CHAPTER 123:
ROBERT’S POV
~”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…” ~
Suddenly, Lila cut me off with an unexpected thud of a hug that made me almost lose my balance.
“It’s okay,” she said as she wrapped her hands tightly around me, burying her face into the side of my neck. “You’ve done enough. I’m still mad you left us all these years but I have forgiven you, and I can’t wait for you, mummy, me, Liam and Uncle Noah to come together and become a very big happy family.” She added, her voice brimming with joy.
My blood bubbled with joy and I exhaled a long sigh of contentment as I embraced her deeply, not wanting to let go, not wanting this moment to come to an end. I wanted everything she said to come true except for the part she mentioned Noah. I wanted him out of the picture. I didn’t get why she included him. He wasn’t part of the family.
I didn’t know how long he’d been in their lives or what he had done to earn such a place in their hearts, but something kept telling me his intentions weren’t as pure as they seemed. No matter how charming and innocent his face looked, I could sense he was a man with hidden motives and I didn’t want him to keep getting close to my family.
I wanted to ask Lila about him, but not wanting to ruin the moment, I left it for another day, focusing on my physical reconnection with my daughter. She felt so tiny against my broad frame that I was afraid I might hurt her if I squeezed too tightly.
I wished I had been there when they were born. Wished I had carried them in my arms, felt them and heard their first cry like Jake’s. Recollecting all that made me realize just how badly I missed. Now that I was reunited with them, I vow never to miss anything in their lives again.
Liam didn’t bother to join in on the hug. He still stood there observing with an expression that seemed like he was battling with his feelings. I respected his choice. I didn’t want to force him into doing anything. I’ll be waiting for him when he’s finally ready to accept me.
“Boss,” my chauffeur tapped me gently on the shoulder and I suddenly became irritated because he was ruining my moment with my daughter. “Their teacher is coming.”
Lifting my head and looking ahead, I saw her approaching, her purple lips spread to a smile. Sighing, I reluctantly pulled away from the hug and stood up. My legs felt numb from all that squatting but I didn’t care.
“My angel it’s time for you to go back to class,” I said softly as I made her turn to see her teacher. She was standing by a few distance from us, waiting for them.
Lila gave a firm nod and wanted to run to Mrs. Hampton when I stopped her on suddenly remembering something. “Wait…”
I gestured to Mrs. Hampton to give us a moment, and she agreed with a warm smile, seeming unbothered by the delay.
“I need a favour from you two,” I said, looking at both of them. “Can you help Daddy with something?”
Lila nodded eagerly, but Liam’s expression remained cold and unreadable. My heart split a little, seeing that he still hadn’t yet accepted me, not even a little, unlike Lila.
“What can we do for you, Daddy?” Lila asked enthusiastically.
“Listen to me, I need you to help me beg mummy for forgiveness. Tell her I’m sorry for everything that happened and I’m a changed man now. If you can help me do that then it won’t be long before we can get back together and become the big happy family you wanted.”
When I came up with this plan I never thought I’d come to use it. But I had no other choice. With the kids’ help, I was positive I’d have a higher chance of winning back Lily’s love and forgiveness.
“Okay,” she agreed and I was a bit surprised she did without any questions or hesitation.
Taking the box of cupcakes from my chauffeur who has been carrying it for a long, I handed it to Lila to give to her teacher so they can share it with their classmates. My eyes softened, and for a moment, I thought I was on the verge of tears as she waved at me. I watched their tiny yet agile feet move swiftly as they walked away with Mrs. Hampton.
But Liam kept looking back at me. Glistening in his eyes was this look of some guilt and regret. I was trying to figure out what the problem might be when his hand suddenly slipped from Mrs. Hampton and he came running to me.
To my greatest surprise, he threw himself at me and hugged me deeply it felt like he’d lose his balance and fall to his knees if I wasn’t holding him up.
“I’m sorry I didn’t do this earlier,” he said in a voice filled with regret. “But that doesn’t mean I have accepted you a hundred per cent. You need to prove you can be the daddy of our dreams if you want me to do that. Even though I feel that you might be our father, I still want you to go ahead and run that DNA test so we can be sure a hundred per cent you are not lying to us.”
He pulled away from the hug much sooner than I expected and grabbed my hand, pulling me towards Lila and their teacher who were waiting for him.
“In the meantime, I want you to introduce yourself to my classmates and come up with an excuse for us to ditch school now because more than ever I want to spend quality time with my father. I want to get to know him better.”