Page 51 of One Night With My Grumpy Professor Daddy

It’s my first thought as I step into my new office, the scent of fresh leather, books, and polished wood enveloping me.

It’s…my first day as a lawyer at my family’s firm, a position I’ve promised to earn purely on merit. I start organizing files to distract myself because all I can see in my head is that look of pain on Drake’s face.

He looked so hurt when I told him we couldn’t continue— it almost broke me. If I hadn’t left when I did, I wouldn’t have had the strength to walk out of that house.

But it needed to be done. There is no place for Drake and me in the real world. We’ve always had reason to sneak around, but now shit just got real, and it’s not fair to either of us, and it’s not fair to the baby, either.

Instinctively, my hand goes to my stomach, but a knock sounds on the door— and I instantly drop it, and my father walks in. He’s sporting a proud smile on his face. This man has never been filled with smiles, even less after the scandal, so it’s strange to see.

“Congratulations on your first day, Ava— I’m so proud of you, honey!”

I manage a grateful smile but can’t shake the stuck feeling in my chest. “Thanks, Dad. I hope I can live up to the family name.” I chide. He cocks his head, studying my expression, and because I’m scared that he’d see through me, I turn away.

I think he’s gone, but his voice jolts me and makes me turn my head to him. “I want you to understand something. I’ve always been proud of you, regardless the career path you chose. I want you to do something you’re passionate about, and I don’t expect you to make up for my mistakes.”

“But I always felt the weight of it all, Dad. I felt like I had to do something to redeem myself. I always felt that maybe then, you’d be able to talk to me again. To look me in the eyes.”

His eyebrows crease in a frown. “Ava, do you think the reason I withdrew from you was because of the scandal?”

“Well… my part in it,”

He sighs and then gives me the saddest smile I’ve seen. “You’re my daughter, Ava. The things that got leaked about the fraud and corruption were not some lie or fabrication. They happened, and that’s why it was such a huge blow to this family. I was too embarrassed to face you.”

The realization of my father’s shame washes over me. The pressure and criticism I felt were all in my mind. It’s not that my dad won’t look at me or talk to me —it’s my own crippling guilt that stopped me from doing the same to him. I was the one who didn’t speak to him or look at him.

“Thank you, Dad. You don’t know how much I needed to hear this right now, And I’m sorry for all the pain I might have caused you.”

Although a huge weight has been lifted from my heart, it still feels like my world is crumbling.

***

My first day goes well, and the days after that. And soon, it’s the end of my first week, and my family is throwing me a graduation dinner. The atmosphere in the restaurant is lively, the clinking of cutlery and murmurs of diners filling the air.

I’m surrounded by my family, celebrating my accomplishments, and overall, it’s a beautiful evening. But honestly, I can’t help feeling like I’m a bit of a fraud. I mean, why do I get to be happy when, deep down, I’m not sure I really deserve it? As we eat, the compliments and praise keep coming. With every compliment, it feels like the secret in my belly is weighing heavier on me.

“...she got so many awards, best-graduating student in her class. Even if she didn’t come to the company, law firms would be busting down the doors to hire her.”

Nothing like that feeling of imposter syndrome

It’s like they’re talking about someone else and not me. I’m not the perfect daughter they think I am. I might have united my family in a way and redeemed myself of those mistakes, but everything is not OK, not when I have a secret that’s literally growing inside me, getting bigger every day. How can they not notice?

I’ve done it again.

I’ve fucked up royally in a way they’d never understand. As they chatter on, I feel my throat constricting. I’m not the perfect daughter—I’ve screwed up again. The noose around my neck tightens till I’m pushed to my breaking point.

“I’m pregnant,” I blurt out.”

As soon as I say that, a sense of relief fills me. But that’s short-lived because all the faces in the room are on me.

“I…” everyone's eyes are wide, waiting for me to continue. But the words catch in my throat, and it feels like the room is spinning around me.

Unable to hold it together, I hastily stand and excuse myself from the table, tears blurring my vision as I flee from the restaurant.

No one comes after me as I head to my car and drive off. But I’m crying so much I have to pull over to calm down.

While I attempt to stop my tears, my phone vibrates—a text from Daphne reads, “Have you seen the news!!!!!”

Chapter thirty-two

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