Page 30 of Manic

I take a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging inside me. "Is she mine, Meg? Is Tindra my daughter?"

Meghan's eyes widen, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before she schools her features.

She takes a shaky breath, and I can see the internal struggle playing out across her face.

"Tor, I..." she starts, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's complicated."

I feel my jaw clench, frustration bubbling up inside me. "Complicated? What the fuck does that mean, Meg? It's a simple yes or no question."

She flinches at the harshness in my tone, and I immediately regret it.

I've never been good at controlling my temper, but seeing her again after all these years has me on edge.

"I'm sorry," I say, softer this time. "I just... I need to know."

Meghan nods, wrapping her arms around herself as if trying to hold herself together. "I know you do, Tor. And you deserve the truth. It's just... there's so much you don't know."

I scoot closer to her, close enough to catch the faint scent of her perfume.

It's the same one she used to wear, and the familiarity of it hits me like a punch to the gut. "Then tell me, Meg. I'm right here, ready to listen."

She looks up at me, her eyes searching mine for something.

Trust?

Understanding?

I'm not sure what she's looking for, but I hope she finds it.

"Yes," she finally says, her voice barely audible. "Tindra is your daughter."

The world seems to tilt on its axis as her words sink in.

I have a daughter.

A beautiful, spirited little girl with my hair and Meghan’s eyes.

A surge of emotions washes over me—joy, anger, confusion, love—all battling for dominance.

"Why?" I manage to choke out. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Meghan's eyes fill with tears, and this time she doesn't try to hold them back.

They spill down her cheeks, leaving glistening trails in their wake. "I wanted to, Tor. God, I wanted to tell you so badly. But I was scared."

I run a hand through my hair, tugging at the strands in frustration. "Scared of what? Of me? Did you think I wouldn't step up, that I wouldn't want her?"

"No!" Meghan exclaims, reaching out to grasp my arm.

Her touch sends a jolt through my system, and I have to resist the urge to pull her closer. "I knew you'd be an amazing father, Tor. That was never in question."

I search her face, trying to understand. "Then what? What could possibly make you keep my own daughter from me for all these fucking years?"

Meghan takes a deep breath, her hand still on my arm. "It's... it's a long story, Tor. And not an easy one to tell."

I gesture around us, at the empty room. "We've got time, Meg. And I think I deserve to hear it, don't you?"

She nods, dropping her hand from my arm.

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