CHAPTER 069
CHAPTER 069
«Jarvis Point Of View»
Patiently, we sat waiting in a little restaurant. I sighed for the nth time since we arrived and propped my elbow on the table, resting my chin on my palm as I blew hot air out of my mouth. The place smelled like fried food and coffee, but even that couldn’t distract me from the boredom creeping into my bones. Why were we even here this long? My leg bounced restlessly under the table.
“Are you tired, Jarvis?”
My eyes glanced up at the voice and found Sean going through his phone, his expression calm as ever. I frowned at how relaxed he looked compared to my growing irritation.
“Are you kidding me? We have been here for almost an hour.” I leaned back in the chair dramatically, dragging my hand down my face.
“Don’t you have a phone? Call Levi, or play a game?” he voiced without looking up at me.
I puckered my lips, feeling a bit childish. “Levi has been avoiding me. I plan to give him a piece of my mind when I return. I’m gonna beat the shit out of him,” I breathed out, my chest tightening at the thought. More like… I miss Levi.
Sean finally nodded. “She will be here. Patience is a virtue, I heard. You young people seem to lack it.”
I groaned, throwing my head back slightly. “Right now, it isn’t. Can’t we just order some food? I want some steak.”
He finally looked up at me, raising an eyebrow, and I grinned.
“You ate an hour ago.”
“That was an hour ago; I’m a growing boy,” I said. I felt wronged and misjudged.
He rolled his eyes and looked away while I was left hanging once again, my patience thinning with every passing minute. Another torturous hour went by before Mrs. Benita finally appeared, cradling a little girl in her arms as she made her way toward our table.
“Daddy!” The little girl squealed, wriggling in Mrs. Benita’s hold, her tiny hands reaching out desperately as Mrs. Benita carefully set her down, and the girl bolted straight into Sean’s arms, clinging to him as he held her tightly and warmly. I couldn’t help but grin at the heartwarming reunion.
I stared at the girl’s features, taking in every detail. Her hair was curly brown, soft strands falling across her forehead. Her eyes, the biggest, widest grey I had ever seen, sparkled with innocence, and when she smiled, her tiny dimples reminded me oddly of Tristan.
“I miss daddy,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she nestled closer. She was cute. Tristan would have definitely liked her. She could have been their daughter. I watched as Sean brushed his finger at the tip of her nose and she burst into a fit of chuckles.
Mrs. Benita sat beside me, her expression a mix of concern and relief. “I believe Dan must have found out she’s gone. He used to watch her like some psychopath; it’s scary sometimes, but Dan would never hurt her… not directly.”
“He brings me toys and plays with me,” the little girl said proudly, showing off her loose teeth as she grinned. Her gaze landed on me, and I waved awkwardly. She waved back, and I couldn’t help but smile at how innocent and trusting she looked. It was impossible not to feel protective just watching her.
“You seem to have more fun without me, Annette." Sean smiled at her.
“Of course not, daddy! It’s you that I want. I don’t want to go back there again. Please, daddy!” the little girl tugged on his arm, her small hands gripping tightly.
I watched as Sean’s face paled, the hardness in his eyes flickering with fear and longing. He still hadn’t told me exactly how Mr. Dan got his hands on her, and I had a sinking feeling he never would. Seeing her like this… how could anyone choose between the life of a child and the person they loved? This would crush him either way.
“You don’t have to stay in LA; you can always ask for a transfer. I don’t want Tristan finding your whereabouts,” Mrs. Benita continued.
My gaze snapped sharply to her, and I frowned. “Excuse me, Mrs. Benita. What exactly do you plan on telling Tristan when he wakes up?”
“There’s a possibility that Tristan would lose half his memories. He sustained a huge head injury,” she replied softly.
I gaped at her words. “Half of his life would be gone!” I couldn’t keep my voice low, and I saw the little girl flinch at the intensity. My eyes shifted to Sean. “You’re agreeing with this? You want Tristan to believe you never existed?”
“It is his only chance of freedom from Dan, and finally, I can get a cure for Dan’s disorder. He wouldn’t be so high on Sean anymore if he didn’t see or hear about him. Everything would go back to normal. I am thinking about my family,” Mrs. Benita explained, her words slicing through me. Wrong, all of this is so wrong…
“You make it seem like everything is falling apart because of Sean,” I said, disbelief lacing my tone.
“Everything started with Sean, and I want it to end with Sean leaving. I’m sure he won’t allow his daughter to go back there,”
I turned my eyes to Sean, who was staring down at his daughter with a tenderness I hadn’t seen before. My chest tightened. I still couldn’t believe he had a daughter. How did Mr. Dan get his hands on her? Was he really hiding her all this time? Was he ever planning on telling Tristan about her?
Sean finally looked up at the woman. “Thank you, Benita. You’re right. I can’t allow my daughter to go back there,” he said quietly, his voice steady despite the weight of the decision.
“You’re letting Tristan go?” I asked, my stomach twisting at the thought.
His face fell, eyes shadowed with sadness, but then they glinted, a spark of defiance hidden in the depths. “I have to…” he paused, looking at me directly, and there was a look in his eyes that said he was merely choosing the harder path now, but he wouldn’t give up, not entirely.
It wasn’t over yet.
“Goodbye then,” I murmured under my breath. Tristan was not going to be happy about this, and I wouldn't want to be the bearer of bad news.