Page 91 of Silver Fox's Secret Baby

“You did it because of me and the business?” Victoria asked. It wasn’t a good feeling to have your daughter look at you with disappointment.

“He did it to protect himself and didn’t care about Samantha.”

“I did care for her. I gave her money. I got her job.” God, I was a fucking asshole. “Jesus, Alex. You just had a baby—"

Alex’s expression softened. “Look, Henry, I'm not saying what she did was right. But in her situation, what could she do?”

I saw like I hadn’t seen before that Samantha didn’t feel she had an option to tell me about Pax five years ago. Still. “She could have told me while she was under my roof.”

“Why? Had things changed?” Alex asked.

Had they? Not soon enough.

“People make mistakes. You both know that. I forgave you both because I love you both. Don’t you have any forgiveness in you to give to Samantha?”

"Even if I do that, how can I trust her?”

“How can she trust you after what you did? Trust is earned, not given.”

"Is that true, Dad? You made her leave?" Victoria's eyes searched mine for confirmation, betrayal and disappointment mingling with the vulnerability beneath her usual assertiveness.

"I thought it was best."

“For whom? You said she was the one woman you’d loved, and you sent her away like she meant nothing to you."

Her words stung, the painful truth. "Victoria, I..." The knot in my throat tightened.

“Maybe things won’t work out, but Alex is right. You have a part to play, and you have to forgive her and then ask for her forgiveness too.”

She was right, of course.

“I’m ruining this lovely moment,” I said, feeling defeated.

“Dad, I want you to be happy.” She took my hand. “Did she make you happy?”

I gave in. “Yes.” My feelings had come full circle. I’d been horrendous to her, and the chances of her forgiving me had to be little to none.

“Then you need to talk to her like I’m going to do once I get some rest. God, I was really rude to her.”

Alex bent over and kissed her temple.

“Let’s hope she’s as forgiving as you are,” Victoria said to him.

A mishmash of feelings flooded me, culminating in an overwhelming need to see Samantha. I turned to leave.

“Where are you going?” Victoria asked.

“I’m going to see Samantha.”

“It’s three in the morning,” Alex said.

“I’ve waited five years. I don’t want to wait another moment.”

“Good luck,” I heard Victoria call as I headed out the door.

Knightly was resting in the car as I climbed in. “Take me to the Layton house.”

“Now?”

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