CHAPTER 122
ROBERT’S POV
~ Taking a deep breath, I lowered myself to their level, meeting their eyes with honesty.
Overcoming a lump forming in my throat, I said, “Your mummy… lied.” ~
“Uhh…” their brows furrowed.
“What do you mean she lied?” Lila asked agitated as she paid close attention to me.
“I’m not in the military, and I’ve never been to Mars. Humans can’t even survive there-or on any other planet besides Earth. I’m just a billionaire CEO. My family owns multiple business enterprises, which is why I’m dressed like I’m running for U. S. president,” I said with a faint smile.
Liam and Lila switched glances. Their faces fell and in their eyes were this disappointed and betrayed look.
I knew that inexplicable feeling of hurt you get when someone you love lies to you about something important. But I didn’t want them to see Lily as a villain. She only did what she had to do to protect them from a father who, at the time, didn’t know the value of what he had.
A sharp wave of regret tore through me as I remembered how stupid and ignorant I was. It tore through my chest like a sharp sword as I realized again just how much damage my past mistakes had caused.
I took their hands and brought them forward, surprised they let me.
“Don’t be sad,” I consoled them with a reassuring smile. “And most importantly, don’t be angry at your mum. She only did what she had to protect you guys…”
“Protect us from what exactly?” Liam interjected, his voice tinged with a hurtful feeling. “I know we’re just kids but that doesn’t mean she can lie to us over something that important.”
“Please don’t blame her,” I said in an attempt to calm him. “She only did what she did to protect you guys from…from me,” I overcame a glitch as I said that; angry, sad, disappointed and worse of all, ashamed of myself.
Their features wrinkled as they stared at me in suspense mixed with bafflement.
“What?…” Liam pulled his hand away from mine, attempting to back away as though he’d seen a monster. “What did you do?” He asked, saying the words like each were a sentence.
“But you said you weren’t dangerous,” Lila added, looking at me the same Liam was. But her hands didn’t leave mine.
I hated it when anyone looked at me that way like I was a fucking monster with fucking blood on my fucking hands. What hurt me the most was that my own children were looking at me that way. Their wide, uncertain eyes stayed locked on me, filled with silent pleading as if hoping, begging me not to say something that would completely shatter this fragile moment we managed to create between us. Because for the first time, it felt like they were finally beginning to let me in, and my heart melted on knowing that. Hell will I do anything to ruin it.
“Let’s just say that I did something I’m not very proud of, something that made her hate me very much,” I folded my lips and gazed away wistfully before looking back at them and popping out an overwhelming breath. “Please don’t ask me what is and please don’t also hold it against me because I have suffered too much and still suffering because of it. I promise to tell you someday when you’re both old enough. For now, all you need to know is that I’m a changed person. That’s the reason you saw me kneeling yesterday on your porch because I was begging your mummy for forgiveness. But it seems she’s not ready to forgive me yet.”
A strand of Lila’s hair fell along her face. I reached out and tucked it behind her ear. Her hair was so long it made her look ethereal like an angel. I couldn’t believe this angel was my daughter-a product of me and Lily’s love. No matter how complicated our past was, we shared a beautiful, undeniable connection. An unbreakable bond that binds us forever.
“I won’t force you two to forgive and accept me immediately,” I said with a smile that was painful yet blissful. “Take all the time you need. I’ll wait for a thousand years if I have to. But just know that I’m finally ready to be the daddy of your dreams. The daddy you have always wanted. I’m willing to do anything to prove that I’m your biological father. I’ll run a DNA test if I have to…”