CHAPTER 081

CHAPTER 081
«TRISTAN'S POINT OF VIEW»

“Have this.”

I lifted my head at the sound of the voice and found a bowl being held out to me. I accepted it with both hands and stared at the hot soup inside, watching the steam rise.

“You should drink. It’s good.”

I nodded and brought the bowl to my lips, gulping down every last drop before handing it back. Wiping my mouth with the sleeve of my shirt, I lowered my gaze once more.

“Are you okay? Is there something you need?” the deep voice asked again.

I shook my head. I don’t want anything, I wanted to say, but the words refused to leave my lips. A heavy silence settled between us, broken only by his quiet sigh as he sat down within my line of sight. Against my better judgment, my eyes wandered over his features.

Nothing had changed over the past two years. He still looked young, yet somehow more mature than before. His hair was slightly longer, his jaw sharper, and his expression softer than I remembered. Realizing that I had been staring, I quickly averted my gaze and busied myself by fidgeting with my hands.

“Are you so angry that you won’t speak to me anymore?” he asked quietly. “I know I messed up, but I’m sorry.”

“And you think sorry will fix everything?” I finally spoke. “You left me in the hands of my antagonists, and you think saying you’re sorry will somehow mend my broken heart?” My glare snapped to his face. The audacity he had to say those words to my face after disappearing for two fucking years? Why did he suddenly show up now? To what? Become my knight in fucking shining armor?

“You left me, Sean!” I yelled at his face as all the anger I had been suppressing burst to the surface. “And don’t give me that fucking bullshit about my heart disease and outrageous indisposition. I thought you were a doctor!”

He looked at me with a broken look and one full of guilt. “I didn’t leave you because of your illness. I would never, but—”

“Your daughter. I know,” I cut in, looking away. “I had no idea you trusted me so little, Sean.”

“Of course I trust you.” He cut in, reaching for my hand, but I pulled my hand back as if his touch burned and yelled louder in his fucking face.

“THEN YOU WOULDN’T HAVE KEPT YOUR DAUGHTER A SECRET! YOU ARE SUCH A BLOODY LIAR!” I grabbed a pillow and hurled it at his face. “You’re so fake!”

Hell no, I wasn’t crying. I was furious. Completely furious. My chest rose and fell with every heavy breath as my hand rubbed against it. God, I hated this feeling; I hated the white walls of this fucking hospital, and I hated the guilty look on his face even more. I hated everything, and to make it all worse, he started to say…

“I know. I’m sor—”

Suddenly, a little, high-pitched voice cut him off, which was good. I would have punched him across the face.

“Daddy?”

Both our heads turned sharply toward the door just as a small face peeked through the opening.

“Annette.” Sean stood up and walked over, gently ushering the little girl inside. “What is it, honey?”

I watched as her eyes flickered toward me before she shyly looked away, nervously nibbling on her lower lip. She was cute.

“I want to meet Daddy’s special friend,” she said hopefully, looking up at him.

“Honey, I don’t think it’s the right time yet. Daddy is still trying to ask for forgiveness," Sean told her.

She pouted. “But it was because of me that he’s mad. I should say sorry too. You left him because of me. You said we would ask for forgiveness together.”

I watched Sean nod before taking her hand and leading her toward the bed. I nearly flinched when she smiled brightly at me. “Hello. I’m Annette, but I like being called Anne.” She hesitated for a moment. “Daddy said he hurt you, and I realized it was my fault. I just didn’t want to live with Uncle Dan anymore. I wanted to live with Daddy.”
Her voice grew smaller.

“If I had known what would happen, I would’ve gone back with Uncle Dan, and you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.” Tears filled her eyes, and guilt washed over me immediately.

“Please don’t be mad at Daddy. He loves you, and he said you’re going to be my new daddy. I’m sorry. Daddy is sorry too.”

“I-I…”

I stuttered, unsure of what to say. Somehow, having two pairs of gray eyes staring at me made all my anger crumble away. It was a losing battle.

“Come here.”

I opened my arms, and the little girl happily ran into them, wrapping me in a tight hug. “I’m not mad anymore.”

“Thank you.” Her grip tightened around me while my gaze drifted upward to Sean, who was watching us with a smile on his face. Seeing it now, I realized just how much I had missed that smile.

Then, he mouthed the words: Te quiero.

Immediately, I looked away, my face heating into a deep shade of red.

Bloody freak. If he thought I was going to forgive me so quickly, then he had another thing coming. Pulling away from the hug, I smiled at Annette and gently brushed my fingers through her soft hair. “Can you give Daddy and me a minute? I promise, I’m not mad anymore.”

She nodded enthusiastically, climbed off the bed, gave Sean a thumbs-up, and rushed out of the room, quietly shutting the door behind her. My smile faded the moment the door clicked shut. Sean’s did too.

“I thought you said you weren’t mad anymore. What’s with that face?”

I inhaled deeply and let it out. “D-Did you ever plan on coming back to me?”

He walked back to the bed and sat beside me again. Slowly, his hand rose to caress my cheek. Without thinking, I leaned into his touch, ignoring the way my heart sped up. How pathetic that I was falling so easily.

“How do you think I knew you were gone?” he asked softly. “I came back for you, but your stepmother said you were no longer in Canada. I found it suspicious and started following her.”

My hand rose and covered his.

“Thank you for coming back.”

Slowly, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against mine.

My arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer, and once again, with all the memories I had lost and regained, I realized that I had almost lost the most precious part of my life.

He was my dad’s friend. The person and the place my heart had always belonged to. Safe and warm. Exactly as I remembered, but could I really trust him again? That was going to take a while to fix.

~~

“How are you?”

The question left my lips as the guards escorted my father into the room and guided him to the chair opposite mine.

He wore the psychiatric hospital uniform. His sleeves were tied behind him, and his hands rested in front of him. His green eyes had dulled, his hair had grown longer, and his beard had become uneven. Wrinkles lined his tired face. He looked exhausted.

“I guess this is where I belonged from the very beginning,” he said quietly, his faded green eyes meeting mine; the only feature we truly shared as father and son. “How are you, Tristan?”

“I’m fine. Sean has been taking care of me.”

He nodded. “I’m glad. At least he’s there to look after you,” he said, then his gaze dropped to the floor as he proceeded to say in a forlorn voice. “He’s finally free from me.”

“You really killed Mom?” I asked.

He nodded. “Yes, I did. I had feelings for your mother, and I thought she would help me get rid of my disorder. For a while, she did.” His voice faltered. “I didn’t even realize when I shot her. One moment, everything was normal, and the next, I opened my eyes, and she was lying there in a pool of blood.” He swallowed hard and continued. “The guilt trapped me and made me easy for Benita to manipulate. She was a woman who always knew what she wanted and would do anything to get it, even if it meant turning people into pawns.” He looked back at me.

“I was her easiest victim.” His eyes softened. “I know I was never a good father, and I know I never will be, but I’d still like to ask for your forgiveness. I’m sorry for everything I caused, the pain, the abuse, the words… everything. I’d let her use me. I welcomed her into our lives willingly, and I’m deeply sorry. I nearly killed my son countless times.”

Suddenly, tears streamed down his face. “I’m sorry. I’m worthless as a father. I failed all three of my children.” Suddenly, he reached across the table. “Take care of your little sister for me, Tristan. You two are the only ones I have in this world, and take care of yourself too.”

“I will.”