Page 85 of When Love And Destiny Collide

"He’s my son!" she exclaims, her voice rising.

"And I have custody," I counter, meeting her gaze.

"My biggest mistake wasn't cheating on you," she snaps, her voice sharp and her gaze cold as ice. "My biggest mistake was giving you custody of my son."

Chapter 24

Lily

"I don't know, Dad," I say, struggling to control my emotions.

We’re sitting on the patio of a quiet restaurant, our breakfast untouched. For the past half hour, Dad’s been pressing for answers about what happens next with Noah—now that the truth is out. The affair and the questions of paternity have cast a heavy shadow over everything. I’m trying to stay objective, to remind myself that Dad didn’t know Marian was married, but who am I kidding? This isn’t going to be easy for any of us.

"Was Noah okay with you last night after you told him?" Dad asks, placing his hand over mine. "I hope I didn't ruin everything."

"Noah and I are okay, Dad," I say, hoping my calmness reassures him. "We love each other, and our plans to marry are moving forward."

But even as I say it, I can feel the weight of Marian's words pressing down on me."By the time I'm done with you, you'll wish you'd never met Noah."

"Dad, can I ask you something?" I say, my voice curious. "Why Marian?"

"She's beautiful," he says simply as if it’s the most obvious answer in the world.

"This world is full of beautiful women, Dad," I counter. "What made her so special?"

"Marian has this... quality," he replies, his gaze distant. "She’s seductive, intriguing."

The exact opposite of me. The thought settles like a stone in the pit of my stomach.

"How did you meet her?" I ask, hoping he might open up.

"I was meeting a client at the hotel she was staying in," he says, his gaze drifting off as if caught in a memory. "We met in the elevator. She was coming back from the pool, wearing this—" He clears his throat. "Mija, I don’t think we should be talking about this."

"Is she prettier than me?" I ask, the words slipping out, showing my insecurity.

"You're the most beautiful young woman my eyes have ever seen," he says, his voice filled with the pride only a father can have.

I smile, but it’s faint. "You're just saying that because you're my dad, and I look like you."

"Lily," he says, squeezing my hand gently, his eyes soft. "You're beautiful, inside and out. That’s something no one could ever say about Marian."

"Then why did you sleep with her, Dad?" The words escape like a sharp reproach, hitting him squarely.

His gaze falters for a moment before he sighs. "Because I knew a one-night stand wouldn’t hurt either of us and I thought it would end there."

The bluntness of his admission jars me. "I can't believe you, Dad," I say, shaking my head, disbelief tightening in my chest.

"I never claimed to be a perfect man," he says, shrugging slightly, his voice tinged with resignation. "But I've been a good father."

"You have, Dad," I nod, my expression softening as I give him a small, appreciative smile. "You really have."

"There’s something I have to tell you, Mija," he murmurs. The tone in his voice is sobering, and I immediately sense something unpleasant is coming.

"What is it?" I ask, placing my hand over his, bracing myself.

"Before Marian left Mérida," he murmurs before clearing his throat, "we exchanged phone numbers. Four years ago, she came to visit me."

"What?" I whisper, the word sounding foreign to my own ears. "No, no, no. This can't be happening."

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