CHAPTER 120
ROBERT’S POV
~ “Liam look,” Lila said, pointing at me. “It’s the man from yesterday.”
Liam’s face hardened with fury and he ran over to me. I thought he wanted to hug me but my hope was dashed as he kicked me hard. ~
Pain shot through my ankle and I held back a groan. Lowering, I cradled my ankle, trying to soothe the pain. I stared at Liam, hoping to get an explanation for why he would kick me like that. Instead, he continued scowling at me as if to finish me off.
“Liam!” Their teacher was shocked and furious as she marched to him, scolding him. “How dare you kick your father like that? Is that your way of welcoming him…?”
Liam wanted to say something but I quickly chipped in. I knew what he wanted to say that I wasn’t his father. That he didn’t know me. And that will only land me into trouble so I had to prevent it.
“It’s okay,” I said, wincing as I forced a smile through the pain. I knew I looked pathetic, but I couldn’t help it. Liam sure knew how to kick. “I had it coming for staying away too long. Could please you give us a moment?”
“Sure,” she looked at me and smiled heartily, switching from her previous furious and shocked expression.
“You can’t go Miss Hampton, he’s…” Liam tried to say but she cut him off.
“I don’t want to hear anything from you, Liam. I’m highly disappointed in you. That is no way for you to treat your father. Do you know what he went through to get here to see you kids? Going to one of the best schools in the city and being my student, that was the last thing I expected you to do. You’d better apologize or else I’ll make sure you spend the whole day writing ‘I Will Never Kick My Daddy Again’ on the board.” She finished with a huff before looking back at me.
“Take your time Mr. Robert. I’ll be back in a few minutes to take them back.”
“Thanks,” I jerked my head and smiled.
We watched her light graceful strides as she walked back into the class she came out from. I appreciated her standing up for me and trusting me like we’ve known each other for long, and not letting Liam carry on with what he had wanted to say otherwise things would have gone south.
When I looked back at Liam who was still staring in the direction their teacher went, he had his arms crossed against his chest, pouting and frowning like he’d been treated unfairly.
I didn’t know he’d be this difficult. But I understood perfectly. If I were in his shoes, I’d feel the same way. I didn’t know how I’d feel if my father abandoned me for nine years and suddenly showed up as if nothing happened. It was all my fault this happened, and I take full responsibility for my actions.
Liam looked so much like me that I couldn’t stop picturing my nine-year-old self every time I looked at him. It brought back a lot of my cherished childhood memories.
Lila was the calmer one, but she was much calmer than I had expected. I thought she would be at least a little angry with me. Instead, she stood there with a slightly mischievous smile on her face, twirling her long hair around her pinky finger and staring at me the same way she did yesterday-like I was something intriguing, something she was trying to understand but couldn’t completely.
Something caught her attention. She jutted her chin forward and sniffed the air. It was the sweet aroma of the cupcakes my chauffeur and I bought. Drawn by the scent, she walked over to my chauffeur.
“Hello Mister,” she said innocently. “What’s in the box?”
“Cupcakes,” My chauffeur smiled softly as he opened the top of the box and brought it to her level so she could see.
“Chocolate!” Her eyes widened, and her mouth fell open in delight. “My favourite!”
“Do you want some?” My chauffeur asked, moving it closer to her.
She nodded excitedly and reached for one. Just as she was about to take a bite Liam appeared out of nowhere and slapped it from her hand. The cupcake tumbled to the floor, landing with a messy splat.
He grabbed her wrist and shoved her away from my chauffeur and me, pulling her closely beside him like a protective older brother.
“Hey…what’s your problem?” Lila’s face crinkled with a mix of hurt and anger as she struggled and broke free from his hold.
“Have you forgotten mummy said we shouldn’t take anything from strangers?” He shot at her like she’d committed a taboo.
It melted my heart to know he was this protective of his sister and abided by Lily’s advice like it was law. But he didn’t have to slap the cupcake from her hand and pull her away like that. It wasn’t like I was trying to poison my own flesh and blood.
“It’s okay buddy, you can have as many cupcakes as you want, we’re not strangers…” I tried to say while cautiously approaching them but he snapped at me, his entire expression clouded in anger.
“Stay away from us. After making my mummy cry last night you think a box of some stupid cupcakes is going to fix it?!”
“No…” I grimaced, startled at his level of boldness and the fire in his eyes. He was really angry. Angry with me for making Lily shed tears. He was every bit the strong, protective and responsible son I envisioned him to be something I couldn’t be for Lily. For them. Despite the situation, I was proud of him.
Yesterday after my encounter with Lily, I saw her cry a little while I was pleading with her. They were tears of anger. But she stopped the moment the kids came out. I had no idea she continued crying later, and that the kids saw her. I never meant to hurt her. All I wanted was to win back her forgiveness and love. I only wished the kids saw it that way.
“What are you doing here?” Liam hurled at me. “If I remember correctly my mummy was pushing us away from you. If she did that, that means you’re a dangerous man. Have you come here to hypnotize us with your cupcakes? To kidnap us and separate us from our mummy?”
Liam was way too fierce and clever for his age. A trait that reminded me of my little self. He kept shocking me with every word that came out of my mouth and I hated he was thinking that my intentions for them weren’t good. Why on earth would I want to kidnap my own kids and separate them from their birth mother?
“I mean look at me,” my expression was helpless and pleading as I gestured at myself. I was professionally dressed in a bespoke suit my chauffeur had brought for me while coming from New York, a silk tie knotted at my collar, and polished leather shoes. “Do I look dangerous? Do I look like I’m here to kidnap you two?”
He paused at my question, not because he was out of words, but as if he was searching for the right ones. Yet, his glare remained unfazed. His jaw quivered, and for a moment, I saw the same look Lily had whenever she saw me. The one filled with hurt, hatred and intense anger. It broke my heart that he was staring at me like that. I was willing to do anything for him to stop staring at me like that.
It hit me then just how deeply I might’ve wounded him. He didn’t even know the full truth, yet he felt this way. And if he did… I knew he’d do more than just resent and kick me in the leg. The realization settled on me heavily that I still had a long, painful road ahead before I could ever make things right with them.
“If you’re not dangerous, then why was Mummy pushing us away from you?” He blurted out, his gaze sharp and unyielding.
I opened my mouth to say something. But only blew out a loud breath of frustration and cluelessness. I contemplated telling them what happened between Lily and I. But it wasn’t something I could tell nine years olds and they’ll understand. They might just end up hating me more and refusing to accept me as their father.
“If you’re not going to say anything that means you’re a liar,” he said in an accusatory tone.
“I’m not a liar…”
“You are,” he insisted sternly. “You lied to Miss Hampton about being our daddy while you’re not…”
“I didn’t lie Liam. That’s the truth. I am your father.”