I was wrong to think the day of seeing my father again would never come because, after twenty years of not seeing or hearing from him, he's here, standing beside me, looking down and oddly staring at me as if I were a ghost, so I returned the stare. Because if anyone should look at anyone like a ghost, it should be Justin and me. Seeing that's what he is to us, a phantom that came back from the dead. Finally, his eyes wandered away from me and over to the other side of the table when Walter began berating him.

"I'm sorry. I don't think we've ever met. May I ask who are you to my family?"

Did I hear him right? Did he just say we're his family?

I looked over at Walter, and his forehead was furrowed into a frown—looking like he too didn't care for my father, claiming we were his family. Then, beneath a deeply furrowed brow, a look of disturbed formed in his eyes as he responded to my father. "Of course, we never met you, cretin. Had you been a part of your children's lives, you'd know who I am." Walter looked at Justin, then at me. Then, he looked back at my father and told him exactly what I was thinking. "You undoubtedly do not know what a family is to you, so don't be calling these two amazing grown adults your family. I'm more family to Justin and Aria than you'll ever be, and I think they'd agree with me on that statement."

Agreeing with Walter, I looked at my father, admitting, "He's right. All you are to us is a man who contributed your semen to our mother."

"I understand your hatred towards me; it's well deserved. But I'm not here expecting to try talking you and your bother out of hating me; I know that'll never happen. On the contrary, I came here hoping you'll at least allow me to apologize for my actions and non-existence. Both you and Justin deserve that much."

"You're damn right we do," Justin barked.

"I see you haven't changed."

"Not with you," Justin harshly responded.

My father's hands raised, his palms facing Justin. "Look, I'm not here to fight. It's the last thing I want to do."

Gunner quickly stood, extending his hand to the empty chair. "Please, take a seat. And then I'd like to ask that everyone here keep their voices down before we upset the employees and their customers, and they kick us out."

As my father sat across from me and next to Justin, Walter warned, "If he upsets my Aria, I hope you don't expect me to keep my voice down. Because that isn't happening, the Hercules in me will get out of this chair, and I'll show him what I think of him by shoving his head up where the sun doesn't shine."

Gunner leaned to me, whispering, "I warned you this would happen."

I shrugged, letting Gunner know I didn't care what Walter threatened to do. "Walter's only saying what I'm thinking."

Gunner sighed while sitting back in his chair.

Justin turned in his chair, facing my father with anger in his eyes. "Before you say anything, I want to know what Aria and I did that made you disappear, for you to live a life like we were never born, acting like we meant nothing to you?"

My father shook his head. "That's not what happened at all. Every day I thought about you kids. And every night, as I lied in bed, I hated myself for not doing everything I could to see you."

Justin mockingly laughed. "If you hated you as you so claimed, then why didn't you try attempting to see us?"

"You may not believe me for saying this, but I tried. And I continued trying until I was told not to come around anymore."

Justin angrily turned away from him while waving his hand across his face. "Whatever. Mom would never have said that to you. It was evident you wanted nothing to do with us. Especially on our last visit with you."

My father pointed his finger at Justin. "That's not true..."

Justin slammed his fist on the table, causing us all to jump. "Do you remember what I told you when you dropped us off the last time we saw each other?"

He nodded. "I do. I remember it very well."

"Yeah, and so do I. I also remember what you told me in return..." Justin's eyes looked up to the ceiling. He took a deep breath and finally looked at my father, breathing, "I got my wish, right?"

Huh?

What wish?

"What are you talking about?" I asked, my eyes quickly wandering back and forth from my father to Justin.

"It doesn't matter, Aria."

"If you think I granted your wish that day, you're wrong."

Justin's eyes turned to slits, asking, "Am I?"

"Damn it, Justin, listen to me," my father loudly snapped, shoving his chair back and shifting his body toward Justin. "You're my kids, for crying out loud! I never wanted this. Not at all—not seeing or talking to you has been killing me. But, as I said before, I didn't come here to fight; I came to explain what happened. So I ask that you hear me out."

"Fine. Explain yourself, then," Justin said.

"Thank you," he replied, relieved. "I really need you both to know that this was not my doing. My silence and disappearance were all forced upon me by your mother."

Both Justin and I gasped. "What?" I asked, surprised, "what are you talking about? Our mother would never have done that to us."

He looked at me. "After all this time, I don't expect you to believe me, but it's the truth."

"You're so full of shit; your blue eyes just turned a deep colored brown," Justin cruelly responded.

My father lowered his head, shaking it before looking at Justin, calmly saying, "The last time we saw each other, your mother called me later that night insisting that I never come around you kids again and that if I were to, she'd have me arrested. I never believed she'd do it until I tried picking you kids up the following weekend, where she called the police, claiming I was trying to kidnap you. They showed up and arrested me."

Justin's brows drew together. "And we're supposed to believe this?"

"I know it seems farfetched and hard for you to believe, but it's true, Justin. It's the fucking truth," he repeated, sounding defeated.

I'm having a hard time believing his excuse because what he claims happened sounds nothing like what my mother would do. Not at all... As my father explained how often he was arrested for trying to spend time with us, I thought back to those weekends we sat waiting for him to arrive. Not once do I remember him showing up at our door or the police at our house to arrest anyone.

"You were never there," I finally said. "You were never there to get us."

"I was there numerous times," my father said, turning toward me, "but you and Justin weren't there, either. Your mother knew when I was coming over to get you but made sure the two of you were gone when I got there."

My eyes squinted, thinking back to those nights of sitting by the window, watching for him to pull into the driveway. And then it came to me, finally. He's right. We weren't there. We were still at school because our mother had us doing after-school activities.

"I tried fighting for you and Justin in court, but I lost the battle."

"Pfft," Justin hissed. "Tried, my ass... I remember the last thing that was said between us--"

"And so do I," my father interrupted. "I remember it very well, and as much as you think that wish of yours was granted, that's not what I wanted to happen."

My brows furrowed in confusion as I looked at Justin. "What on earth are you two talking about?"

"When dad dropped us off after Felicia's birthday party, I told him I never wanted to see him again. And he responded by saying maybe I'll get my wish." Justin sighed. "This is all my fault. I'm the reason he quit seeing us. Had I not said that to him, none of this would have happened."

"That's not true. None of this was your fault. It was mine."

Justin stood quickly. "I can't listen to any more of what he has to say. I'm out of here."

"You're not going anywhere," Walter hissed. "Now sit your ass down. I'm sure there's more he has to say that you need to hear." He looked at my father, arching a brow. "Am I right? You have more to tell them, don't you?"

"I'm sorry. I know I asked this earlier. But who are you? Are you a private investigator or something?"

Walter chuckled. "I'm no private investigator, but if you were to ask Aria or Gunner here, I should be."

Ain't that the truth? The man is good at digging up anyone's past for someone whose profession used to be an architect. Since my father asked twice now who Walter was and hasn't gotten an answer, I figured now should be a good time to fill him in on who Walter is to me.

"That's Walter—a wonderful man who's been nothing but a father to me. And one who I'll always see as my father," I said with a hint of bitterness, hoping my tone and admission would hurt my father's feelings. "More than I can say about you."

Gunner solaced me by resting his hand on my thigh.

"Thank you for looking out for her," my father said, looking from Walter and back at me. "Aria, I'm honest when I say this, but every night for the last twenty years, all I've done was pray to see you and your brother again. And even though you and Justin despise me right now, I want you to know I'm more than thrilled to be sitting here with you two again."

"Come on, Mr. Sperm donor, tell Aria and Justin the truth. The whole truth... There's more to this story that you're still hiding from them," Walter scowled, hinting he knows more than what he's ever told Justin and me.

"Walter? What are you insinuating?" I asked. "What do you know that you haven't told me?"

Walter pointed across the table. "Ask him." Walter's eyes grew serious. "Go on. Tell them your secret; they need to know the truth."

A look of confusion crossed my father's face. "Secret?"

Justin looked at Walter, twisting his lips. And then he looked at me. "If Walter is trying to get him to say who Felicia is, I might as well be the one to tell you."

"You must have forgotten that I already know who Felicia is since you blew that secret a long ass time ago," I said, feeling more confused than ever. "Felicia's the illegitimate child born while our father was still married to our mother."

Justin suddenly got antsy, then he raised his water glass to his lips and slammed the entire glass before blurting out, "Felicia isn't just our sister; she's the one you'll be fighting against in a couple of weeks."

I quickly looked at Gunner, widening my eyes. "Tell me you didn't know this."

Gunner's Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he looked at me—telling me he's known. "Justin was supposed to be the one to tell you. Especially after we got the word, you were fighting against Hell's Baby."

The tears I've been fighting to stay where they were since my father arrived figured out how to escape. And as they fell from my eyes and strolled down my cheeks, I looked at Justin. "How could you keep this from me? You're always keeping things from me!"

I turned to Gunner and shoved him. "And you? You promised not to keep anything from me!" Suddenly the night Gunner begged me to discipline him came to mind, and I paused. After thinking about what he said and wanted to do, I realized why. "The other night, you implored me to punish you and kept bugging me until I gave in. That's why you did it. You knew who Felicia was."

"I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you, but your brother was the one who was supposed to tell you."

Walter leaned over Gunner to get me to look at him. "Don't get upset with your boy toy; he did nothing wrong. On the other hand, Justin did, by claiming he'd tell you. So I give you my permission to let your brother know how angry you are with him by showing him your famous left hook," he said with a smile, showing me his fist.

In all fairness, I should be upset with Walter as well. He, too, hid this from me. But because he's always saying it's not his story to tell whenever he discovers something, I understand why he chose not to tell me. He wanted my brother to man up and tell me.

"Aria," Justin sighed, "I didn't want to say anything to you until after the big fight. I know how easily distracted you get, and I wanted you to focus on beating the sister that tore our family apart."

"She's not the reason I left your mother. But, yes, I had an affair, and I'll be the first to admit that never should have happened, as I was still married to your mother. But there's more to that story I don't feel would be right to discuss here."

"Listen here, Mr. jerkface deluxe. You're here to tell your children twenty years' worth of secrets. Now spill the beans... tell them everything," Walter groaned, giving him an evil eye. One I'd never seen Walter give to anyone.

My father returned the gaze, then slowly looked at Justin and me. He took a drink of water, and as he placed the glass on the table, he said, "Two years after Aria was born, June asked me for a divorce, saying she had fallen out of love with me, that there was another man in her life. It was something I didn't want, so I declined the divorce and begged that we seek marriage counseling, to which we did. After a couple of years, I thought everything was fine between us. We were getting along, the sex was never better, and we were happy. We seemed like one happy family until I walked past a restaurant and saw her having lunch with the man she claimed she no longer talked to. So instead of confronting her and causing a big scene, I left."

Was my mom having an affair?

"I wasn't sure what to do. I was hurt, angry, and confused, and I felt lost. Your mother was my world, and then to see what I saw when I thought everything was going in the direction I liked, my world felt destroyed. Then Stacey came into the picture. She was beautiful, young, and so full of life that the more I was ignored at home and spent more time at work being around the one who gave me the attention I needed. Finally, it led to me having an affair."

My family was more fucked up than I thought...

"At first, I felt guilty about the affair and did all I could to save my marriage to your mother. Then, I got the news Stacey was pregnant. I panicked and went home to tell June what I had done, but when I got home, I walked in on her with him..."

I lowered my head, covered my face with my hands, and closed my eyes tight, hoping to stop the tears from exposing themselves.

Hearing my father admit their infidelity just proves that I came from the most dysfunctional family ever to be known.

"You still got mom pregnant after Felicia was born," Justin bitterly reminded.

My father nodded in agreement. "I did. However, when she found out she was pregnant, your mother didn't know who's child it was, which started her depression."

"Continue spilling the beans," Walter warned after my father quit talking and had looked down at his hands fidgeting with the table linen.

He looked up, and I saw a man who looked utterly broken. Looking almost as if there was something he was afraid to admit.

"Even though I knew there was a possibility I wasn't the father, I wanted my relationship with your mother to work, so I ended things with Stacey with the promise I'd always be there for Felicia. But then June's depression worsened, and because she constantly insisted all our problems were all my fault, I left."

"Of course you did," Justin mocked. "Instead of staying to help her, you ran. Running right back to the woman, willing to open her legs for you."

"Justin, stop. Please. I understand you're angry and that you feel I neglected you and your sister, but it was an agreement I made with your mother."

"Agreement?" I asked. "You agreed with her to never see us again?"

"Yes, and no."

"I don't understand," I said.

"The agreement was if I didn't go for custody of you and Justin, and if the baby she was carrying turned out to be mine, she got to keep you two, and I'd be the one to raise the other child."

I think I'm about to be sick.

"Excuse me? Did you just say she agreed that you'd raise her other child? Because Justin and I saw her not long ago, she asked us to find the daughter that was stolen from her. Are you telling us you have her? You're the one who stole her?"

"I didn't steal her baby. And if she told you I kidnapped her child, she's lying. If not lying, she must have been so out of touch with reality that she had no clue what agreement she made while we were in court. After the baby was born, and my DNA matched hers, I got a call that I could pick her up and bring her home."

"So you raised Stella?" I asked, trying to stop the bile from working out of my stomach and onto the table.

"I did. And believe it or not, your sister, Stella, could pass as your twin."

***

Instead of going home and taking my frustrations out on Justin, Gunner, the heavy bag, or my speed bags, I insisted that I be dropped off at the hospital.

The only person I wanted to see or talk to was my mother. For twenty years, she had us believing my father was the bad guy. That he just up and left us for another woman, a much younger woman with whom he had a child that resulted from their affair.

As much as I wanted to attack my father for walking away from us, I couldn't bring myself to do so. The expression he held on his face and the sincerity in his voice as he spoke to us, the frustrations he held back every time Justin snapped at him, and the calmness he maintained when Walter also barked at him and called him names, told me he wasn't the enemy we were told he was.

But now I'm befuddled. I don't know what to think or who to believe anymore. Why wouldn't our mother have just told us the truth about why my father left? Why did she claim our sister was stolen from her? Why didn't she tell us there was another man in her life, a man she had supposedly fallen in love with?

"Aria Donovan?"

I lowered the magazine to my lap and looked up at the woman standing behind the counter. "Can I see her now?"

"Doctor Fisher told me your mother will be ready to see you in twenty minutes."

"Okay, thank you."

Her hand extended over the counter, aiming at the snack table. "Feel free to help yourself to cookies, coffee, or water while you wait."

"Thank you."

I looked at the beverage station, debating whether I should have a water bottle or a cup of coffee. The way my nerves are at this point, I'm not so sure having a cup of coffee would be beneficial to me. All that would do is activate my nerves to jitter even more—causing me to be more of a mess than I already am.

I opted for the water.

Finally, after twenty-five minutes of waiting and thinking about everything I wanted to say and ask, Doctor Fisher came out, asking that I follow him.

"Your mother is thrilled that you're here to see her."

She won't be after I start questioning her.

"How's she been since we were here last? Has she gotten any better?"

He smiled. "June's been doing great, and she's become much more open during our therapy sessions."

I stopped walking, and once the doctor realized I was no longer at his side, he turned around, asking, "Is everything all right?"

"Can I ask what she's told you?" Curious to see if she opened up to him about her having an affair.

He raised his hand, tsking me. "I could, but then I'd break the patient confidentiality law. So if you're looking for certain answers, I suggest you ask her."

I figured he'd say that.

He waved his hand. "Come on; your mother's anxiously waiting for you."

The second the doctor opened the door and I stepped inside, my mother came running toward me, wrapping her arms around me. I'll admit, her squeeze and how tight she held me against her felt good, but knowing why I was here and the questions I wanted her to answer, I ended the embrace.

"Mom, can we sit?"

Her hand lowered to mine, and after entwining her hand with mine, she guided me over to the couch. "I hope you came here with some good news for me," she happily said.

I took a couple of deep breaths, and finally, I got the courage to say, "I don't know where to begin, but because I have so many questions, I'd like to start asking about Stella. Do you have any idea who has her?"

"No."

My brows drew together. "No? Are you sure?"

She slowly nodded, looking unsure, so, curious to see what she'd say or react, I asked, "Did you give up your rights and sign Stella over to dad?"

"No. They stole her from me," she retorted.

"Who's they?"

"Your father. He stole her from me to hurt me."

So she knows he has her.

"Mom, you just said you didn't know who has her, yet you contradicted yourself, saying dad has her."

"He doesn't just have her; he stole her from me. Him and that whore he's with."

I frustratedly rubbed my face. "So you're admitting you know he has her?"

She let out a long, exasperated breath. "Yes."

"Why didn't you just tell Justin and me that in the first place? Why does he have her?" I asked, hoping she'll admit to her affair before I had to ask about it.

She suddenly got quiet. When she refused to look at me, I finally asked the one question I was afraid to hear the answer to. "Mom, we're you having an affair?"

She still didn't answer me, so I forced her to look at me. "Mom, answer me. So, we're you having an affair?"

"Yes," she cried, and then cried harder as she said, "I was in love with him. But he broke my heart by leaving me when I told him I was pregnant and that he may not be the father."

My heart instantly shattered into a million pieces for many reasons. Not only did my mother confirm, my father told Justin and me the truth. But she also admitted the main reason behind her heavy-heartedness all these years wasn't because of my father's adultery, but because she lost the only man she truly loved, along with my sister—a child she didn't wish to hand over to my father.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!🤞🤞