Chapter 480

Lost It All.

Richard's POV.

I watched her walk away, still bleeding and literally shivering.

I clenched my jaw as I stared at the mess she had left behind. She had found out a secret I had kept since the day Susannah turned one.

Yes, I needed to know. I couldn't stop myself.

As much as I loved Raina, I also loved the idea of her child being mine.

I never knew how much I wanted to be a father until I learned about Raina's pregnancy. But Raina didn't see me as worthy.

It was clear she hated the idea... The thought of her child being mine instead of Aaron's.

Why did she hate me so much? It was almost as if she couldn't stand the thought of me. She was ready to give that man who had betrayed her countless times another chance every time he slipped up, but she would distance herself whenever I uttered a word that wasn't to her liking.

That was why I couldn't tell her. I couldn't because she didn't want me to be Susannah's father. She wanted Aaron.

I didn't tell her and ask for the right to be with my daughter because I feared I would hurt her. I feared she still wasn't healed from the wounds of the past, so I kept the truth to myself.

To protect her feelings, I was okay with watching my daughter call another man Dad.

I acted simply like a friend, even though I ached to have them both in my arms.

I... I wanted them. I loved them.

Tears stung my eyes as I stared at the bloody footprints.

She was hurting, and she wouldn't even let me help her. Was that how much she hated me?

I clenched my jaw, my chest tightening as anger and pain fought against the guilt weighing heavily inside me.

I picked up a bloody piece of glass and enclosed it tightly in my palm. I watched the blood trickle down my hand, my fingers tightening around the shard.

She had only kissed me to make me let my guard down.

For that moment, I thought she wanted me. I thought she felt my touch the way I felt hers.

She had deceived me and played with my feelings, just as she always had.

A growl tore from my throat as I punched the wall again and again. The image of her face when she had asked me not to touch her remained fixed in my mind.

"Sir... Sir, what are you doing?" A voice trembled behind me as I felt weak arms wrap around me.

"You're bleeding, sir. What... What are you doing here?" the maid stammered as she pulled my fist toward her to examine the wound.

I turned to the maid. "Clean the place and lock the door when you're done." I ordered, my voice low and firm.

I turned to the other maid standing at the door, her eyes fixed on the bloody ground.

"Take a first-aid box and go tend to Raina, now." I instructed, my voice leaving no room for argument.

I opened my hand and let the piece of glass fall. The pain wound wasn't as distracting as I had expected.

They bowed and stepped out of the way, and I walked out of the study.

I walked to my room, restless and unable to settle, and just then, my phone lying on the bed rang.

"Boss, there's a car out here. I think Ms. Moranno's driver is here to take her home," the caller reported.

My eyes narrowed.

I see. She had called Pedro.

She didn't want to be in the house with me, and I couldn't possibly force her to let me treat her wounds.

"Let him in. Drive slowly behind them and make sure she gets to the Moranno mansion safely." I instructed, my voice clipped as my eyes shifted toward the wall clock.

The call disconnected as I stared absentmindedly at the screen.

"Sir."

A knock came on the open door.

"Ms. Moranno didn't let me clean her wounds, and I think she's leaving," the maid reported, lowering her gaze.

I faced her.

"Go to bed, Gloria." I dismissed her quietly.

"So she just left without giving you a listening ear?" Elias asked, his brows drawing together.

"At least she could have stopped and tried to see things from your perspective. You have been there for her for so many damn years." He shook his head, his lips tightening.

I lifted my gaze from my hand as Gloria wrapped the bandage around it and stared at Elias with a sigh.

He was literally the one person I would tell about my feelings for Raina. He knew exactly how much I had endured.

"She's hurt, lost a lot of blood there. I'm more worried about that." I replied, my voice low and clipped as the maid finished with the bandaging.

She packed up the first-aid box and left.

"I can't call her. Of course, she's not going to answer any of my calls, and not knowing if she's fine is fucking killing me." I dragged a hand over my face.

He remained silent, studying me for a while.

"So, what are you going to do now?" he asked after a while.

"Raina knows that you had a DNA paternity test conducted without her consent. She knows you were in touch with Theodore and now knows about Raven too.

"What are you going to do, man?" His brows pulled together as he waited for my answer.

My gaze fell to my hand, only one thought coming to mind.

"I want my daughter." I replied, my expression hardening.

"What?" He blinked, staring at me.

"I said I want my daughter. I want custody of her. I want her to know who her father is. I want her love. I want everything." I clenched my fists, frustration tightening my voice.

"Really, Richard?" His eyes widened.

"If I recall correctly, the main reason you haven't gone to claim the little girl as yours is because you want them together." He shook his head.

"You only waited for so long because you felt Raina would eventually feel the same for you. You wanted both mother and daughter. You wanted them to come to you on their own accord." He leaned forward, his gaze fixed on me.

I clenched my jaw. "Well, that's not happening." I jerked out of my seat.

"She left angrily while bleeding. I know she hates me now. She's never going to be mine." My shoulders dropped as I looked away.

"I no longer have any interest in waiting for someone who's never going to be mine. I want my daughter, and without her mother, I'm going to get her to love me as her father." I swallowed hard, forcing my gaze back toward Elias.