Chapter 104: Chapter 104

As soon as I labeled him a monster, he didn't raise an objection. He is continuing to take Athen from me, and I have no option except to follow him to get her. When they finally arrived inside the cabin, which now seems to be a beautiful home, I couldn't help but compliment it. It has been tiled, and the inside has been made more roomy. There is a bedroom inside. No doubt the design is more streamlined, but as soon as I go through the door, I am struck by the sorrow of the home. It seemed as though it was attempting to convince me that it had been left behind. I can't help but think back to its previous style. I can't help but go back to the sweet but more challenging times we had in the past. As much as I want to go back and reclaim everything, I equally want to completely forget about it all. Athen rushed inside the bedroom, unable to contain her excitement at being allowed to view the interior of the house. I assume we're simply here to hang around till the shooting is over.

All I want is for his girlfriend not to have shown up because I'm at a blank for what to do when his girlfriend has already begun to quarrel with me over something I've done. Every time I consider that what he was doing to me back then is now being done to others, I am filled with sorrow and jealousy, and I wish he had not done those things to me so that I would not be filled with envy now.

"Mommy!"

When Athen shouted, I immediately glanced up. She walked up to me, and the happiness in her eyes was clear. Maybe it's time to spill the beans to her? Perhaps my selfishness has come to an end, and I have come to terms with the fact that I have badly wounded Adonis and have stopped rationalizing my actions by claiming that I was also affected. I stooped to give Athen a hug. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close till I barely felt Adonis' stride approaching the two of us. Once I let go of Athen's embrace, I turned to look her in the eyes. I smiled at her as I stared into her innocent eyes, and she returned my look. I caressed her hair till Adonis came within striking distance of us.

"Athens, are you interested in meeting your father?" I never stop caressing her hair and giving her a reassuring smile, demonstrating to her that she may freely share her thoughts with me and that she has nothing to be anxious about. She raised her eyes to Adonis, and then turned her gaze back to me swiftly. In that moment, you might have believed she was checking to see whether I was telling the truth about how everything was going in my life. Though I can't confirm that everything is fine in my time on earth, I don't want her to grow up without knowing who her father is till I die.

"No." She spoke it bluntly and boldly. She was successful in obtaining Adonis' attitude . My vision of her was completely different from mine since I was instilling dread in myself. I was concerned that she could decide to leave me and follow Adonis because I would be unable to meet her financial demands in the future. What if she came to the realization that she truly did need a father in her life? So I'd better tell her now so that if the day comes when she criticizes me for my decision, I won't have to worry about it since I've already introduced her to her father.

"Why?"

"I love my mom." She said to me in a mature fashion. My eyes welled up with tears as a result of what she said, and I saw Adonis's hand tighten. I'm already aware of what he's contemplating. I had a sneaking suspicion that what was going through his head right now was one of the other things I was cramming into my daughter's head.

"However, I'd like to know whether you'd like to meet your father." I brush some water on my cheek and continue to speak without pausing. "Because I want you to grow up with a father that you can be proud of," I explain.

"If it's not good for you to see him, then it's not fine for me to see him.  I hate those who have caused you pain. I blame him not just because he abandoned us; I hate him because you cry every night just because of him." She stated it strongly and clearly, and she seemed to be serious about what she was saying. Right now, I can't help but think about what Adonis is going through. Either he has changed his mind and believes that what I put in Athen mind is distinct.

"I'm OK. I'm fine.  I'd want to present him to you, and I'm prepared to do so. My goal is to inform you that your life will be unique from that of other children. We are not like other families," I softly told her.

I could see the astonishment in her eyes, but she didn't inquire as to what I was referring to. I'm not sure how I'm going to explain to her that the other child's parents love each other while Adonis and I are different.  I can't provide her with a whole family, but I can get her into happiness — Adonis and I can provide her with love. I rose to my feet and placed a hand on her shoulder, presenting her to Adonis, who had been waiting.

"Please come over and say hi."

She didn't know what to make of it since I couldn't think of the perfect phrase to say, "He's your father." Athen is intelligent, so I know she will understand what I am trying to say. I'm just hoping beyond hope that she decides to accept Adonis. Just seeing and hearing her refer to Adonis as her father brought a smile to my face. She no longer had a reason to be envious of other kids.

“Mister? Do you happen to be my father?"

My eyes caught sight of Adonis' tears as he nodded, and I could see he was suffering. There's no doubt that he's experiencing conflicting feelings, yet I can't help but cry as well. When I watched how the two of them reacted, I felt a thorn in my side pull me out of the situation. I don't have to flee at all simply to keep the truth from him from finding out what I've done. Athen remained still, but I was taken aback by what she said next.

"Why did you leave us?"

Adonis was unable to respond. Because, first and all, he was not the one who had actually fled. I made the decision to leave him so that I wouldn't be surprised if he held me responsible for everything. It was all my responsibility, and I had no option but to own that I had been completely negligent from the start. That is something I will not deny. However, when I heard his response, I felt a ray of hope.

"'I’m sorry. I'm a conceited jerk. I prioritize my business over you and your mom."