Chapter 301

Chapter 301
Serene nodded slowly. “Damian… she’s Sia.”
The air seemed to freeze. Damian blinked—once, twice—before taking a step back like the floor moved under him.
“No,” he whispered. “No, that can’t be.”
Serene stepped closer. “It’s true.”
Damian’s breath shook. His fingers curled into fists. He backed into the couch and lowered himself into it like he suddenly had no strength to stand.
“Explain,” he rasped. “Serene… please. Explain everything.”
Serene swallowed. “Three days ago, when I went to drop the kids off at school… I saw her walking alone on the road. Dirty. Crying. No shoes. No guardian anywhere.”
Damian stared at her, shocked.
“She wouldn’t talk at first,” Serene continued softly. “She was scared of everyone. But she held my hand. She trusted me. I took her home, fed her, cleaned her.”
Damian’s jaw clenched hard.
“And you didn’t call me?” he asked quietly.
“I didn’t know she was yours,” Serene said quickly. “She never said her name at first.”
“But when you found out?” Damian’s voice cracked angrily. “When she told you she was from Italy? When she said her name? When she described being left alone? Serene, why didn’t you tell me then?!”
Serene stepped back at the force in his voice.
“I needed to be sure,” she whispered. “I didn’t want to give you false hope.”
Damian stood abruptly, pacing.
“False hope? Serene, I spent FIVE YEARS searching for her!” His voice broke. “I spent my life savings. I hired investigators. I walked streets at midnight. I begged people for information—anything!”
His hands shook as he dragged them over his face.
“And she was HERE? In my own house? For days? And you kept quiet?”
Serene’s voice trembled. “Damian, she was terrified. She panicked at the sound of a male voice. She would hide behind the couch every time Reid laughed too loudly. She needed to feel safe before—”
“No!” Damian snapped. “She needed ME! I’m her father, Serene. Not some stranger on the street.”
Serene tried again. “That’s why I ran the DNA test. I wanted proof. I wanted the truth in my hands before I crushed your heart again.”
Damian stopped walking.
His body went still.
“You ran a DNA test?” he whispered. “Without telling me?”
“Yes.”
He stared at her like she had stabbed him.
“And it came back positive?” His voice was empty.
“99.9%.”
Damian sank back onto the couch, elbows on his knees. His breath broke. His shoulders trembled.
For the first time, Serene realized how close he was to falling apart.
“She… she’s alive,” he whispered. “My daughter is alive.”
The joy in the words didn’t match the torment in his voice.
His eyes glistened.
“She was alone, Serene. Alone on a road.” His voice cracked. “How long was she wandering? Who hurt her? Who left her? What did she go through?”
Serene had no words.
Damian exhaled shakily, pressing a hand over his face. “And all this time… she was right here. Under my roof. Eating dinner in my kitchen. Sleeping in my guest room. And I didn’t even know.”
He looked up at Serene suddenly, eyes filled with betrayal.
“And you kept her from me.”
Serene stepped back, tears filling her eyes. “Damian… I wasn’t trying to hurt you.”
“I know,” he whispered. “But you did.”
He leaned back, staring at the ceiling, trying not to break.

SIA’S POV — The Man Downstairs
Mira pulled me to the top of the stairs. The house was quiet. Too quiet.
I hugged my blanket and peeked down.
The man downstairs was sitting on the couch. His face was covered, and his shoulders shook like he was crying.
I didn’t know him.
I had never seen him before.
But something inside me felt heavy watching him cry.
Mira crouched next to me. “Sweetheart, don’t worry. Adults cry too.”
I whispered, “Is he mad?”
“Not at you,” Mira said softly. “He’s… sad. Very sad.”
I stared at him again.
His hands were big. His shoes were shiny. He looked tired, like he had been searching for something for a long time.
I didn’t know why my chest felt tight.
I didn’t know why looking at him made my throat hurt.
I didn’t know why my eyes felt watery.
I didn’t know him at all.
But still…
I whispered, barely audible,
“Why is he hurting?”
Mira wrapped an arm around me gently.
My small fingers clutched the wooden stair rail as I kept watching him.
This stranger.
This sad man.
Crying alone downstairs.
I didn’t know him.
But something in my heart whispered…
He seems lonely.
And for the first time since Serene found me on the road…
I felt something other than fear.
I felt sorry for him.