Chapter 6 - My Father Was Still Alive, and When I Finally Found Him He Told Me Why He Had Allowed Me to Become a MonsterMy father was living under another name.
A small house in Vermont.
No security.
No guards.
No empire.
He opened the door.
I didn't speak.
Neither did he.
Then he said:
“You survived.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Barely.”
He looked at Marina.
Then Bella.
His eyes filled.
“You kept them safe.”
Marina nodded.
He hugged her.
Then he looked at me.
“I am sorry.”
“For what?”
“For leaving you.”
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I thought it was the only way.”
“It wasn't.”
“No.”
He accepted it.
Then explained.
He had watched from afar.
He saw me become ruthless.
He saw me build the empire.
He wanted me strong enough to survive.
But he had failed to teach me one important thing.
How to trust.
“I thought fear would protect you.”
I looked at him.
“It almost destroyed me.”
“I know.”
“Why didn't you come back sooner?”
“Because Matteo was watching.”
“Why now?”
“Because Marina returned.”
I looked at her.
“She knew I would be ready.”
My father smiled.
“I always believed you would find your way back.”
I laughed.
“Back to what?”
“To yourself.”
I didn't know what to say.
Then Bella ran toward him.
“Who are you?”
He crouched.
“My name is Adrian.”
She smiled.
“Are you nice?”
He laughed.
“I am trying.”
She hugged him.
Something in me broke.
May you like
My father had missed fifteen years.
But perhaps we could still build something.
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