Chapter 7 - Learning to Be a Father
Being a father was harder than running an empire.
Lily asked questions constantly.
“Why are you so rich?”
“Complicated.”
“Why do people call you boss?”
“Bad habit.”
“Why do you have bodyguards?”
“Because people worry about me.”
“Why do they carry guns?”
I sighed.
“Another complicated question.”
She laughed.
I learned to make pancakes.
I burned the first batch.
She ate them anyway.
I learned bedtime stories.
I was terrible at voices.
I learned school projects.
I hated glitter.
I learned that children don't care about power.
They care about whether you show up.
And I showed up.
Every time.
Sarah recovered slowly.
She moved into my home.
Not as my employee.
Not as a woman hiding from the past.
As the woman I loved.
One evening, Lily found us sitting together.
She looked at us.
“Are you getting married?”
Sarah nearly choked.
I laughed.
“Why?”
“Because you look at Mommy differently.”
Sarah blushed.
I looked at her.
Lily was right.
I did.
Then Lily smiled.
“Good.”
She walked away.
Sarah whispered:
“She planned that.”
“I know.”
We laughed.
For the first time in decades, my house felt like a home.
But happiness never lasted long in my world.
Three months later, a letter arrived.
There was no return address.
Inside was one sentence.
Your father wasn't the mastermind.
I read it twice.
Then Sarah took the paper from my hand.
Her face went pale.
“Nathan…”
“What?”
May you like
She pointed to the signature.
It belonged to my mother.
