Chapter 11
Veronica’s POV
The sudden display of affection had me stunned. Why did he sound like we knew each other? Why was he even searching for me? I didn’t remember ever seeing this man. Even with my grandmother.
When he looked up, his eyes were misty as he looked at me as though he‘ d been waiting his entire life for this moment.
That was way too emotional for someone owing someone a favor. Maybe he was her lover?
“Veronica,” he said, his voice gravelly with emotion. I took in his face. again, carefully this time since it was a closer range.
I froze, every muscle in my body tightening. There was something hauntingly familiar about him–the shape of his jaw, the arch of his brow. It was like staring into an older, male version of myself.
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude but is there any relationship between you and my grandmother? She sent me here to meet you and you seem to know me…” I asked, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to sound composed.
I didn’t want to be weird about it by asking him a hundred questions at the same time. Even though that was exactly what I wanted to do.
“I’m… your father,” he said softly and for a second I forgot to breathe.
I blinked, certain I had misheard him. My father? How?!
No. That couldn’t be right. I was made to believe that my father was dead. figuratively, out of our lives. My father was a ghost, a figure who had
never existed in my life except in the form of unanswered questions and unspoken resentment.
“You’re lying.” I said, my voice sharper now, my hands curling into fists. “This is some kind of mistake.”
“It’s not.” he said firmly, his gaze unwavering. “I am your father,
Veronica. And I know I’m the last person you want to see now, but I beg for a chance to say my truth…”
Orthon stood beside me, visibly shocked. His jaw tightened as he glanced. between the man and me, clearly unsure how to intervene.
A lot of emotions were swirling insdide me. Anger, pain, confusion, hate. None of them was happiness or joy. Because if this man had been in our lives, a lot of things would have never happened.
For one, my mother would still be alive.
I crossed my arms, a barrier against the storm of emotions swirling inside me. “Go ahead, then. Tell me this so–called truth.”
He took a deep breath, his hands gripping the arms of his wheelchair as though his confession required physical support. “Your mother, Elena… She and I met under unusual circumstances. She was beautiful, vibrant, and full of life. I was reckless. We had… one night together and I had never felt more alive…”
My stomach churned, and I felt the room begin to tilt.
“Stop,” I said, raising a hand. “You don’t get to romanticize this. You had one night with my mother, and then what? You just abandoned her? Abandoned me?”
His face twisted with guilt. “I didn’t know about you at first,” he admitted. “When I found out, I wanted to do the right thing, but my family, they wouldn’t allow it. They said she wasn’t ‘suitable,‘ that she would ruin my
career, our name. I was too weak to fight them.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “So, what? You chose your family’s approval over your own child? That’s pathetic.”
“I know,” he said, his voice breaking. “I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But I didn’t have another child. I couldn’t. And as the years went by, the weight of what I had done, what I had lost, it became unbearable. I’ve been searching for you ever since.”
I turned away, unable to look at him any longer. My heart was pounding. my emotions ricocheting between anger, sadness, and something I couldn‘
t quite name.
“I don’t want to hear this,” I said, my voice trembling. “You don’t get to drop this on me and expect me to…”
“I’m not expecting anything.” he said quickly. “I just needed you to know the truth. Even if you hate me, even if you never want to see me again, you deserve to know where you come from.”
I turned to Orthon, who had been silent the entire time. His face was unreadable, but his eyes were focused on me, like he was waiting for my signal.
“Take me home,” I said to him, my voice barely steady.
Meshach reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out an envelope. “Please,” he said, holding it out to me. “Take this. If you ever change your mind… if you ever want to come back, you’ll know where to find me.
I hesitated before snatching the envelope, my fingers trembling. Without another word, I walked out, Orthon close behind me.
Back at Orthon’s apartment, I sat on the couch, staring at the envelope in my hands. My heart was pounding, my mind racing.
1 cupped my face, trying to process it all. My father was a billionaire! A freaking billionaire! And my mother suffered till the day she died.
My grandmother, battled sickness to her death and I had been forced to endure insults and neglect from the one who was supposed to be my husband and his family. He even went as far as cheating on me!
The whole thing made me break down, sobbing into my palms.
“It’s okay, Vee. I understand how you feel but trust me, it’s going to be fine. You didn’t deserve the abandonment and you have every right to be angry for as long as you want,” he said, rubbing my back gently.
I hugged him sobbing. I half–expected him to take his teacher’s side. The sweet smell of his cologne was soothing.
“Let me get you something to drink, you’ll feel better.”
I let him go and by the time he returned, I was holding the envelope Meshach gave me.
“Are you going to see what’s inside?” Orthon asked gently, sitting beside me. I accepted the drink and took a long sip before dropping it beside me.
I nodded, my hands trembling as I tore it open. Inside was a photograph. My breath caught as I pulled it out. It was an old picture of my mother holding a newborn baby, me. Beside her stood the man I had just met, younger and smiling. They looked so happy.
Beneath the photo was a sleek black card.
“What is this?” I whispered, my voice barely audible as I examined the
card.
Orthon leaned closer, his brow furrowing. “It’s a black card. Unlimited credit. I’m assuming this is a small apology gift to you.”
Tears clouded my eyes as I stared at it. A lot of memories came flooding my head Memories of the incidents where this card would have been more than usual.
“Please stop crying. Vee. It’s crushing me,” Orthon muttered, brushing the tears off my face. A delicious shiver ran down my spine as his fingers
made contact with my skin.
The way he treated me with so much care, like I was an egg, made me feel like I was the most important person to him.
But I didn’t want to assume that, it wasn’t even possible. He was just being nice.
He pulled me into a hug again and my arms wrapped around him instantly. It was so comforting that I forgot how shitty this day was.
“One step at a time. Vee.” he said softly. “At least now, you know you’re not alone. You have me and you have your father.
I nodded slowly. This was the reason my grandmother gave me that card. after all. To find someone I could rely on.
Even though it hurt deeply. I was still grateful
