Chapter 12 CRAZY GIRL

Chapter 12 CRAZY GIRL
NICHOLAS

“Is that normal?” he asked Mr. Silas, confused. “Are people that happy about snow?”

“Huh?” Mr. Silas asked, taken aback. It was a strange question that he didn’t know how to answer.

“Who is that?” Nicholas asked instead. “She looks… familiar.” He lied. He didn’t know how to explain his curiosity without acting any more out of character, but he knew he had never seen her before. For some reason, he could tell there was no way he’d have forgotten.

“Mr. Astor’s daughter,” Silas said. “From Astor’s Cosmetics. I heard he was admitted here, so she might be visiting.”

Nicholas glanced at him, and Silas stiffened slightly, worried he had said too much.

But Nicholas only said, “I’ve met her before. She was nothing like… her.”

Silas studied the strange expression on his face. “That’s not surprising. You probably met Scarlett Astor, the eldest. Not many people have. She’s his illegitimate daughter. Keeps to herself. Very sheltered.”

Nicholas nodded, his gaze fixed ahead.

She spun again, laughing softly, her face tilted toward the falling snow. He caught his lips twitching and immediately frowned.

He let his eyes drift over her. Her slight frame, her hair so blonde it almost blended with the snow, the way she tried to catch flakes in her hands as she danced. Even the man beside her, holding her coat with a resigned expression.

The urge to walk closer, to see her up close, to understand why she looked so alive in such terrible weather settled uncomfortably in his chest.

Nicholas shook his head, as if to rid himself of it.

“Crazy girl,” he muttered, turning away.

Silas followed.

DAHLIA

Striking green eyes, silver-streaked hair, and a strong jaw softened by age, faint lines etched at the corners of his eyes that still shone, and when he smiled, dimples settled into his cheeks, giving his lined face an almost boyish warmth.

I couldn’t look away from my father.

I’d walked into the VIP ward my father was admitted to, mentally preparing myself to lose him all over again. 

I’d told myself I was ready to watch his lawyer offer solemn condolences, Scarlett clutching onto him as she cried, while I stood there like an outsider with bitterness, regret, and pain lodged in my chest like lead. 

The doctor would tell me that he had died of cardiac arrest, and I’d quietly lean on Collin, who would start whispering thoughts of hastening the wedding to me. Obviously the cure for the loss of a family member was making a new one. 

Instead, I’d found him chatting heartily with his lawyer, who had later excused himself, and there was no Scarlett.

I didn’t understand why the timeline and events were not adding up, but if this was a strange dream giving me the miracle of seeing my father alive one more time, I’d have nothing to complain about.

Until that very moment, I had never realized how much grief I still felt for him until I laid eyes on him again.

His eyes were gentle, his voice soft. I wondered why I had never noticed how much love he had for me, and how much hurt he must have felt when I insistently chose to keep him at arm’s length, always so careful with him and formal.

I felt ashamed of my insecurities, the thought that plagued me incessantly telling me that I’d be tossed aside if I became an inconvenience to him, just like my mom had disposed of me.

“What is wrong, Dahlia?” my dad asked.

I looked at him in confusion until I realized my cheeks were damp.

Collin looked at me with furrowed brows while he handed me a handkerchief, and even though my first instinct was to recoil from his outstretched hand, I managed to resist the urge and even gave him a smile as I took it.

I was already acting suspicious enough.

“I’m just so…” I choked. “So, so happy.”

I was happy, but I was also ashamed. Now, here I was, in the presence of the person who loved me most, and I couldn’t help but feel like I’d disappointed him by letting myself be treated badly for so long.

“I’m just very, very happy,” I repeated, covering my lips with my hand to muffle my tears.

“Silly girl,” my father whispered. “I’m already in my mid-sixties, and sicknesses like this are normal when a man is getting on with age. Crying every time will not change the fact that I’m not as young as I used to be. Every day now brings me a step closer to my gra—”

Before he could finish, I closed the gap between us and practically lunged onto his bed, sitting beside him and shaking my head.

Dad’s lips parted in surprise, and even though I knew this was different from my normal behavior and I needed to remain composed, I couldn’t bring myself to continue.

“You’d live very long and remain very healthy,” I continued, my words breaking as I sniffled. “So please don’t ever say anything like that. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Dad.” And then, in a whisper, almost to myself, I added, “I’d be utterly alone without you.”

He nodded slowly, and it was only then I noticed my hands digging into his. I released his arms quickly, like they were burning.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, my head bent.

“Iris,” Collin called out. “Father-in-law needs proper rest, and you hounding him like that cannot be good for his health,” he said, with a perfected smile that was supposed to charm and pacify. “Come back to your seat, okay?”

Ashamed at my outburst, I made to stand up, but my father’s hand on my arm stopped me. “Hounding me is what I have daughters for,” he smiled at me, despite how extra shiny his eyes were, which betrayed his tears. “It makes us feel more like a family.”

He noticed the ring on my finger and gave a smile that was both heartbreaking and happy. Then he turned to Collin. “She’s never been free a day in her life. I hope you can give her a home where she actually feels safe.”

He looked back at me. “I’ll always regret the things I did, Iris. Thinking about how sensible and quiet you were as a child… it always broke my heart.”

Then he faced Collin again. “I hope you make her happy enough that she can let go, that you get to see the little girl inside her. Please…” his voice broke. “That’s all I’m asking, from this failure of a father.

I shook my head in disagreement. “You’re the best father ever.”

He smiled sadly.

The door opened, and Scarlett walked in, her face twisting into a scowl when she noticed my position beside Dad.

She sank into a seat without a word, though now, knowing her relationship with Collin, I couldn’t ignore the way she rolled her eyes and arched a brow at him after sneaking a look at me.

“You’re late,” he mouthed.

“I wonder whose fault it is,” she mouthed back.

I looked away, my curiosity battling with unease. In the original timeline, Scarlett had been here before me. Was her absence the reason the events had changed? Like… a butterfly effect.

Or worse…