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Chapter 0221
Chapter 0221
“You look well.” He breaks the excruciating silence between us. His tone is the most depressing sound I've heard in my life. He doesn't only sound miserable, he looks miserable.
This is not the same father I left at home. He seems to have aged years in months and I think I understand why. Both his daughters were taken from him for the so-called Concordant Ritual. That must have left him devastated and hopeless.
I clear my voice.
“Hello Father. It's good to see you again.” My voice is calm and cautious. My eyes are roaming in the distance between us. I want to eat it all up and throw my hands around him when I'm close enough. I want to hug him tight and never let go.
I've missed my father.
“Ashanti.” He calls in a broken voice. I almost fly away when he starts walking towards me. My soul returns to my body when he comes closer and pulls me into his arms, embracing me in a warm, fatherly hug. He plants a hard kiss on my head and squeezes me tight in his arms. I'm nearly suffocating, my bones will crush in his hold if he holds me any tighter, but I don't mind. I want to stay here, in his arms because he's my father and I’ve missed him dearly.
“Dad.” I call, crying like a baby with my head buried in his chest. “Dad I've missed you so much!” He plants his lips on my head and kisses it again, breathing hard and raspily.
“I've missed you too, Princess “
Princess.
That's what he used to call me when I was little. Before Rhea and her mother showed up and ruined everything.
He pulls me out of his hold and rakes his eyes all over my teary face.
“Have you been well?” He asks and I nod my head, smiling in tears.
“Lately, I've been.” This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .
“It makes me happy to hear that.”
“Dad, I know you're probably upset with me about what happened to Rhea.” His brows arch as he gives me a confused look.
“Upset with you? Why would I be upset with you?”
“Rhea's being locked up because of me.”
“It's not because of you. News of her actions reached me. How she's been bullying you in the Harem just to make your life miserable. How she tried to set you up for murder and attempted murder. This is not the first time that something like this is happening. The messenger Alpha Reagan sent didn't leave out any detail. He told me everything Rhea has done to you in this pack and I didn't know what to do with myself. I am so sorry you had to go through all of that in the hands of your sister.”
The tears in my eyes freefall down my cheeks like a waterfall.
Now, I'm not crying because of the things Rhea did to me. I'm crying because my father feels repulsed by her actions and for the first time in many years, he's taking my side.
“She must have made your life miserable here.” A painful knot forms in my throat.
“A bit.” I croak and nod my head.
“I'm so sorry about that.”
“It's okay.” I sniffle tears. “Dad. There's something I need to ask you.” His eyes grow wide with concern.
“What's that?”
“It's about mum. My real mother. I know you don't like talking about her and you've always forbidden the topic, but dad I really want to find her. Alpha Reagan has given me the permission to do so and all I need right now is information about her whereabouts from you. Please father. I need to know where my mother is. To know if she's still alive.”
“She's still alive.” His voice is low and lifeless and when he looks at me again, there's so much guilt in his eyes that makes my heart want to burst. “I've been checking on her since she left, so I know that.”
He's been checking on her?
I'm completely dumbfounded to hear that. I thought he didn't give two shits about her.