Page 201 of My Ruthless Opponent

My eyes widen and a sob erupts from my throat.

With a trembling hand, he reaches up and wipes my tears. I clutch his hand and lean my cheek against his palm as I cry. “You’re back,” I whisper. “You’re back, Dad.”

My eyes move over his features. “I’ll call the doctor.” I try to stand but he tightens his grip on mine.

He mumbles something I don’t understand so I crouch to hear him better. “N-no one can,” he coughs then continues, “h-hate you, princess.” His voice is hoarse.

He was conscious and heard everything.

I wrap my arms around him, burrowing my face in his sweater. “I love you, Dad.”

His hand strokes my hair. “I-I love you too, princess.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Dad chose to stop talking and responding to the surrounding after the accident.

He didn’t want to get better after mom’s death. And today he decided to come back. It wasn’t a miracle in medical science. But it was for me. I got him back.

Month after month, I saw him on the wheelchair with unshed tears, hoping and praying that soon he’ll get better. Finally, God has finally answered my prayers.

Dr. Riaz says after a year of no movement, his joints would act up, and getting him back on his feet may take weeks or maybe months of physiotherapy. He even suggested coupling it with psychotherapy.

He may have decided to move on but he has to make peace with what happened in his life.

I agreed to it and paid the additional fees in advance.

I’ll have to find a job soon. I need the money more than ever now.

I didn’t want to leave Dad’s side, but I had to go to the agency to hand in my resignation.

There won’t be any need for me to work for two weeks as the standard protocol. As Raleigh would be the Creative Director, he won’t need any guidance or training as he already has experience.

I enter the office building and immediately feel eyes on me.

I am in a white shirt and a pair of jeans. No stylish dress. In place of stilettoes, I am wearing mules. My face is makeup-free.

In a nutshell, I am not here as Hannah Cooper. I am here as Hannah Lockwood.

For a long time, I had hated the past version of me. I thought she was too weak. Too emotional. Too trusting. I had to kill her in order to survive. Being with Raleigh brought her back to life and now I have embraced the past version of myself.

Ignoring the second glances and open stares, I make my way to Archer’s office.

I am greeted by a blonde in her mid-twenties sitting in the station outside his office.

Maybe she is his new assistant. I wonder how long would she last without lying?

When I approach her desk, she looks up, pops the bubble of her chewing gum, and replies with a “How can I help you?”

“I am here to see Archer.”

She looks me up and down while chewing the shit out of the gum. “You have an appointment, Miss…?”

I raise a brow. She is new and hence doesn’t know me. “Lockwood. And no, I don’t have an appointment. I just wanted to give my resignation to him in person.”

“All right. Wait a sec.” She continues to chew audibly and lifts the receiver of the landline and rings him.

I tense when she mentions my name and why I came here.

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