Chapter 183 Parents

Chapter 183 Parents

"I am here to see Ethan," I replied, and his expression changed, revealing disappointment.

"Ethan is out on a meeting with a possible customer."

I nodded. "Then I'll talk to him later." As I turned to leave, he stopped me.

"Cora."

I turned back and looked at him.

"I wonder if you would mind me checking on Ellie later."

The question caught me off guard. It was a perfectly normal question for a father living separately from his family, but I still felt that he didn’t deserve the love Ellie could give. I sighed. Even though I wanted Ellie to have a happy childhood, I couldn’t hide my feelings any longer.

"Spencer, I would appreciate it if you wouldn't come to see Ellie so often."

He frowned. "Ellie is my daughter, too."

I chuckled bitterly and shook my head. "Yes, you were involved in her creation, but where have you been since?"

His expression turned serious. "Cora, I didn't know you were pregnant."

"I returned with Ellie. But you blamed me for horrible things and called your child names. You only realised you were a father after you got that test done, which I never permitted you to do. The day you came to visit me, Ellie had a fever from crying. You scared her. And now you expect me to hand her over to you happily?"

He sighed. "Cora, you must understand how broken I was after you left."

I laughed again. "Yeah, I know. I saw a picture of your broken self after Ellie was born. My budget didn’t allow it, but I bought that magazine to see you smiling happily with Carla."

"Cora, you don’t understand. I thought you left me on purpose. I thought our relationship was just a game to you. And what was I supposed to think when a police officer and a private detective told us they met you, and you asked them—and us—to leave you alone? I got together with her, hoping she would help me forget you, but she never did."

I shook my head as he stepped closer.

"Cora, I know I was a complete jerk, and I am sorry. You don’t know how much I suffer each time I think about that evening when I saw you after drinking a lot. I hate myself for it. I said those things out of anger because I let Ray manipulate me. But I will never let anyone dictate what is right or what I should do anymore."

He sighed. "Cora, I am still in love with you. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but please try to forgive me—at least for Ellie’s sake."

I shook my head. "Spencer, there is no 'you and me.' I loved you for so long and had no one since Ray dismissed me from the family. I found a legal job, and I haven’t even been on a date. I don’t need anyone else. I guess Ethan has already told you about my feelings. But I doubt I will ever forgive you. I could understand that you thought I left on purpose, and therefore I could potentially forgive you regarding Carla, but I will never forget that evening when you held my neck."

"Cora, you know I am not a violent person. Even then, I would never harm you," he said, his voice pleading. There was genuine remorse in his eyes, but my feelings wouldn’t allow me to comfort him.

"Please, just don’t come by so often. I hope to find a job soon, and then I might move somewhere else with Ellie. I don’t know yet, but please don’t confuse her."

His expression changed to one of fear and anger.

"I think it would be confusing for Ellie if I were to disappear from her life. I am her father, and even if you want nothing to do with me anymore, you can’t forbid me from seeing her."

I sighed again. "I know I can’t, and I don’t want to. I only ask that you come less frequently."

I could see he wanted to say something, but then Ethan interrupted us.

He looked at us curiously. I didn’t know when he had arrived, and I worried that he had overheard our conversation.

"Cora, why did you come here alone?" he asked immediately, disregarding his brother's frustration.

"I came here by taxi. I just wanted to talk to you, but that doesn’t matter."

Ethan, however, was curious about the reason for my visit. Before I could answer him, Spencer interjected, "She needs a job so that she can leave with Ellie."

Ethan looked at me with wide eyes. "Cora, I thought we already discussed this."

"Ethan, I can't sit at home any longer. I'm going mad."

Ethan sighed. "Cora, you just came out of the hospital."

His look made me reconsider something. He had started the business and wanted to work with me. However, I was unsure how he managed to bring Spencer on board, and since there weren't many customers, I doubted he needed my help.

"Ethan, just tell me if you can offer me a job or if I should look for something else."

Ethan rolled his eyes. "You can join us. Although the business doesn’t generate much income at the moment, you’re welcome to come on board. My meeting was successful, so we have a new customer."

He glanced at Spencer, who wore a small smile at the news.

"So, when can I start?" I asked. Ethan searched my face for a few seconds before sighing.

"Is tomorrow okay for you?"

I smiled and nodded. "Tomorrow is perfect." I kissed his cheek and walked out of the office, deliberately ignoring Spencer. Just before I left, I overheard him say, "I’ll go see Ellie this afternoon."

I had many things I wanted to tell him, but I didn’t want to extend the argument. I wasn't sure how I would manage working in the same room as him, but I was determined that once this chaos was over, I would find a quiet, pleasant place for Ellie and me—one where Spencer Astor wouldn’t be a regular visitor. I knew I shouldn’t feel this way because of Ellie, but I didn’t know how long my broken heart could endure seeing him so often.