Chapter 58 WHAT MUST BE DONE (1)
GALLAHAN’S POV
The door flung open quite harshly, and the sight that welcomed me was of Willa.
Her eyes were slightly wide, as if she couldn’t believe I actually came. They were mildly puffy and pink-rimmed from crying, and a few of her lashes were clumped together from the tears she had shed.
Her complexion was ashen, looking like the current situation had completely drained her of her blood. Even her slightly parted lips, the ones that I just kissed earlier tonight, appeared alarmingly pale.
Still, she remained unfairly beautiful.
And seeing her this wrecked and distraught eviscerated most of my frustration and anger at her.
“You came,” she said in a whisper.
I gave her a small but polite nod. Then, carefully keeping my voice even and cool, I replied with a simple, “Of course, I did.”
And the rest of what I wanted to say remained safely tucked in mind: ‘There is no way I would ever not go to you and our pups. Hellfire could raze the world, and I would still find you one way or another. Even if I am angry at you. Or even if you don’t want me to. I will always go to you.’
“Right,” she said awkwardly, looking at her feet. “Well, come in. Grandpa shall have a word with you first.”
She stepped aside to let me in, and I wordlessly entered the homey abode, which was quite contrary from the Alfiero Manor in terms of size and opulence.
The living area, occupied by Greggory, Wendell and his wife, was small. But it miraculously appeared spacious through the sparseness of items. There was only a three-seater couch, a single armchair, which seemed to have seen better days given the faded colorful scribbles that refused to be wiped away, and a small and low coffee table that stood on a white natural wool carpet. There were no console tables, no frames on the cream-painted walls, no shelves filled with books and other knickknacks.
It looked a tad bit bare and… depressing.
But, of course, I tactfully kept my opinion to myself.
“Good of you to come, Mr. Wick,” Greggory said as he rose from the couch. “Please. Let’s have a conversation upstairs. We do not have the time to spare for the greetings and pleasantries.”
I badly wanted to snort, remembering how he had once called me impudent for disregarding the proper social etiquette of greeting back when we first met for the parley. But I managed to reign in my expression and the cheeky retort I wanted to say to him.
If Zuleika was here, she would’ve been immensely proud.
“Lead the way,” I said, gesturing for the old man to go ahead of me.
But before I followed him, I sent Wendell and his wife a respectful nod of acknowledgement, which they returned in kind.
Then, without wasting another moment, I went after Greggory, who hobbled with his cane that thumped loudly against the floor.
Still, he somehow retained a dignified and regal air despite his apparent difficulty in walking. Even as he took the stairs, he didn’t once falter.
It was quite admirable.
He then led me to a room where my children were nesting together. William was with them, sitting on the floor while holding Calisto’s and Gillian’s hands.
Seeing it made me want to snap his neck.
I should be the one holding them. Not him.
But I knew I couldn’t just give in to my temperament and instincts. This was my only chance to make them see me as someone worthy to be welcomed in the lives of Willa and my children after all of this is over, after they would no longer have a need for me.
“Grandpa,” William said as he quickly got up, letting go of his hold on my pups.
Instantaneously, some of the tension left my body.
He took one glance at me and angrily gritted out, “What is he doing here?”
His vicious tone was enough to set me off, and I spat out, “I am their father. I have every right to be here.”
William’s eyes blazed in deep and vibrant viridian, not unlike his sister’s, and I didn’t have to look in the mirror to know that mine was shining golden in return.
“Oh, yeah?” He took a step forward, his hands clenched at his sides. “Last time I checked, you cut off your parental blood link with them.”
“Did it slip from your small brain that your very own sister inadvertently did the same? Or do you think it also nullifies her as their mother?”
A snarl rumbled out of William. His eyes hardened into a glare that screamed his outrage, and his lips curled into a derisive sneer. “She carried them in her womb and raised them to be outstanding children. While you? You’re not their father. You’re nothing but a sperm donor.”
“I would’ve been with them if I had known!” I shot back angrily, the volume of my voice rising along with my flaring fury for Willa’s brother.
“Enough!” Greggory sternly interjected as he hit the bottom of his cane on the floor.
It successfully silenced William and I, halting the brewing fight. It also didn’t fail to make me feel like a damn child again.
Greggory then gave each of us a hard stare as he said, “I will not have you fighting in the presence of Calisto and Gillian. They are unconscious, yes, but their environment could still affect them. For once, set aside past grievances and existing differences, and act your age. This is not the time for grudges.”