Page 104 of My Damaged Protector

And now, as tears subside

I find it all so amusing

To think I did all that

And may I say, not in a shy way

Oh, no, oh, no, not me

I did it my way…”

There's a huge grin on my aunt's face when she's done, and she motions for Ian to go next. He clears his throat, a little too dramatically, before he opens his mouth and starts to pull at every string in my heart.

“For what is a man, what has he got?

If not himself, then he has naught

To say the things he truly feels

And not the words of one who kneels

The record shows I took the blows

And did it my way…”

Damn, the man can sing.

How come I've never noticed this? Maybe because I've never heard him sing.

How many other things about him do I not know?

It makes me sad that I'll be leaving town soon with a part of him without really getting to know him. I wonder what life would be like if things were different between us.

Surely, he'll have a good relationship with my aunt. The scene in front of me as they sing the last of the song harmoniously is all the indication I need.

He'll love Olivia too, right?

But can he?

If he doesn't even want his own child, who's to say he'll want and love one who isn't his?

Alright, enough of this.

Walking into the room, I make my presence known by clapping for them. They look at me, each person with a smile.

I go straight to my aunt and kiss her good morning, not sure of what to make of the too-wide smile on Ian's face.

“Good morning, Auntie.”

“Morning dearest. I hope it wasn't us that woke you up with our singing.”

“No, I was already awake,” I say with a meaningful look. She immediately gets the message I'm trying to pass and sobers up.

“In that case, I should get us all breakfast,” she says and walks away.

I smile at her in gratitude. It's going to be a long day.

“Good morning,” Ian says to me as soon as we're alone.

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