Page 51 of Fake Wife for Dr. Secret Daddy

“I thought so.” He shakes his head and takes a sip of his beer.

“But on a serious note, though,” I start, sitting up straight, as I place my beer bottle on the table, facing him, “I’m very sorry Winnie went through all she did, and I wasn’t there to take responsibility. Only if the man I call my father had informed me when she couldn’t reach me…” I trail off, a deep scowl forming on my face, at the thought of the man that made my Winnie suffer and almost made us lose the lives of our kids.

“As much as it was your fault for being careless with my sister, it wasn’t your fault you had no idea of what was happening with her, I mean, neither did I.” It’s his turn to pat me on my back as he gives out a humorless laugh.

“But this is still so crazy to believe.” He takes another sip of beer. “I’m a real uncle?” He shakes his head, letting out a soft laugh.

“And I’m a real dad,” I say proudly, my initial distress forgotten, as my thoughts circle back to my little angels.

“Speaking of them, where are Winnie and the girls?” he asks, “I haven’t seen them since Winnie took them to their room.”

“Well, since we got Isla and discovered Luna is ours, the girls have stuck to staying with their mother, I don't think I can restrain them from doing that.”

He nods, still sipping his beer.

“Well, I believe they'll grow up to be wonderful kids. And I pray they take after their mama, and not their father, who takes advantage of people's little sisters and uses their vulnerability to his advantage,” he says, humor evident in his voice.

I am laughing wholeheartedly at the forced frown that is on his face, and he smiles.

Not everybody would take it lightly after hearing everything their sister had to pass through, courtesy of their best friend.

But not everybody is my best friend, Austin.

“You don't have to say that, man. Fate brought us together; how could we say no? It is clearly not my fault that your sister is too much of a beauty to resist.”

“Well, that's what good genes get you. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for you.”

I laugh loudly again, trying my best not to topple my chair over. I am not sure if I have met anybody who can play the “I am very angry with you” game like Austin. He is doing it now, his face a playful mask of annoyance and I cannot help but chuckle again.

“If I do not possess good genes, how come your sister chose me?”

“Exactly what I've been saying since. You infected her with all that nonsense you do.”

He is laughing with me now, unable to frown any longer.

“Honestly,” I begin, “I don't know what else you would've done if you didn’t join the military. It did fit you like a glove. I can't even imagine you in a suit or something.”

“Well, it was nice while it lasted. Thinking about it, I really wish I never left. Winnie wouldn’t have gone through half of what she did, and I feel bad for it every day.”

“Yeah, you’d have probably whopped my ass early enough to take responsibility for what I had done. I wished it happened that way, but then, I’m glad Winnie is still mine.” I give a proud smirk.

We continue laughing, then go silent after a while, immersed in our thoughts. I think of telling him that I want to marry Winnie but decide against it, looking for the right moment.

“The military was indeed something else, man, I basically just had to keep fighting for my life each and every time…” He trails off and there's a flash of sadness in his eyes.

“Are you good?” I ask, noticing the sudden change in mood as the topic still lingers.

“Well, I guess if I had come back home immediately, I’d have caught on with everything and Winnie wouldn't have had to bear the loss of not being with the girls from their first moment. I'd have stopped Dr. Sam from that madness.” He says and I can feel the surge of anger seeping through.

Yes, bro, I'm that pissed with my father too.

“I wish I could turn back time and make it alright,” I say sincerely.

“Well, I don't think I fully regret being in the military; at least I could lift dumbbells, unlike some.” He says, a smile returning to his face.

“I can lift dumbbells if that's what you're saying.”

We both burst into hilarious laughter, and I am happy that he is happy. People go to war and come back as changed men. I am happy that Austin is still Austin, and I am also happy that Austin did not give in to his impulses and give me the ass-whooping I deserve.

---