Page 47 of Exile

I kept holding her hand while running the other through my hair. I took a deep breath, meeting her gaze again. “When your mother found out she was pregnant, I wanted to be there,” I started. “I wanted to be there for my daughter. To be a supportive father, and to be there when my granddaughter was born. But she didn’t want that. She didn’t want me by her side. And, yes, I was always busy with my career, but I always made time for your mother. And for her sister. For my family, I always made time. But she didn’t see it that way.” My voice cracked, and I felt more vulnerable than I ever did.

I moved my gaze to the wall ahead of me, unable to look into her eyes full of emotions.

I never allowed my career to take over my private life, but in a way, for my daughter, that’s what had happened. But I had always been there. Always called or picked up her calls.

But then she fell pregnant, and everything changed.

I couldn’t blame Darwynn’s father. The bastard wasn’t around. Didn’t even care about Julie being pregnant. I decided not to give that fucker any of my time, but through all of that, I was there for Julie.

“I strongly believe that your mother has issues with herself. She was angry at your father when she was pregnant with you and pushed everyone away that meant something to her. Me included. I guess I was her punching bag.”

Darwynn frowned. “Is that true?”

I gave a humorless chuckle, my emotions uncontrollable. “I was ambitious, and I poured my damn heart out into my career. But I loved my family more. At times, I thought she’d come around. But when you were born, I tried. I really tried. She wouldn’t let me see you. I sent letters and messages. I showed up, but she shut me out at every turn.”

Her fingers tightened around mine.

“She told me you never tried,” she said softly. “That you didn’t care about me or her or anyone.”

I shook my head. “I never stopped trying. But at some point, after almost a decade, I had to accept that she wouldn’t let me in.”

Silence settled between us. I could see the conflict in her eyes. The years of believing one thing and suddenly being faced with another.

“She lied to me,” Darwynn finally whispered.

I exhaled, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “Maybe she just needed to believe it was true.”

She pulled away slightly, shaking her head. “No. No, she made me believe that you didn’t want me in your life. That you didn’t care.”

“Darwynn.” My voice was steady. “I have always cared about you. Even if I wasn’t there, I cared. And I thought of you. Often. I know I’ve been cold and broody when you first showed up here, but I just couldn’t imagine you were here to get to know me. I thought you were here to treat me the same way Julie has. So I put up a wall. Feared that I’d get hurt again.”

My intentions weren’t to bring tears to her eyes with my words. I was being honest, but I was making her sad, and I hated seeing her like that.

“Darwynn, please,” I begged, cupping her cheeks with both hands. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“You didn’t,” she assured me with a tight, sad smile. “It’s Mom I’m disappointed in.”

Her gaze dropped to my chest, and it took everything in her not to let those tears roll down her face. We didn’t speak for a while. Then, she let out a shaky breath and leaned into me, wrapping her arms around my middle.

I held her close, feeling the weight of years between us. Maybe this moment didn’t fix everything. Maybe it wouldn’t change the past.

But at least now, she knew the truth.

Chapter 14

DARWYNN

We spent most of the afternoon in bed, kissing and touching each other. And I thought about everything he told me. About Mom. About how unfairly she treated him. And he didn’t push me any further.

He didn’t urge me to talk about Mom again. Not that he would’ve wanted to, anyway. He was hurt, too, and I figured we both needed to let it settle for a moment now.

When our stomachs started growling, we finally got out of bed to shower and head out.

I held his hand as we stepped out of his house, but he dropped it immediately, reminding me that we couldn’t let anyone know about us.

About what we did last night.

About what we become in just a few hours.

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