Page 31 of Flames of Desire

As I parked and cut the engine, I took a deep breath to steady my nerves. Lily's presence helped to ease my anxiety, but the anticipation of seeing my father again after so long was enough to make my stomach churn.

"We've got this," Lily said, her voice unwavering as she squeezed my hand.

"Yeah," I replied, trying to muster a confident smile. "Let's go."

We stepped out of the car, the crisp air of the estate wrapping around us. The house stood tall and imposing, a tribute to the Sinclair legacy. I glanced at Lily, who looked around with curious eyes, her hand still firmly in mine.

The front door opened before we reached it, revealing a butler who greeted us with a polite nod. "Mr. Sinclair, your father is expecting you in the study."

"Thank you, James," I said, nodding in return.

I noticed James's eyes flick to Lily, his expression softening slightly, but he didn’t say anything.

We followed James through the grand hallway, the familiar scent of polished wood and old books filling the air. Every step brought back memories—some good, most not. We reached the study door, and James gave us a brief nod before stepping aside.

I took a deep breath, my hand tightening around Lily's for a moment before I pushed the door open. My father stood by the window, his back to us, gazing at the expansive gardens. The room was just as I remembered—stately, with heavy wooden furniture and shelves lined with books.

"Dad," I said, my voice steady but firm.

He turned, his expression a mixture of surprise and something unreadable, as his eyes landed on Lily. "Alex," he said, his tone neutral. "And who might this be?"

"This is Lily," I said, my voice warming as I introduced her. "My girlfriend."

His eyebrows lifted slightly, clearly taken aback. "I see," he said, his gaze shifting to Lily. "Welcome, Miss...?"

"Lily Wyatt," she replied, stepping forward with a confidence that made me proud. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Sinclair."

He nodded, though the surprise in his eyes lingered. "Please, have a seat."

We settled into the leather chairs facing his desk, my father taking his usual place behind it. The tension in the room was palpable, a heavy silence filling the space as he studied us.

"I won’t lie, I’m a bit surprised you came, " he said, his gaze locking onto mine.

"Trust me I didn’t want to," I said, meeting his stare without flinching. "But you said it was about something regarding my mother."

A flicker of emotion crossed his face—grief, perhaps, or regret—but it was quickly masked. "Yes, yes. I guess that is true." He sighed, his voice hardening.

"Why now?" I demanded, my frustration boiling over. "Why are you suddenly interested in discussing her? You never wanted to talk about her before."

His eyes narrowed, and I saw the anger simmering beneath the surface. "Because things have changed, Alex. There are decisions to be made, and I need your… input."

Lily's hand on my arm was the only thing keeping me grounded. "What kind of decisions?" I asked, my voice rough.

"Regarding her estate," he said, his tone clipped. "There are matters that need to be settled."

The room felt like it was closing in on me, the weight of the past pressing down. I glanced at Lily, her calm presence giving me the strength to face my father.

"We'll talk about it," I said finally, my voice steady. "But first, I need to know why you kept everything from me. Why you shut me out."

He sighed, a weary sound that seemed to age him. "I did what I thought was best at the time."

"It wasn't," I shot back, my anger flaring. "It wasn't best for me, or for Mom."

There was a long silence, the only sound of the grandfather clock ticking in the corner. Finally, he spoke, his voice softer. "I know, Alex. I realize that now."

Lily squeezed my hand, and her touch reminded me I wasn't alone. "I believe you both can move forward," she said gently, her eyes meeting my father's. "But only if you are honest with each other."

My father's eyes flicked to mine, the weight of years of unspoken words hanging between us. "Honesty," he murmured, almost to himself. "Alright, then. Let's be honest."

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