CHAPTER 45: ROSE

Ryan parks his car in front a big black two-door entrance from where I can see the mansion.

Its a big and modern mansion- Joseph must be very rich. I wonder if he's richer than Ryan. My eyes scan the surroundings, there's no one outside, no security or anything like that.

"That's his house." Ryan's voice makes my head turn towards him "he's probably inside. You can go inside."

I stare at Ryan, nervously "will you leave when I go in?" I ask.

"No. I'll be here when you're done." Ryan says and gives me a small smile.

"okay."

"Incase.." Ryan starts "anything goes wrong, call me. I'll come in."

I nod "okay."

Ryan and I remain our eye contact for a few moments before I give him a small smile

and turn towards the door. I open the door and get out of the car. I shut the door and turn towards the huge two-door entrance. I take a deep breath before I walk through the door.

I look around my surroundings as I make my way towards the mansion main gate, there's greenery on both side, gardeners are doing their work. Although, some of them stand up when they spot me, confusion taking over their facial expression. I pick up my pace and quickly make my way towards the main door.

When I reach it, I simply stand quietly and stare at it debating whether it was a good idea to come here or not. I turn my head towards the huge door I walked through and see the back the of the Ryan's car, relief washes over me. He didn't leave. Of course he didn't, he promised.

I turn back to the door, take a deep breath and ring the door bell. It echoes in the whole house for almost a minute before the door opens.

An old aged woman comes at the door, she frowns when she sees me before asking "Can I help you, Miss?"

I part my lips to talk "I'm here for Mr William. He's not expecting me but-"

"who's at the door, Audrey?" a familiar, deep voice breaks in, the lady- Audrey turns her head behind.

"There's a young lady asking for you, sir." Audrey backs away from the door as Joseph comes into view, his scrunched up brow soften when he sees me.

"Rose."

"Good evening, Mr William. Am I interrupting?" I ask, biting down my lower lip.

"No. No, no. Come in, please." he opens the door wider for me to walk in.

I murmur a "thank you" as I walk in. Joseph shuts the door and gestures me to walk ahead.

He leads me towards the huge living room. There's a wooden center table placed on the carpet, two sofa placed on either side of the table. Few abstracts paintings are hanging on the wall. on the right, there's a long and broad staircase that goes up leading to different room. All furniture placed in this room is luxurious.

"Take a seat." Joseph says and I take my seat on the couch, he sits on the couch across from me. I placed my hands on top of my documents which are placed on my lap.

Joseph gives me a warm smile as he says, "would you like something to drink?"

"No, thank you. I'm okay." I give him a small smile.

"Alright then," he says and leans back on the couch, "what brings you here?"

"Um, I have something to tell you," he nods for me to continue, "oh, um-" I glance down at the documents placed on my lap, I take a deep breath before looking up at him. "This is going to sound crazy and it's probably a lot later that I'm telling you this but I thought you should know." he frowns and leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. I part my lips, it takes me a moment before I let the sentence out "I'm your daughter."

His face softens, "oh," He looks down at his feet

"I found out a month ago. I just.. I just didn't know who was my real father and.. well, when I found out it was you, I thought you should know." He nods, I continue "I'm sorry. I don't know why mom didn't tell-"

"No." He stops me. "I know."

I frown, "what?"

He looks up and meets my eyes "I know you're my daughter."

My heart drops.

"Wh- you knew I was your daughter?" He nods "why- why didn't you say anything? I've known you- since I could remember. Did dad know?"

"He knew. Your mother and I…" he trails off. He takes a deep breath before continuing "your mother and I were together when she told me she was pregnant. She said the kid was mine and that she was excited."

By the look on his face and the way, he's not looking at me when he tells me this, I know I won't like what he's about to tell me.

"I wasn't ready to be father. Having a family has never been my goal and I thought.. your mother was the same." My eyes sting with tears "so, I told her to get rid of it."

Oxygen leaves my lungs at his words.

"I told her that I didn't want a distraction. I was so close to getting my business to start up, I just couldn't-" he sighs "I couldn't handle such a responsibility."

My gaze drops to the carpet. A tear escapes my eyes.

I can't breathe.

And he's not done talking.

"Your mother and I got into a fight and we eventually broke up." He says "Henry and I.. we were good friends. He knew about me and your mother and I always sensed that he liked her." I can tell he's getting angry "so, when I told him about our break up, he lashed out on me. We got into an argument and I told him to leave. And he did."

I look up at Joseph, he's staring at his hands "after 2 years, I found out that Henry had gone to your mother to help her. They eventually started dating after you were born and soon got married." He releases a shaky breath "I hated it. I hated every part of their life."

I part my lips to ask him a question "did they… did they let you see me?"

He looks at me "they did." He says, his next words are what kills me "but I didn't."

"Why?" I whisper, scared that I'd burst into tears if I raise my voice even a little.

"I couldn't. I'm not a good father, that's why I told your mother to get rid of you- I know I sound horrible but you have to understand- I couldn't do it."

"Why did you hate dad so much? Just because he wanted to help mom."

His eyes darken "your 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 father left me because of your mother. We were suppose to work together. But instead he went to help your mother with you and forgot everything- forgot his career."

I feel numb. "Dad started his business soon after-"

"But was it successful enough? No." He says, getting angrier "and the worst part, your father's business could've gotten successful if he didn't decide to give so many instructions to your ex-husband."

My eyes widen at the mention of Ryan- not him but the way he said 'ex-husband'

"Your father has always tried to help others while he never did anything for himself. And that was the same reason, people betrayed him."

He's right. Dad always puts others first before him. He put mine and mom's needs first before his. When Ryan came to ask for help, he told him everything he knew and helped him start his business. To this day, Ryan still thanks my dad.

Realization comes to me slowly but clearly.

𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.

Just because his name is on my birth certificate doesn't mean he has the right for me to call him 'dad' and love him like that.

Henry- my dad- he is my real dad. He helped mom raise me. He always put mom first before his needs. He loved me. He loved mom. He died, scared that I'd hate him. He never said anything to upset me or my mom. Every decision he made, it was right.

Henry is and always will be my father.

I think I did the right thing coming here. At least I know how my biological father really is. And now I understand why dad always kept me away from him.

"I- I have to go." I say, standing up. Joseph stands up quickly right after me "Ryan's waiting for me."

𝘙𝘺𝘢𝘯.

I want to go to Ryan.

"Ryan?"

I look up at Joseph.

He's confused.

"Why is Ryan waiting for you?- Did you come with him?" He asks

"Yes." I say numbly.

"Wh- I thought you two divorced."

Even though it's not true, it still hurts me.

"We're not. And for you to assume, you shouldn't have."

"Do you trust him?" He asks "didn't he lie to you?"

How does he know that?

"My marriage is none of your business." I say, numb

"I'm your father-"

"You're not. Henry Graham is my father." I watch as his eyes show anger "you were never there for me. You were never there for mom." I stare at him hard "you suggested to get rid of me. You don't get to call yourself my father."

Joseph chuckles "he's going to hurt you again." He says

"How do you know that?"

"I've seen that boy grow up in front of my eyes. He's like his father. Cruel and thirsty for wealth."

His words make my blood boil. Ryan is nothing like his father. Ryan is sweet, kind and caring. He doesn't show his soft side because he doesn't want to get betrayed or get used. I know that he'd die to save his family. The world can call him cruel but I will never let those words affect him. I know Ryan can handle himself but being called a cruel monster would hurt anyone.

"You don't know Ryan. Just because he keeps his feelings locked away and doesn't say anything when people like you call him cruel doesn't mean he is." I say, wanting to hurt him for comparing Ryan with his father.

Before Joseph says something else, I stop him, "thank you for making me realize what my real father actually is."

We both stare at each other, my eyes still stinging with tears with his words repeating in my head. His eyes full of rage, he knows exactly what I mean.

Without saying another word, I turn and walk out of the house.

I stare straight ahead, my eyes glued to Ryan's car. Joseph's words repeating in my head

𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘵.

𝘐 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵.

𝘞𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘶𝘱.

𝘏𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥.

𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘦?

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰.

By the time I walk out, tears are streaming down my cheeks again. Ryan must've seen me from the window because he rushed out of the car towards me.

"Rose, what ha-"

His sentence dies when I bury my face into his chest, releasing the sob I'd been holding.

He stands still before he wraps his arms around me. I clutch to his shirt as sobs release my mouth. He soothes my hair, calming me down.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" He says gently "why are you crying?"

He gently pulls me back and lifts up my chin gently so I look in his eyes.

"Did he hurt you?" He asks, trying to be gentle but his eyes tell he's furious.

I shake my head, I wipe my tears "I- I just-" I take a deep breath "he knew about me. He knew about me but he never wanted me." My voice cracks. "He told mom to get rid of me when she was pregnant."

Horror takes over Ryan's facial expression.

"Henry- dad- left Joseph to help mom raise me. And- and he never once wanted to see me." I stare at Ryan the whole time I tell him about my interaction with Joseph, forgetting that we're standing outside his house. But he doesn't mind at all, he listens to me, his hand resting on my waist as he reads my eyes.

After I'm done, Ryan pulls me into his arms again. I close my eyes, listening to his heart beat as he soothes my hair and I steady my breaths.

He presses his mouth on the top of my head "I'm sorry," He whispers against my hair.

"I think.." I sigh, "I think coming here was the right decision." I open my eyes and look up at him. He's already looking at me, "I needed to know how he was."

He runs a gentle hand through my hair "you did make the right decision, sweetheart."

We lock eyes. He gives me a small smile before it fades away quickly.

"You hurt me." The words slip out themselves.

Ryan takes a deep breath and nods, "I know.. I'm sorry, sweetheart."

"Are you…" I keep my eyes fixed on his to read every emotion, I like that he's always transparent with me with his emotions. "Are you going to hurt me again?"

His eye brow draws closer, he cups my face with one hand "No. I can't risk you hating me again."

"You promise?"

He nods, "I promise."

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I open my eyes again and lock my gaze with his, "I want us to start fresh." I watch as Ryan's shoulders visibly relax, "I want to give us.. another chance because.." I lick my lips "because, I love you, Ryan."

I watch as his face breaks into the best smile I've seen, he leans down and rests his forehead against mine, his eyes closed, his body relaxed. "God, I'm so relieved."

"If you hurt me again, I will not forgive you. I mean it." I say with a pout.

Ryan chuckles, "that's not going to happen. I promise I won't hurt you." I smile.

He pulls back, his eyes roaming my face. He puts his hand on the back of my head as he leans in and presses his mouth against mine.

I immediately kiss back, I feel him smile through the kiss as I part my lips.

God, I missed him so much.

After few seconds, we pull away and look at each other.

He suddenly chuckles, "this is not the place I imagined us ever kissing."

Realizing what he means, I look around my surroundings.

Right, we're at my biological father's house.

My cheeks are probably pink. I turn back to Ryan, my lips pressed into a thin line. He doesn't seem to care about our surroundings, he's just smiling.

"I think we should go."

"As you wish, sweetheart."

I smile at the nickname. I will never get sick of it.

The drive back home, Ryan drives with one hand while his other hand is holding mine. I keep glancing at our joined hands, not able to stop the smile spreading over my face.

We're going to make this work. Properly, this time.