Chapter 60

I wanted to explain everything that happened to Steve while he was gone, but I feel like it would have spoiled things for His and Rose's book. So I didn't put it.

But then I decided to let you guys choose. Do you guys want it in the next chapter, or would you rather wait until they have their own book?

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"What's going on?" I let out a nervous laugh looking at Jason, then at Steve.

Jason walked in my mother's room claiming to have something to tell before hurriedly pulling me out and into the living-room. Again, my surprise only increased at the sight of Steve in my living-room.

"Hi Steve."

"Victoria." He nodded with a smile.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yep. I'll leave you two to talk." Jason said before letting my hand go and walking past me.

"W-what?" I looked back at him as he walked toward the hallway.

Jason didn't answer and walked out. And when I turned to look back at Steve, a part of my mind already knew what we were going to talk about. As much as I wanted to deny it, I had a feeling that all my suppositions were right.

"My name is Steve Mendes, Victoria."

He just said that without waiting or giving me a moment.

Just like that.

I took a step back looking at him with furrowed eyebrows shaking my head a little.

I was thinking about it. I've had this feeling for days now, but the moment the words left his mouth, denial kicked in. I wanted to believe that all my suppositions were true, but now that he was the one saying it, I just didn't want it to be true anymore.

I shook my head again, looking up at him. "You're dead."

He just took a step forward and I took one back shaking my head. He stayed silent, which only made me a little bit angry.

He drops news like that, and then just stays quiet.

"Howare you notdead?" I asked trying to keep my composure but failing as my breathing increased before shaking my head in denial again. "You're dead. I saw your grave."

"A grave I didn't even know existed, until Hunter told me about it." He said and I placed a hand on my forehead taking a deep.

"You're dead." I repeated again, looking at him.

I just let myself be a little angry, because I honestly didn't know how to feel.

How are you supposed to feel when someone, you thought was, is not?

"How are you not dead!?" I asked again mentally wincing at the volume of my voice.

I took a deep breath taking two steps before looking back at him as he just stared at me, as if waiting for me to finish rambling, or lose my mind.

I let out a humorless laugh. "Oh, it doesn't matter, because you left us. You left and you took my mother's mind with you. You left us all alone. So it doesn't matter." I said laughing at the situation again as tears left my eyes to roll down my cheek.

"I didn't want to leave you all these years, flower?"

"Don't call me that." I said lowly closing my eyes tightly. "You didn't leave? Then, where have you been? I thought you were dead. Where were you?"

"I'll tell you everything."

"No." I shook my head and a something that both sounded like a laugh and a sob escaped me. "I don't want to know. And I thought my life would be normal now. I thought the mess was done. God, I was wrong. I've been told so many things this year that I don't know what is true and what is not anymore."

"Flower-"

"Don't call me." I said and this time it was a sob that left me. "You're not dead?" I looked back at him before moving to the couch. "I need to sit." I said and I sat down but stood right back up. "Actually, I need to stand."

"Victoria." He said softly and I took deep breaths looking back at him. "Please calm down and listen. I didn't want to leave you. "Just sit down and let me tell you everything."

I looked at him, not knowing if I should listen, or just run to my mom to tell her about this whole thing. I chose the first option and sat on the small couch, mainly because I could feel my knees giving away.

He sat on the other couch and turned his body to face mine. I just sat straight not daring to look at him.

I listened to him tell me everything, and the more he talked, the more I felt things spinning around. I leaned against the couch and listened and he kept going about everything. He kept talking and more tears started falling out of my eyes, as my eyes moved to him.

One of my shaking hands moved to my mouths as another sob escaped me.

"Ple-please stop." I shook my head closing my eyes tightly. "It's okay. I-I get it."

"I came back almost two years ago, but I could only go see your mom. I couldn't come to you." He said I looked at him in shock.

"You visited her?"

"Yes. Every night."

"What about the night Kevin attacked her."

I saw him clench his fists and he expression turned into an angry one. "It was after I left. He didn't know I was still alive, or he wouldn't have taken that risk."

I nodded looking down again with a gulp wiping my cheek knowing it was useless.

"So, when we met at the coffee shop. You knew?" I asked and he nodded looking at me with a small smile.

"I always knew."

"Why didn't you tell me anything?"

"I was a coward. And you just expected me to tell you that I was your father, after you spilled boiling coffee on me." He said and I pressed my lips together tightly, but that didn't stop the smile that appeared on my face.

I licked my lips as another question popped in my head.

"How did you meet Jason's father?"

"You were still a baby when I met him." He said and I frowned, not really knowing if I should question that more.

"So, mom also knew."

"Yes. I went to see her as soon as I came back." He explained. "She always knew I wasn't dead, she just didn't know where I was all these years." He said and I looked at him narrowing my eyes slightly.

He said that and I couldn't help the next question that left my mouth.

"Were you hurting her before?" I finally asked clenching my fists a little.

"What?"

"Were you hurting her before?" I repeated ignoring the confused expression he had on his face.

He looked taken aback by my question and looked at me like I've grown a second head. "You and your mother mean everything to me. Why would I hurt her? I love her."

"Kevin said that-"

"You believe what Kevin tells you?" He asked and I pinched my lower lip, angry at myself for again believing something Kevin told me.

"No." I said shamefully. "Why does she call you a demon, then?"

"We met at a park, it was dark and when I walked closer to her, she got scared and told that she thought I was a demon or something. She has been calling me that since." He said with a small smile on his face. "She was so weird. That's what drew me to her. Who doesn't like weirdness?"

I smiled lightly before looking at him with a small frown. "I'm sorry." I said and he looked at me confused. "For everything you've been through."

"Nothing I couldn't handle. Or I wouldn't be here today." He smiled and I nodded looking down again. "Are you okay?"

"I don't know." I said truthfully standing up and started pacing. "I don't know what to do with all this. You were dead. And now you're not? So what? Should I just call you 'dad' and forget about all this?"

He looked at me not saying anything, but he looked like he wanted to. And I don't know if I wanted him to say something, or not. I honestly didn't know how to react, or how to act around him now that I knew who he was.

"I'll leave you time to take it all in." He suddenly said and I looked back at him as he stood making my heartbeat increase.

He's not leaving again, is he?

He moved closer and I looked up at him as my eyes started burning again. The closer he got, the more I fought the urge to cry. He lifted a hand to my face and paused midair before dropping it.

"I'm so proud of you, flower. You made it all on your own and took care of your mother alone all these years. I know all the things you did, when you should have doing what kids did at your age. I'm sorry." He said and at that moment my tears left my eyes.

I looked at me and I let out a small gasp when I saw a tear roll down his cheek. I unconsciously placed a hand on his cheek, before using my thumb to wipe the tear away.

"I didn't like kids that were my age anyways." I said and he nodded leaning against m hand.

"I remember that." He sighed as I lowered my hand. "We'll talk again when you're ready." He said and I nodded.

He walked to the door and I looked at his retreating, as a uneasy feeling creeped to my chest.

"Don't leave again." I said quickly and he stopped before turning to look at me. "I- I need time to take it all in, but I don't want y-you to leave like before, so please. Please, d-don't leave again."

"I never planned on going anywhere, flower. I'm always here." He said and I nodded slowly before another thought came to mind.

"You have been sneaking in her room at the hospital, but you haven't seen her since you got out, have you?" I asked and he looked at me before shaking his head a little. "Do you want to see her?" I asked and his face almost instantly lit up. "Come with me." I said moving away to walk out of the living-room

I silently walked toward the hallway as he followed.

"Mom?" I knocked on her door when we got there and walked in. "Someone's here for you." I smiled moving to the side for Steve to walk in.

"Demon." She smiled standing up when Steve walked in the room. "You finally stopped being a chicken and told her."

He let out a small laugh before nodding. "Yeah."

She looked at me and quickly moved to me with a frown. "Don't cry. You were supposed to be happy." She said pulling me into a tight hug.

"I'm happy mom." I smiled and she pulled back smiling too before cupping my cheek to wipe my last tears away.

"Good." She said looking behind me. "I told you that you looked at him."

She moved closer to him with a smile. He wrapped his arms around her tightly when she stood in front of him and a smile stretched on my face.

I just stood there watching as she started mumbling things against his chest. I took a step back deciding to give them some time alone.

"I better hear talking." I said walking out, not closing the door completely.

I walked back to the living-room to find Jason was back there and waiting.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked as soon as I walked in.

"It wasn't really my place, Vicky. But I was going to tell you. I just wanted to give him a chance to tell you himself." He said as I walked closer to him.

"When did you find out?" I asked leaning my head against his chest.

"Four days ago." He said wrapping his arms around me and I nodded with a frown.

"I feel like it's a dream." I said leaning my head back against him before he pinched my side lightly. "You're so silly. I didn't ask you to pinch me." I chuckled pushing him away.

"Just to show you that it's not a dream." He smiled kissing my forehead.

"Thank you." I smiled wrapping my arms around his waist.

"You're welcome." He smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"I don't know." I said with a shrug. "It's just weird. I don't want to talk about that anymore. I just want to let it sink in." I said with a sigh.

"Okay. My mother wants you to go see her tomorrow to start the stupid preparations." He said and I looked him with narrowed eyebrows.

Did he just say what I think he said?

"Did you just call our wedding stupid?"

"No. I called the preparations stupid, because we don't need them." He said and pushed him away before crossing my arms over my chest.

"I just changed my mind. I'm not gonna marry you anymore." I said and he raised his eyebrows pulling me back.

"Try me. I'm not even playing with you."

"You know Kevin is still out there, right?" I asked, knowing that he really hasn't been talking about Kevin these past few days.

"And we will find him. Your father has some personal problems with him." He said with a small shrug.

"My father." I repeated in a low voice. "This is way too weird."

"Better get used to it. The man isn't going anywhere." He said with a small smile. "And Kevin not your problem anymore. Your problem is that damn wedding."

I slapped his arm glaring at him. "Stop disrespecting my big day, Jason."

He didn't say anything and pulled me back to his chest. I wrapped my arms back around him inhaling deeply before laughing against his chest.

"Why are you laughing?"

"I just thought of something." I said moving my head to look at him

"What?"

"The last time we had dinner at your parents' house. We saw Steve there, and I told you that you couldn't be jealous of a man old enough to be my father." I said pulling away to look at his face. "Why is life like this?"

He shook his head with a small laugh.

"On serious notes, though. I don't have ice cream anymore."

"How the hell do you eat it so fast?" He asked giving me look and I chuckled shrugging. "Let's go."

I nodded taking a step back. "Let me go tell them." I said before walking back to my mother's bedroom.

I should maybe not just leave them alone. But he used to go see every night and I don't know how I am so sure that he wouldn't hurt her. I just know he wouldn't.

I knocked on her bedroom and pushed the door open since it was still open. I heard my mother's voice before I walked and she kept talking about things I really didn't know about.

Maybe things from the past.

They were both sitting on the couch and she had her head on his chest. And the sight made me feel even more weird.

I should have lost my mind right now, it's a miracle that I am still sane.

"I'm not gonna go buy some ice cream with Jason." I said and they both turned their head to look at me. "We won't be long."

"Okay sweetheart." My mother smiled looking at me and Steve looked down at her as his face twisted a little bit looking like he wanted to say something but kept quiet.

I quickly walked out before anything else was said and went back to the living-room.

"Let's go." I said grabbing my keys and Jason nodded wrapping an arm around me as we walked out.

I don't know how I was still standing and how I could just take all this information in without going crazy, but what I know right now is that I felt as if something heavy have been lifted off my shoulders.

Knowing that he didn't abandon us deliberately brought a good feeling within me. I don't know what it was, but I know that it wasn't negative. Like I said, I just needed time to take it all in. And most of my questions have been answered. Now I know why my mother couldn't let him go. And the smile she had when she saw him brought me great satisfaction.

"You're overthinking again." I heard and looked up at Jason as the elevator doors opened to the parking lot.

"And again, let me overthink in peace." I said and we walked and I immediately spotted his car and went for it. "Hurry." I urged opening the car door and getting in.

I watched him shake his head and walked around to the driver seat. However, the moment I closed the car door, the sounds that followed made my heart drop.

All I heard was two gunshots and the sound of something dropping to feel my world crash around me. A loud scream escaped me as realization hit me when I looked around and couldn't see Jason.

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There are around 12 chapters left for this book. It may change though but just by one or two.

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