184

184
I exit the room and head to the master bedroom.

I open the door without caution, and what I witness almost makes me vomit from disgust. Not because this woman provokes anything in me, but because she's doing it in my damn apartment.

"Gérard?" she exclaims fearfully upon seeing me, pushing the man she was having sex with to the floor.

"Get out of here," I order the guy, who quickly grabs his clothes and rushes out of the room terrified.

"Darling," Alice says in astonishment, covering her body with the sheet. "You're here."

"Where's my daughter?" I ask, ignoring her.

"Gérard, you really are alive," she says, getting up from the bed and quickly approaching me. "You didn't die."

The last part comes out in a whisper, and she tries to touch my face as I dodge her.

"Answer my question," I demand.

However, the sound of the elevator reaching the apartment captures my attention, causing me to quickly exit the room. And when I see the people coming out of it from the hallway I have to take a few seconds to control the anger that surges within me.

Nevertheless, this anger seems to dissipate quickly when my gaze lands on that beautiful being who has illuminated the place with her presence.

Damn it.

I feel more alive than ever when my eyes meet my little girl's. My little girl who has grown so much in two years. That beautiful blonde who fills me with happiness when she realizes that I, her father, am here.

"Gérard," I hear them say, but I don't pay them any attention and immediately snatch my most perfect creation from their arms.

I can't describe what I feel when her little arms automatically wrap around my chest. I longed so much for this day when I could once again hold the sunshine of my life.

My other reason for being.

Two years to be able to hold my daughter again. It was a damn nightmare, but having her so close to me, everything I did was worth it.

"Daddy," I hear a soft and tender voice say, and it takes me a moment to process what I've heard.

I pull my daughter back a little to study her face, and when she places a hand on my face, releasing a smile, my eyes well up.

"Did you just call me Daddy, my love?"

"It was her first word," Alice suddenly appears. "She said it for the first time a few weeks ago when she saw your picture."

I inevitably smile, admiring my baby, and quickly brush away the nearly invisible tear that falls from my eyes.

"How is it possible that you came back from the dead?" my mother-in-law expresses after a while.

"I wish I had died, don't you think so, ma'am?" I retort sarcastically.

"What did you say? Do you pretend to just come back as if nothing happened?" she says. "We were worried sick."

"Please, don't act as if my absence truly saddened you," I snapped, rolling my eyes.

"You left me alone for two damn years raising your daughter," Alice says in a cold tone. "Tell me, where were you all this time?"

"I'm not discussing it now," I say, silencing her.

"For now, because you and I have a lot to talk about."

"Gérard," Alice's father says.

"You can all leave," I tell them with a dry voice. "And this is the last time you take Vittoria away while this woman stays here... inviting strangers."

"Apparently, you need a rehab center and a psychiatrist," are the words that come out of the mouth of that disgusting guy who threatened to take my daughter away from me.

"Dear," his wife pulls him.

"And what you need is a good stint behind bars," I say, approaching. "And brace yourself because both you and your wife and your daughter are hanging by a thread."

"You're a…"

"Dear, let's go already," his wife demands, taking him by the arm and then leaving the place, not without giving me that look:

The look of hatred he always had for me. He never saw me as part of his family, always looked down on me, and I won't tolerate him pretending to be a part of my life now or trying to take away my light.

"You're ungrateful to my parents," Alice breaks the silence, after I sit down with Vittoria on the couch. "You have no idea how good they've been to your daughter in your absence."

"Shut your mouth and stay out of it," I say, giving her a warning glance.

"They're right, you're still the same jerk," is all she says before retreating to her bedroom.

Finally peace.

"You've grown so much," I say to my daughter, who smiles upon hearing me. "How beautiful you are."

I smile and gaze into the beautiful eyes she inherited from me. Suddenly, I watch her fidgeting restlessly in my arms as if she wants to get down, so I decide to put her on the rug. However, I'm surprised to see her stand up and take a few steps.

"You're walking already?" I say, surprised and amazed.

Vittoria smiles and nods her head, causing me to burst into laughter from the excitement and nostalgia it evokes simultaneously.

I can't believe it. I knew I needed my daughter, but I had no idea just how much.

I spend a pleasant time with my baby until my cell phone starts ringing. As I look at it, I realize it's Luc and I don't hesitate to answer.

"Mr. Durand."

"Speak."

"Sir, I came to Miss Juliette's apartment, and let me tell you, I don't have good news," he says, putting me on alert.

"What do you mean you don't have good news? Isn't she there?"

"I spoke to the building's receptionist, and she told me that she hasn't seen Juliette leave or enter the place for several days."

His words leave me cold and utterly worried.

What the hell?