Page 53 of Sebastian.

I stand and pull out a chair for her, gesturing to the table that holds all the food the staff has brought out, still steaming. “Your favorite dinner is served.”

Her gaze flickers to the table, a moment of hesitation before she sits. “Thanks,” she murmurs, her guarded exterior still in place.

Before she got here, I dismissed the staff, wanting to just have some privacy with my daughter and myself. So instead of waiting for someone else to do it, I pour her a glass of water, the sound of it filling the silence that hovers between us. “I thought we could spend some time together tonight. Just us.”

She picks up her fork, her focus on her food as if it holds the answers she's searching for. “Yeah, I know. So…what's there to talk about?”

I take a deep breath, my own guard lowering, and lean slightly forward, my elbows resting on the edge of the table, before I begin. “I know things haven't been easy, and I take my share of the blame for that. But I want you to know that I'm trying to make things right.”

Hannah's gaze meets mine, looking skeptical. As if annoyed by my answer, she leans back on the chair, her arms crossing over her chest. “Why now?”

I pause, collecting my thoughts and choosing my words carefully. “Because I've realized that I've taken our family for granted, and I don't want to lose any more time. You and your siblings are everything to me, and I want to be a better father.”

Her guard softens slightly, a hint of vulnerability seeping through. “Yeah, well….” She lets her words trail off, as if thinking something through. “It’s gonna take you more than a dinner, Pops.”

I nod in agreement. “You're right. I know it’ll take time, it’s all about rebuilding trust, about showing you that I'm here for you, no matter what.”

Hannah takes a bite of her food, her expression just as thoughtful. “Actions speak louder than words.”

I reach across the table, placing my hand over hers briefly before pulling away. “I know, and I'm committed to proving that to you.”

The silence that follows is filled with unspoken emotions––a conversation held not just in words, but in the space between us.

As the night unfolds, I'm acutely aware of the steps I need to take to mend what's broken. Things have gotten pretty heavy rather quickly, so I switch back to something less serious before she bolts. “How's eleventh grade treating you so far?” I ask, a genuine curiosity underlying my words. “Are you enjoying it?”

Hannah offers a faint smile, her guarded demeanor easing a fraction. “It's okay, I guess. Starting junior year has been interesting, to say the least….”

I take a sip of my drink, giving her space to share. “Interesting, huh? Tell me more.”

Hannah hesitates for a moment, then takes a sip of her water, as if buying time. It's clear she's grappling with whether to open up or not, which intrigues me even more. “Well, today was pretty intense,” she finally admits.

I can’t help but frown at her words before leaning in, my gaze focused on her. “What do you mean intense? What happened?”

Hannah's fingers trace the rim of her glass, her gaze momentarily locked on the water. “It's just… with all the news about you and Karl lately…It's been everywhere. And now, with him getting arrested… people talk, you know.”

I nod in understanding, empathy for her situation evident in my expression. “I know it’s not easy, especially with our name being so public. But I’m working hard to make sure a scandal like that won’t ever happen again.”

She lets out a dry chuckle, a hint of bitterness underlying her words. “Yeah, right. A bit too late for that. The thing is I never signed up for that kind of attention. I became the most popular girl at school for all the wrong reasons.”

My throat feels tight, thinking about all these unintended consequences that I’ve caused. It’s never what I intended, and I feel ignorant for not seeing the inevitability of it. “Hannah, if any of your classmates bother you or make you uncomfortable because of this, I want you to tell me. You can always trust me to help and support you.”

Hannah looks thoughtful, pushing a piece of roasted potato across her plate. “It's not that. It's just…knowing that I'm being judged solely because I'm your daughter,” she confesses, her tone tinged with frustration. “Everyone puts on this polite front, even the teachers, but it's just a facade because they're scared of you or whatever. When they think I'm not paying attention, I can hear the whispers, the comments behind my back, the teasing…. It's something you can't really understand.”

I shake my head, seeing her perspective even as I wish I could shield her from such harsh scrutiny. “That’s not true. I can see how that must feel incredibly isolating. I never thought it would come to this point.” There’s a hint of regret lacing my words. “But I'm trying to do better now, and hopefully, soon enough, there will be no more scandals involving Karl or me.”

Hannah continues to toy with her food, her gaze focused on the plate before her. She looks up at me, uncertain. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” I reply, my attention fully on her.

Her words come out hesitantly, revealing her concerns. “Are you being nice just because you're afraid of losing us in a custody battle or something?”

I'm taken aback by the question, my brows furrowing in surprise. “Of course not.” My voice’s firm and sincere. “Why would you think that?”

Hannah lets out a small sigh, her gaze flickering up to the sky as she continues. “A friend of mine had an absent dad, and when her parents filed for divorce, he suddenly became super nice and present, probably to get the kids to side with him in court. I’m not saying you’re seriously absent, but there have been times…never mind. I guess I’m just on edge.”

I understand the skepticism, the lingering doubts that can arise from such experiences, so I lower my voice and say, “I promise you, Hannah, my intentions are genuine. I'm not doing this to manipulate you or to make you say nice things about me in court. I just realized that you've been living your life almost like an adult, and I haven't caught up with you for a while. I want to be here for you. And for Joris, Aleida, and Arthur, too, but they’re still young, so it’s different with them, you know?”

When Hannah replies, there's a hint of relief in her eyes. “Well, that's because you always expected Mom or Nanny Floris to handle that part,” she teases, taking a small bite of her food. “But seriously, I appreciate the effort.”

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