Chapter 183 PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
AURORA’S POINT OF VIEW.
PRODIGAL DAUGHTER??
Before I knew to ask why he stared so much, he walked over to me, those eyes that once regarded me with contempt, anger, and hatred, now filled with… was that love? He seemed to be gentle all of a sudden, so calm, too. “Child……my child.” He started, his tone soft.
Dad reached out, his fingers trembling with clear hesitation as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His touch made my stomach twist into a knot of pure revulsion. Five minutes ago, I was corrupt. I was the seed of a vile ex-wife. Now, I was his child… someone to be cherished.
If I had been humiliated here, this shell of a father would never have acted this way. He would have joined the bandwagon to hurt me, to embarrass me, to kick me out of his life yet again. I glared at him, searching my heart for even a bit of love or affection for him. No matter how long, how hard I searched, I found nothing.
Daddy was dead….Armando was the man standing before me, and we could never be as we used to. Not with what they planned to do to my mother.
I didn't move. I couldn't dare even if I wanted to. I was paralyzed by the sheer, obvious shining opportunism in his eyes. He didn't see his daughter; he saw the possible merger that could come from this fake union.
He saw the future of the company, the contacts he could gain….he did not see a human, he saw a means to an end.
I almost felt pity for Morgan. She was his favorite; however, she was also his pawn. He did not care who married Kai, as long as he got access to that stash of funds.
"I knew you were special," he whispered, his voice so soft, so calm…..I was sure my father was not the man before me. "I knew that beneath that... rebellious exterior your mother afflicted you with, you had the De la Vista grace. Your mother would be so proud, Aurora.
I’m certain of it.
You know, we spoke often of how special you are….how much we both loved you.”
:
“Whew, as that, Dad? Before or after you kicked her out in the darn rain?” I spat, glaring at him while fighting the urge to take anything to his head.
I could remember the months of pain, of suffering my mom and I endured. Armando was a piece of shit… and I can never forgive him.
“ We’ll need to make arrangements for you to move back in, of course.”
“What!” Denise flew to her feet. “That is insane….this is my house, Armando. And she will not be living here with me.” She hissed.
“Well then, you can take yourself out.” Dad snapped back at her before turning to me. “The house you’re living in is too small for a Mercer fiancé.”
“You know where I live, Dad?” I chuckled, but the sound was humorless.
“Well…” he sheepishly rubs the back of his neck, a blush on his cheeks as if I were fucking smiling. “I….all that is behind us now, dear. You should get along with your sister, too. There is nothing as powerful as the bond of family, my dear.
We’ll move your things into the primary suite tonight. Denise, stop coddling Morgan and go prepare the…."
"Don't," I snapped, finally finding my voice. It came out cold and sharp, a shard of ice cutting through his delusions. "Don't you dare act as if this is a normal family, like this is some type of reunion.”
“See, she’s ungrateful.” Denise chuckled. “Like mother, like daughter.”
“Denise!” Dad snapped. “I told you to prepare the suite….go there, right now!” He hissed.
“That will not be necessary because the only way I will be moving back in here is if I were drugged and not breathing.” Dad’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second, but he didn't back down.
He couldn't.
He was a drowning man in his debts, and I was the only life raft left to latch onto. "Now, now, let's not let old tempers flare. We’re family, aren't we? Kai, my boy, you must stay for a drink. We have much to celebrate."
Beside me, I felt the temperature drop. Kai had not moved the entire time, nor did he ever smile, and he didn't accept or reject the invitation. He just stared at my father with the kind of clinical interest one might show an insect right before crushing it.
"We're leaving," Kai said. His voice was a low, vibrating growl that made even me tense. He had not uttered a word the whole time after his mother’s name.
"But the arrangements…we made so many…" Dad started, stepping forward.
“I do not care, Armando. My fiancé clearly does not want to be here, so she will not be. If you; ll excuse us.” He nodded, took my hand, and led me away.