Page 140 of The Heart of a Villain

“Aileen,” Dad calls me again, and I look at him while he orders, “Come here.”

Glancing at Rush, I plead for him to understand that I need to go back to Dad one last time and explain to him what’s going on because I cannot bear the idea of them fighting again.

By a soft smile my man sends my way, I know he gets it, but by the anger still flashing in his orbs, he doesn’t like it.

And when he tosses the other gun away, a gasp slips past my lips, as he leaves himself without any weapon to defend himself.

Although with a shield like me in this mansion, why would he need a weapon, right?

Taking a deep breath, I walk to my father, who has a completely indifferent expression, hiding his true feelings at the moment. “I love him, Dad.” I push out the words that taste so forbidden yet mean the world to me. “I’m in love with him.” The pressure in my chest eases, the invisible ropes squeezing my throat untying and letting me breathe easy for the first time in months. Because I can finally say the truth. “Desperately in love, Dad.” I gulp for breath, welcoming all the air inside me and holding back my laughter, as the relief inside me is overwhelming.

How amazing it is to finally speak out loud about your love and not hide it from everyone?

Dad doesn’t say anything, but as I move closer, he tosses away his gun as well, and it hits the ground with a loud thud.

Then I notice something else in his hand, and my heart stills.

He kneels down and places my shoes by my feet. “Put them on. It’s freezing. You’ll catch a cold.”

Tears form in my eyes at his affection, even in the current circumstances, and slip my feet inside the shoes while he straightens up and removes his suit jacket before throwing it over my shoulders. I snake my arms inside the sleeves, his warmth instantly enveloping me as we stare at one another. “I’m so sorry, Daddy.” I bite my lips, not letting the sobs erupt from my throat because he taught me better than that.

Dad palms my head, his blue eyes the same as mine gazing at me with so much love, and a smile shapes his mouth, although sadness lingers at the edges of it. His thumb brushes the tear away from my cheek, yet more tears follow, the little girl in me who hero-worshipped her father terrified of what he might say to me right now.

“When I held you for the first time, you were so tiny, and I was afraid to hurt you,” he begins, and I blink at this. “I couldn’t believe something so precious, beautiful, and innocent could come from someone like me.” He laughs a little, the air puffing around us. “I fell in love for the second time in my life, and with this love came such fierce protectiveness that I vowed to myself to do anything in my power to let you know nothing but happiness.”

My voice trembles when I whisper, “Dad.” This conversation already hurts my soul. Why does he have to tell me all this and make it more difficult?

He continues, ignoring my interruption. “This is a kind of love I cannot explain, as you have to experience it to understand it. You were my little ray of sunshine, the only person in my family who didn’t know the dark side of me. I always wanted you to exist only in light because darkness… it’s so cruel, child of mine. So, so cruel and ruthless.”

His words shoot arrows into my soul, more tears coming, while the anguish in his voice kills me from the inside because I know he doesn’t approve.

Because Rush is the one who destroyed the illusion of the world Dad created around me.

“But somehow in all my protectiveness, I became the source of your greatest pain.”

“Daddy, no.” I put my hands on his forearms. “I understand. I’m not hurt. I just fell in love.”

“Yes. You fell in love with an enemy, and instead of coming to me with your pain, you harbored it in your heart. It should have never come to this.”

My stomach flips, and I tense, looking my father straight in the eyes and studying his every feature because panic envelops me.

After this conversation, we might never see each other again if he rejects me… if he rejects Rush… or demands me to make a choice.

So for a moment in time, for just a couple more seconds, I want to be my father’s daughter, who has the right to be his daughter.

“There is nothing in this life you can do to make me stop loving you. You’ll always be welcomed here, and this house will always be your home. No matter who you choose, where you go, or what path you decide to take… you will always be my daughter.” He leans forward and presses a kiss to my forehead as I start crying at this total acceptance, my heart weeping in joy while so much love fills my insides. “I love you, sweetheart. Go live your life and be happy. And I’ll always be here if you need me.”

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I hug him close while he squeezes me hard, tears continuing to come as all our memories together play like an endless movie in my mind.

Happy memories of a childhood filled with love and acceptance.

“Thank you, Dad!” I say through my clogged throat, still holding on to him. “Thank you!”

I would have gone away with Rush regardless, but relief mixed with joy and awe slides through my veins at the thought of doing it with my dad’s blessing.

“I love you, Daddy,” I whisper in his ear, and his arm locks on me for a second, and then he leans back, smiling. “You’re the best dad in the whole wide world,” I repeat the words I used to say to him as a child.

“Go.” He looks at Rush then, and his voice hardens. “Take good care of her.”

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