Page 70 of Kiss Me

“Tania, we can’t ignore this,” Liza says to my back.

I spin to face her. “We’re not ignoring it. It’s Christmas and I just want quiet.” For some reason my vision becomes blurred from tears.

I shake my head and blink them away, refusing to let the tears fall.

“Go have fun.”

Liza doesn’t have time to reply because there’s a sharp knock on the door. My heart sinks.

I start for my bedroom. “If it’s Taehyun, send him away. And then you two go enjoy your day.”

I highly doubt it’s him since I now know he doesn’t give a shit about me. It’s probably resort staff bringing in the holiday breakfast I purchased as part of the package when I booked this place.

My stomach sours at the thought. The last thing I want to do is eat. Or look at a beautifully prepared breakfast.

“And you can tell them to?—”

“Mr. Casey,” Liza says as she pulls open the door.

A second later, my father enters the room, filling the space with his commanding presence.

“Liza, Merry Christmas,” he says, sounding eerily cheerful.

I cock my head to the side.

He even pulls my assistant into a hug, shocking both me and her if the gasp she lets out is any indication.

When my father pulls back, he scans the room until his gaze land on me. His eyes visibly light up.

“Ace.”

Before I know it, I’m wrapped up in my father’s strong arms. I think it’s going to be a quick hug, but he doesn’t let go. Even rocking me back and forth for a while.

It’s like the hugs he used to give me as a kid whenever he returned home from a business trip.

He pulls back his arms on my shoulders, smiling down at me. “Merry Christmas, Ace.”

The tears I’d fought so hard to hold onto slip down my cheeks.

I quickly brush them away.

“What are you doing here?”

Some of the sparkle in his gaze fades but not entirely.

“It’s a shame you even have to ask that question.” Frowning, he squeezes my shoulders. “I know it’s my fault.”

His head shakes in disappointment at himself.

“I’ve failed you in so many ways.” His voice sounds so heavy that the little piece of my heart that wasn’t already broken cracks.

“Why are you saying these things?” I ask, taking his hands in mine.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think on the flight on my way over.” He shakes his head. “Really, more than enough time. My first flight was delayed, which caused me to miss my connection. That landed me in the Dallas airport for hours.”

He snorts.

“But that’s not the point. The point is while I was there, I thought about all of the ways I’ve failed you.”

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