Chapter 45: Adrian’s Rejection

Adrian Blackwood’s POV

There was more weight in the air in my room than usual. I sat on the edge of my bed and stared at my phone screen. There were a dozen messages from my mum that I had not read yet. I knew why she was texting because I knew what they were talking about. After the meeting at the lake, she asked me how I was doing. She checked on me to see if I was okay.

I did not know what to say. Not to her. Not to myself.

Dear Kieran Blackwood.

My dad.

People had told me that the man was dead and gone, just a shadow in the background. When I cared, I used to think about what he was like. He was a war hero sometimes. Sometimes, a businessman in a different country was too hurt to return home.

But nothing got me ready for the truth.

He had always been alive. Not just alive, but strong. Rich. Very important. Even worse, it was close.

You know me because we are close. Still chose not to.

I stood up and walked around the room. Everything in me was on fire. Not with anger, but with doubt. The kind that gets stuck in your skin and will not let you breathe.

I did not like him.

I did not do that.

I knew him. I looked him in the eye. His voice was what I heard. Someone or something inside me scarily knew him.

In the same way that I knew who Damien was.

That was something else I had not told anyone, especially my mum.

Today I saw Damien again.

Afterwards, he was standing by the lockers by himself, staring at the floor with his usual serious look. No one went near him. The cool kid with the nice clothes and empty eyes who is rich.

But there was a difference between us when he looked up and met my eyes. Something calm. Not said.

After that, it broke.

He had told her to stop staring.

I opened my eyes. "I wasn't—"

"You look like you need something all the time." What is it now? "Pity?"

I shot back, "I do not want anything from you." "Believe me."

He laughed. "You think you are unique?" You are not. "You are the back-up that no one asked for."

That one hurt. It cost a lot more than it should have.

I turned away and said, "I did not ask to be related to you either."

But what he said stuck with me long after I left.

Store.

Those you do not want.

It was not like Damien was my brother, but he always made me feel like I did not belong.

The same way Kieran did.

My favourite meal that night was spaghetti with extra Parmesan and garlic bread, which my mom made. I did not even touch it.

She looked at me from across the table and did not push. She was just waiting.

She said in a soft voice, "I know you are upset."

I turned away from her.

"You do not need to talk about it right now, but—"

"Why did you wait to tell me?" I asked, cutting her off.

She took a deep breath in. I tried to keep you safe, that is why.

"From him?"

"Yes." From the pain of being forgotten, ignored, or turned down. He chose a life without you because he knew you.

I clenched my chest. "But I know now anyway." It hurts even more now.

She put her fork down. "You should never have learnt this way." It was not my plan for Serena to use you. Or for him to care all of a sudden.

I looked up. “Do you think he cares?”

She blinked, startled. "I... I believe he is interested."

"That is not the same."

"That is not it."

I looked at my food. "I saw him again." In the park. "He told me he wants to get to know me."

Her eyes got softer. "What do you want?"

I was not quick to answer. I looked into how I felt and found nothing.

"Why did you want to ask him that?" I finally said. "Why did he not look for me?" Why did he hang out with Damien and Serena and forget about me?"

She tried to grab my hand. "I believe he never really forgot."

"That makes things worse."

"I understand."

There was a long pause in our conversation.

Then I said it—the words I had not told anyone else yet.

"I dislike him." But I also… wanted him to be someone I could forgive.”

She didn’t try to fix it. She just said "Yes."

In some way, that made things worse.

It is been two days. I did not pay attention to the faces or noise at school. Damien was the only thing that stood out.

He was less talkative now as if something had upset his calm world.

I saw what he meant—he had seen the news.

The video. The stories.

The mud was dragging Kieran Blackwood. Charged with fraud. Known for threats he made a long time ago. All eyes were on him as his perfect world fell apart.

There were headlines all over the place.

"Kieran Blackwood, the billionaire, is under fire: his ex-fiancee speaks out"

"Secret Son at the Centre of Business Scandal"

"The Scandal That Could Bring Down Blackfang Enterprises: Twins Born to Two Women"

It hurt me when people talked about me like I was an afterthought. A side story about how someone else will fail.

Still, a part of me felt... vindicated.

Okay. Show everyone what kind of man he was.

Let him feel how I did when I was a kid and did not have a dad.

He showed up that night.

Right outside our door.

I was in the hallway and watched as Mom answered.

She spoke in a harsh voice and said, "Kieran." "You need not be here."

"I need to talk to him." “Please.”

She was not moving.

He went on, "I know you saw the news." "I do not care what they say, though." I need a moment. That is all.

"I told you he was not ready."

I moved forward. "Let him in."

Mom looked at me with surprise. "Adrian—"

"No problem."

After hesitating, she moved out of the way.

Kieran walked in slowly. He looked worn out. Greater. It looked like he had not slept in days.

He spoke, but I put up my hand. "First let me say something."

He said yes.

"I know you." I understand what you did. I read the news stories. I have seen the films. I know what you told my mum. I knew what kind of man you were.

He took a breath. "I feel bad about everything I did." "I was wrong."

I gave him a hard look. "Now you say you care about me." “That you want to get to know me.”

"Yes."

"Then why did not you care when it was most important?"

His face got sad.

He just said, "I was a coward." "I let other people decide." I thought it would be easier to leave than to face the truth.

"Now what?" Now that the news is breaking you up? Do you care now?"

"Before that, I cared." I was not looking for forgiveness when I came here. "I came because you are my son."

I took a step closer. "And Damien?" He is also your son. Do you tell him the same thing?"

"Yes."

"Then take care of him like a father." I do not need one.

Kieran had red eyes. "Would Adrian please—"

"No."

He jerked.

"I do not forgive you." Not yet. Maybe never. You can not just show up and expect me to let you in.

He spoke up again, but I was not done yet.

"You had years." Years to become my dad. "Now you are just a stranger who has the same DNA as me."

I turned away.

Mom stepped in front of us, her eyes cold. "Go."

Keiran stood still for a second as if he wanted to argue or fight. He did not, though.

"I get it."

He left.

I thought I would feel better for a second.

I could not shake the hollow feeling I had, though.

That night, I sat by my window late at night and watched the city lights blink like stars in the distance.

I should have felt strong. I told him to go away. I told them everything I had to.

But a part of me kept picturing the look in his eyes when I told him no.

A look I knew.

In front of the mirror.

Damien was not at school the next morning.

There were rumours.

"His mum took him away."

"They are moving."

"Have you heard about the business?"

It looked like I did not care as I stood by my locker.

I looked up and saw Principal Adams coming towards me.

He stopped in front of me. Hey Adrian, your mum is here. You need to talk to her. “Right away.”

My heart was racing as I followed him.

Mom stood outside the office with her eyes red and her phone clenched in her hand.

"What took place?" I asked.

She slowly looked at me.

She said in a whisper, "It is Kieran."

I went cold.

"What about him?"

She took a weak breath.

"He is not there anymore."