Page 52 of Chasing Football Dreams

I nodded, softly thanking her.

"Zoey, you are my daughter. It matters what he said to you that unsettled you," His hand resting on top of mine.

I turned my gaze away, pulling my hand from his grasp to wipe a tear away from the corner of my eye.

"He only made me see the truth that no one is going to believe I am your daughter. Especially since I am an orphan. A nobody playing a game to take your money,”

“Is that what Benjamin said to you?”

I lowered my gaze not wanting to cause trouble. "What does it matter what he said to me? It's the truth. People is going to create rumors and make everyone believe that I somehow faked the blood tests. And that I am not your real daughter. I am a copy,"

"No,"

I raised my gaze.

"You are not a copy. You are her. You are my daughter. Screw the media and their false accusations. I am going to fight the system until everyone who took you from me suffers,"

"Your kidnap case is not going to be swept under the rugs,"

"But I don't want to cause trouble between you and Benjamin,"

"He only wants to protect me. He had to watch me go through the most difficult time I've had to deal with,"

"I don't want this," I muttered, dropping my gaze.

"What do you mean?"

I traced the bangle around my wrist. "I grew up without a mother and father. I had to grow up believing in miracles while reality knocked me down. I was bullied by the worst kind of people who think it is right to belittle a person who has nothing. I worked my ass off to get into college. I worked twice as hard to get the quarterback position,"

"I looked up to you. Had your posters on my walls and had people laugh at my dreams,"

"I would rather have people laugh at my silly dream than call me a con artist,"

"You are my daughter, Zoey, by blood. We can't change that fact,"

Tears flooded my vision. "But if I am your daughter. I will need to fight a different war that I don't want,"

"I just want to be the small-town girl with big dreams. I don't care about fancy cars, big houses, or name brands. I just want to be me,"

"We need to find the person who hurt us, Zoey,"

"Why? It won't change anything. Catching them won't rewind life and give us back what we lost,"

"Them?"

I paused as I grasped what I said. Shit.

"What do you mean by them?"

"It's only an assumption," I cleared.

"Can you elaborate?"

"And have you and mom gear up and tear down the town?"

A smile tugged his lips.

"What?"

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