Alex’s P. O. V.
The next morning, I’m still seated in the waiting room of the hospital. Stella and I spent the entire night here, though sleep was a stranger. The load of everything that’s happened is suffocating me. I’m still trying to digest that my father was a monster who caused suffering to Stella’s mother. It’s like a nightmare to me.
“I can completely understand what you’re going through, Alex.” Sky breaks the silence. He sits beside me. Stella is with Zoe and Selena inside her mother’s room.
I know he can feel my pain because, a few months ago, he also discovered the evil deeds of his father. Since then, he’s been working tirelessly day and night to become stronger than him so that he can put his father behind bars.
I glance at him with sorrowful eyes. “How did you do it, Sky? I mean, how did you even begin to understand the fact that your own father was… like this? I don’t know how to move forward from here. You know I feel like I’m stuck, drowning in shame.”
Sky leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His expression is grim. “It wasn’t easy, Alex. Hell, it still isn’t. The day I found out about what my father did to Zoe, I thought my world had ended. Everything I believed about him-every memory-was tainted. For a long time, I couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror without seeing him.”
He pauses, his gaze fixed on the floor. “But then I realised something: hating myself wouldn’t change what he did. So, I made a choice-to be better than him, to fight for justice in any way I could. That’s what keeps me going.”
I clench my hands into fists before asking him. “But why didn’t I see his true face, Sky? I didn’t know what he was. I grew up thinking he was this great man, someone to look up to. And now I feel like a fool for believing in him.” I pause, swallowing the lump in my throat. “And I hate myself for being his son. I’ve started to hate everything about me.”
He shakes his head. “You’re not a fool, Alex. You saw the side of him he wanted you to see. That’s not your fault. Monsters like him… they hide their true faces until it’s too late. Don’t hate yourself for being his son-you’re not him. You never were.”
I let out a shaky breath. “I wanted answers. Sky, I wanted to ask him why he did it, what made him so cruel. But now… now I’ll never know.”
Sky’s jaw tightens, and a flicker of pain passes through his eyes. “No, Alex. Getting those answers won’t make it hurt any less. Trust me-I’ve been there. When I confronted my father about what he did to Zoe, I got the truth, and it didn’t bring me peace. It only hurt more. Knowing didn’t undo what he did. It just made me despise him even more. And the worst part? He’s still alive, living his life without remorse. That’s a wound that never stops bleeding.”
He continues after taking a pause. “You should feel relief. The monster who hurt women, who inflicted so much pain-he’s gone. He deserved to die. His answers wouldn’t have made a difference, only caused you more pain. Let it go.”
I look down at my hands, my chest tightening with pain. “It just feels so… empty. Like everything I believed in is gone.”
He makes me understand, placing his hand on my shoulder. “It’s going to take time, Alex. But you’ll get through this. Focus on the person who’s standing by you-Stella. She’s your strength now, just like Zoe was mine when I found out about my father.”
The mention of Stella brings a small smile to my face in my worst state as well. That’s the magic of her. That’s the magic of love.
“She’s my only hope, Sky. She is the reason I’m not drowning completely. But…” I pause, looking away. “I’m terrified. How will I face her mother? Will she ever be able to see me as anything other than the son of the man who hurt her?”
Sky squeezes my shoulder. “It won’t be easy, Alex. I won’t lie about that. But love has a way of breaking down walls. When she sees how much you care for Stella, how deeply you love her, she’ll come to understand. It’ll take time, but it’ll happen..”
I lower my head, feeling ashamed. “I just don’t know if I can face her. The guilt… it’s eating me alive.”
“You’re not responsible for your father’s sins. You can’t carry his guilt. It’s not yours to bear. You’re a different man, and you’ve shown that through your actions. The love you have for Stella, the way you’ve stood by her… that’s proof enough. Don’t compare yourself with him.”
I exhale deeply, feeling a little better after listening to Sky’s words. They don’t erase the pain, but they give me hope that with time, it’ll get better. I’ll get better.
As I hear the faint sound of footsteps approaching, I lift my head and see Stella walking toward us, her expression filled with exhaustion. Beside her are Selena and Zoe.
I want to be there for Stella, but I don’t know how to handle her when I feel so empty.
Stella stops in front of me, her tired eyes locking onto mine. “Alex, Mom is calling you. She wants to talk.”
Her words send a jolt of panic through me. I look away before shaking my head. “I can’t. Stella, I can’t face her.”
Her brows knit together in concern, and she kneels in front of me, taking my hands in hers. “Alex, look at me.” As she requests, I immediately move my eyes back to her. She continues, her thumbs brushing over my knuckles, her gaze fixed on me. “It’s not your fault. You’re not your father, Alex. You’re nothing like him.”
I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “You don’t understand. I don’t know what to say to her. How can I look her in the eyes, knowing the pain my father caused? I’m losing my mind, Stella. I don’t think I can do this.”
She squeezes my hand. “You can, Alex. Because I’ll be with you. I know this is hard, but my mom doesn’t hate you. She wants to talk to you. Please, trust me.”
The way she looks at me… I can’t say no to her. So reluctantly, I nod after taking a deep breath. “Okay.”
Stella takes my hand, entwining her fingers with mine as she helps me stand. She doesn’t let go, her grip steadying me as we walk toward her mother’s room. I want to run, but I can’t.
When we step inside, Olivia is sitting up in bed, looking pale but far stronger than she was yesterday. Her gaze meets mine, and I immediately lower mine, unable to meet her eyes, feeling so ashamed.
Fuck! It feels like a nightmare. How could my father hurt her? Why was he so cruel?
“Alex…” as she calls me, I force myself to look up, though it takes everything in me to do so.
“I…”
She holds up a hand, stopping me. “Before you say anything, I need you to listen.”
I fall silent, swallowing hard, making myself strong enough to bear her hatred.
“Thank you.”
My eyes widen in shock at her words. “What?”
She smiles faintly, though her eyes are moist. “Thank you, Alex. For looking after my daughter when I couldn’t. For being there for her when she needed someone the most. I can see how much you care about her-how much you love her. And for that, I’m grateful.”
I blink, stunned, and then turn to Stella, who looks just as surprised as I feel.
“Mom, you knew?” She asks in a shocking tone.
Olivia nods, her eyes shifting to her daughter. “I suspected it for a while. The way you two look at each other… it’s impossible to miss. I wasn’t sure at first, but when I learned about how Alex saved you from the fire, I knew. And I was glad, Stella. Truly. Knowing he was there for you when I couldn’t be gave me peace.”
Her words hit me in ways I can’t describe. Gratitude. Approval. Two things I never expected to hear from her. I had braced myself for anger, for resentment, but not this. I struggle to find the right words, but nothing comes out.
How can she accept me so easily after what my father did with her?
Olivia turns her attention back to me and answers my unasked question. “Alex, you’re nothing like your father. I can see it clearly. Don’t let his sins weigh on you-they are not yours to bear. You’ve proven it.”
I feel my throat tighten, my eyes becoming moist. Stella steps forward and squeezes my hand. “See, Alex? You’re not him. You never were.”
I look at her, then at Olivia, and for the first time in what feels like forever, a small, fragile hope blooms inside me. “Thank you for… for believing in me. For giving me a chance.”
Olivia smiles gently. “You don’t need to thank me, Alex. Just keep taking care of my daughter. That’s all I’ll ever ask of you.”
Stella leans her head against my shoulder and answers her mother on my behalf, “He’ll always take care of me, Mom. I can guarantee you.”
A smile spreads across my face, seeing her faith in me. After pressing my lips against Stella’s hair, I whisper the truth that echoes in my soul, “I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life, Stella-because you’re the reason I’ve found my way back to the light.”