's POV

I didn’t realize how long I had been standing there, after I walked out of the living room where Vida and her father, Prince Vladimir, were. I did see that coming, the moment I had watched that video and the possibility of him being her father hit me.  I knew the man would want to spend sometime with his daughter, even if I was in his shoe, I would do the same but I was scared of losing Vida, I don't think I could be able to live a day without her by my side but if she wants to go with her father, I wouldn't stop her, that is how much I love Vida.

I stared at the sky as the night settled fully, quietly, peacefully, but my heart was in pain. The sky stretched sideways above me like it was trying to swallow everything I was feeling. They were so many, it feel like they were staring at me, I leaned slightly against the balcony rail, my fingers tightened around the edges as I exhaled slowly, everything had changed in a single night, the appearance of her father had hit me harder than when I found out she was a guardian, I didn't even think I would lose her to the guardians but this. It wasn’t easy for me, for my wolf, Ruin, and her, maybe because she had always been outspoken about her father.

Don't get me wrong, I love Vida, and I will support her in every decision she makes, but I didn't want to lose her. I throw my head up to the sky again. The truth is, I didn't even know where I stood anymore. The door behind me creaked open. I didn't turn immediately; I already knew who it was because Logan had mindlinked me earlier that Prince Vladimir, Vida's father, wanted to speak with me. "I hope you don't mind if I join you." His voice was calm, controlled but not as sharp as before. I turned slowly to him; his face was a bit messed up, his eyes were those of a man who had cried, his shoulders dropping like a defeated man. He waited at the entrance, waiting for my approval. I stared at him for a brief second, not knowing what to say to him, it still felt strange to think that my mate had a father. After a little hesitation, I nodded once.

"No, I don't." He gave a small smile then he stepped forward and stopped beside me, his presence immediately filling the space in a way I couldn't ignore. For a moment, neither of us spoke, then he reached into his pocket, pulling out a cigarette and extending it towards me.

"You smoke?"

I shook my head, "I don't,"

A faint chuckle left him. "Good habit to avoid." He muttered, placing it between his lips instead, lighting it with practiced ease before taking a slow drag; the tip glowed briefly in the dark. Then he exhaled, the smile curling into the night air. I stayed quiet, waiting because I knew he didn't come out here just to smoke. Apart from Logan telling me, he wanted to see me. Logan also said Vida asked him to spend the night here. "I've been meaning to ask you something,"" he said firmly, I didn't respond, didn't asked him what, I just watched him from the corner of my eyes, he turned his head slightly, meeting my gaze, "do you love my daughter" the question landed heavier than it should have, my eyes snapped to him fully, "do you?" He repeated

Is he seriously asking me that, why would I give up everything just to protect her, if it wasn't fate, I would still be in that miserable wheelchair, I let out a dry laugh, low and disbelieving, when his gaze didn't leave me, he was probably waiting for an answer, "Is that even a question?" My voice came out sharper than I intended, "I love Vida with everything I have." There was no hesitation, no doubt. "I don't want to be apart from her." I found myself adding those words because deep in my heart, those were the words my heart was screaming.

He looked at me, "You have nothing to be afraid of, she refused to come with me."

My brows furrowed slightly, "What?"

"She turned me down," he said simply, his tone was calm but there was something underneath it, something raw, "all she wants..." He continues, glancing at me briefly, "was to stay with you "

Something in my chest shifted, my eyes bulged as the words hit me, I didn't expect that, I didn't expect she would choose me for the second time over her family. She wanted this, she had dreamt of the moment that she would unite with her father and now she found him, but was giving him up for me, "as much as I want to respect her decision," he went on, his voice growing firmer, "that doesn't mean I will ignore what you have done to her." My jaw tightened. Here it was, the part I had been expecting. I wasn't perfect; I had my own flaws, but I thought I was doing it to protect Vida. I never really meant to hurt her. "I don't think you can protect her," he added, his eyes narrowed slightly, "or maybe she doesn't need protection..""

My face sharpened, "I can protect her."

The words came out instantly, without thought, without hesitation, his eyes snapped to mine, and then he smiled, not mockingly, not cruelly, but knowingly. "I saw that" he said quietly.

"What?"

"The way you reacted." He tapped ash from his cigarette, "That is the same look I had when I was with her mother." My breath hitched slightly. He turned his gaze back to the sky. "I know you love her," he added, "and I know she loves you more than..."

I shook my head slightly, "She loves you, she has always dreamed of being with you, and I saw it in her eyes, she loves you..."

"She doesn't..." His voice cut through mine, my eyes moved back to him, I saw the pain and defeat in his eyes, he was excited to meet his daughter but disappointed that his daughter didn't want to go with him

"She loves you," I reassured him, "the same way she loves her grandmother, the same way she loves me and everyone important in her life."

His expression softened slightly, "but she chose you." The words came out with too much emotion.

I shook my head as the words settled deep. I understood him, even if it were me, I would feel the same. "Even if she didn't come with you," my voice came out soft, "that doesn't mean she doesn't love you or love you less." He stayed quiet, "You know, we could always spend time in your kingdom."

His eyes snapped to me when I said that, but he didn't comment on that. He took another drag before speaking again, "Tell me," he said, "how was life with her?"

The question hit differently. He wanted to know more about his daughter. I exhale slowly, "It wasn't easy." That was the simplest way to put it. "She went through a lot." My fingers tightened slightly on the railing. "There was a time..." I hesitated, "When the house her aunt left for her was taken away, she had nowhere to stay."

His head turned sharply towards me, "What?"

I nodded, "I tried to get it back," my jaw clenched, "but I couldn't." The admission still tasted bitter, still felt like failure on my part, if I hadn't been too focused on wanting to keep her safe then I would have been able to help her, I told him, she had worked at a bar for multiple shifts so she could pay for the mortgage company and the woman who had cared for her. By the time we finished talking about all the pains Vida had gone through, I could already see tears clouding his eyes

"I didn't know..." He whispered, his voice cracked slightly, "I had no idea she existed." He ran a hand over his face, shaking his head faintly, "I failed my daughter, I wasn't a good father, I see the reason she didn't want to go with me."

"No!" I whispered silently, "Vida isn't like that; she can never hate anyone."

A sad smile touched his lips, "My daughter's name is Vida?" He asked, and I nodded, "I didn't know Veronica named her that." he let out a soft breath, "She once asked me what I would like to name my child if I ever had one.” My chest tightened, "I told her I wanted a girl, even when most royals will wish for a boy." His voice softened, "and that if ever my wish comes true, I will call her Vida, after my grandmother." More tears slipped down his face. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then he looked at me again, "I may not be able to take my daughter with me," he said slowly, "but I need to know something." I held his gaze, "You won't hurt her." It wasn't a question, it was a condition, a demand, a father's request.

I didn't hesitate, I reached out, gripping his hand firmly, "I won't." My voice was steady, certain, "I won't disappoint you, don't just take her away from me,"

He studied me for a long second, then he nodded, "I will keep that in mind "

"Thank you, Prince Vladimir!"

"Call me dad!"

I blink at him, "What?"

He smirked faintly, "If you are going to stand here and promise me you will protect my daughter like that..." His expression softened slightly, "You might as well make it official."

A warm sensation spread across my chest as I stared at the man in front of me, "Dad!" I said quietly, the word felt strange, and right at the same time, he smiled then he pulled me into a hug, his actions caught me off guard, but after a second I hugged him back and somehow this felt right, this felt like family, he was giving me the same energy that Vida gives me. We were still in each other's hands when I heard my name.

"Meredith!" Logan's voice cut through the night, sharp and urgent, and we both pulled back immediately.

"What is it?" I asked already moving.

"Vida!" That was all I needed, for my heart to drop. I didn't wait, didn't think, I rushed inside.

"What happened to her?" Vladimir asked behind me, already following, I didn't answer but the moment I stepped into the hallway, I saw her, bent slightly, one hand gripping the wall, the other holding her stomach, breathing unevenly, and despite everything, despite the fear, a small smile formed on my lips, because I knew that look, I knew exactly what it meant. I turned slightly towards Vladimir, who looked like he was about to panic, then back to Vida.

"I think it's time," I said, right on cue, Vida's eyes snapped to me.

"The baby," she whispered, "is coming."