Chapter 174: Seen at Last

Chapter 174: Seen at Last
Damian’s POV

A lot had happened within the past few weeks, too much for my heart to properly process.
But this particular moment, it hurt deeper than anything else.
For years, I had hated Zade’s father with everything in me. That hatred had kept me alive, had fueled my anger, my resentment, my determination to never forgive. Yet now, standing here and watching everything unfold, I felt so emotional and pity.
I watched quietly as Dana wrapped her arms around my mother. The woman who gave birth to me. The woman who should have raised me, protected me, loved me. And yet, because of the monster she married, I had been rendered motherless.
I swallowed hard and wiped at the tears gathering stubbornly around my eyelids. I refused to cry, not now, not in front of everyone. I turned slightly, intending to walk away before my emotions betrayed me.
“Damian, please don’t go yet.”
Mr. Frost’s voice stopped me cold.
I stood still, my feet rooted to the ground, before slowly turning to face him. For a moment, neither of us spoke. His eyes were so similar to Zade’s, his eyes were red and weary, filled with regret so heavy it was almost unbearable to look at.
“I know,” he began slowly, his voice rough. “I know that no amount of sorry can undo everything I’ve done to you.”
He took a shaky breath.
“But I am sincerely sorry, Damian. Truly.”
I said nothing.
“Please,” he continued, his voice breaking, “find a place in your heart to forgive me. Accept me as a father.”
That was it.
The tears I had been fighting so hard to hold back finally spilled over. They streamed freely down my face as years of buried pain, longing, and unanswered questions crashed into me all at once.
He didn’t know.
He didn’t know how long I had waited to hear those words.
He didn’t know how badly I had wanted to be a big brother to Zade and Hana. How many nights I had spent wondering what it would feel like to have siblings, to protect them, laugh with them, fight with them, love them.
He didn’t know how deeply I had wished to experience what it felt like to have a family.
I broke down completely, my shoulders shaking as sobs tore through me. I didn’t try to stop them anymore.
“I’m so sorry, Damian,” Mr. Frost whispered again.
“It’s….. it’s fine,” I said shakily, using the back of my hand to wipe my tears.
Slowly, hesitantly, he opened his arms.
And I stepped into them.
The hug was awkward at first, unsure and fragile, but then his arms tightened around me, warm and firm. In that moment, I felt pains and hatred I had carried for so long finally loosening its grip.
When we eventually pulled apart, my mother stepped forward.
My mother.
The woman whose husband had prevented her from seeing me. The woman whose voice I barely recognized. As grown as I was, I didn’t even know how my mother’s cooking tasted.
“Damian,” she called softly.
I turned to her.
“I know I haven’t been a mother to you,” she said, her voice trembling. “Ever since the day you were born.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she shook her head. “I won’t justify my actions by blaming my husband. You were my priority too, Damian. You always were.”
She sniffed, holding unto her chest.
“I’m sorry I didn’t deem it fit to give you the life your mates enjoyed while growing up. I’m so sorry.”
Her words broke whatever strength I had left.
I cried with her, openly this time, my heart aching in a way that was both painful and relieving. She pulled me into a tight hug, holding me as though she was afraid I might disappear if she let go.
When we finally separated, she kissed my forehead gently.
“I promise,” she whispered, “to be the mother I never was.”
I smiled through my tears.
Soon after, we bid them goodbye and left.

\-------------
When we arrived back at school, it felt like the entire campus already knew what had happened to Zade. Whispers followed us as we walked past group of students. Heads turned, eyes lingered. But none of us said a word.
We kept our faces serious and our steps steady.
Just then, Marcus walked toward us.
“Hey, guys. How are you doing?” he asked.
“Not bad,” Dana replied calmly.
“Okay then. Good,” Marcus said with a nod. “Mrs. Tricia requested to see you once you arrived.”
“See us?” I asked, surprised.
“Yes,” Marcus confirmed. “But don’t worry. There’s no cause for alarm.”
With that, he walked away.
I exchanged glances with the others. Their eyes silently suggested the same thing, we should just go and see her before heading to our dormitories.

\----------------------
“Good afternoon,” we greeted Mrs. Tricia’s secretary in unison.
“Good afternoon, students,” she replied without looking up, her fingers still flying across the keyboard.
“Mrs. Tricia requested to see us,” I said politely.
“Any appointment booked?” she asked.
“Not really,” I answered.
“Alright, have a seat while I inform her.”
“Thank you,” I muttered.
Within a few minutes, Mrs. Tricia stepped out of her office.
We immediately stood up.
She nodded once. “My office. Now.”
Her tone was firm but commanding. I frowned slightly as we followed her inside.
Once seated, she cleared her throat.
“I heard what happened to Zade,” she said slowly.
Well, I thought as much.
“I’m very sorry if he harmed any of you,” she continued.
“I received the report you guys filed, but later discovered you were no longer on school premises.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I replied. “That was because we met Marcus, and he took us to where Zade was.”
“Marcus?” she asked sharply. “Was Marcus part of the second kidnapping?”
“No, not at all,” I said quickly. “He only overheard Zade’s conversation with his friend, which led them to the hideout.”
She hummed thoughtfully. “Alright then.”
“I just wanted to be sure you boys are okay,” she said. “Many parents have been calling, worried about whether their children are truly safe here.”
“We’re fine, ma’am,” I said quietly. “But, we lost Zade.”
“Yes,” she replied softly. “I heard. Such a painful thing.”
She sighed. “I’ve spoken to the students and urged them to learn from Zade’s tragic story. No one should follow that path. A final year student gone because of the choices he made.”
She looked at us carefully.
“You have all been very helpful to Archlight Academy. Trust me, you are noticed.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” we said together, bowing slightly.
“You may go,” she said, gesturing toward the door.
As we left her office, I exhaled deeply.
I had expected punishment.
A panel something.
But instead, we were acknowledged.
After all, we were victims too.
Victims of Zade’s madness and survivors of everything it left behind.