Chapter 48
After carrying my father inside the hospital, Myles and the guys didn’t bother to stick around, not that I blame them.
They owe my father nothing. But according to Myles, they owe me something, so should I need them, they’ll be there.
Deep down I know they regret going along with Killian’s plan to use me against my father and I suppose helping my father was a stepping stone in atoning for that.
If I can forgive Killian, I guess I can forgive them too, but I’ll make sure they work damn hard to get it.
My father was rushed straight into surgery, so the jury is still out on whether he’ll make it. The entire ride to the hospital he slipped in and out of consciousness, mumbling gibberish while the wound to his abdomen continued to bleed.
As much as I hope he pulls through, it doesn’t mean my feelings towards him have changed.
I still hate him. I hate him for the all the lies, the gaslighting and the controlling behaviour I’ve had to put up with growing up.
I hate him for what he allowed Killian to go through in prison and I hate him for lying about who my real father was and for choosing to let that monster back out onto the streets, all to protect his reputation.
His selfishness is the reason any of this has happened.
Killian’s hand closes around mine, as if sensing me deep in thought. “How you doing, butterfly?”
I blow out a breath. “Aside from getting kidnapped, sexually assaulted by a sick psychopath and finding out my father isn’t actually my father, I’m great.” Sarcasm drips from my voice.
He frowns. “What?”
“Oh, yeah. It turns out my mom had an affair twenty years ago, got pregnant and nine months later, I showed up.”
His mouth hangs open. “Holy shit.”
“Naylor took great pleasure in telling me that little secret. Apparently, he used it to blackmail my father to help him get released.”
“How did he find out Watson’s not your real father?”
“Because my sperm donor used to be his cellmate, Tobias Grimes.”
Killian just stares at me, turning over the words in his mind like he can’t quite believe what he just heard. “The fuck? Are you serious?”
“Yep.”
“Fuck... That means…”
“Drew and Allie are my cousins, and Amelia’s my aunt.”
It’s a strange feeling having a family I never knew existed up until now, but I’m looking forward to getting to know them better.
“Grimes was blackmailing my father,” I continue.
“Apparently, he went after my mother and got her pregnant on purpose so he’d have something to use against my father.
I assume sometime during their friendship, Grimes told Naylor about me.
That’s why he got away with what he did to you, why my father did nothing when you went to him for help, because he knew Naylor knew the truth. ”
He doesn’t seem surprised. “So that’s why your father was paying Grimes…”
“You knew?”
“We found out a while back your father was bankrolling Grimes and his crew for twenty years, we just couldn’t figure out why.”
“Kaia!” My head snaps in the direction of my mother, hurrying down the corridor towards us in the waiting room. “Where’s you father?”
“He’s in surgery right now.”
She takes in my blood-soaked hands and clothes. “When you called, I didn’t know what to think. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
She heaves a sigh, dropping into the chair beside me.
My leg bounces. My heart thundering in my chest. With everything I’ve found out today, there’s no way I can sit here beside my mother and not say something.
Without me even having to say anything, Killian gives my thigh a comforting squeeze, to show me he’s there.
“I know about Tobias Grimes,” I blurt. “I know everything.”
Her head snaps around to me, her face falling. Her shoulders sag. “I wondered when this day would come.” Her eyes drop to her lap. “I am so sorry, sweetheart.”
“Were you ever going to tell me?”
“I wanted to. I’ve hated lying to you all these years but we felt it best you never find out.”
“Why? Surely, I had a right to know.”
“To know I was manipulated? To know the man I cheated on my husband with went after me purely to get to the man I was married to? That he got me pregnant on purpose? No. I know he has his faults but even with your father’s flaws, he has been more of a father to you than Tobias ever would’ve been.
You have every right to be angry with me and your fa—”
“I’m not angry,” I cut her off. “I’m disappointed that you’ve lied to me my whole life.”
“Ka—”
A female doctor rounds the corner into the waiting room. She’s young, maybe late twenties, ash blonde hair cascading down her back. “Peter Watson’s family?”
My mother leaps up from her chair. “How is my husband?”
“My name is Doctor James, I operated on your husband. He’s stable and out of surgery.
He lost a lot of blood due of the gunshot but the bullet missed any major arteries or organs so the removal was straightforward.
We have given him a transfusion to replace the lost blood, and for now he’s sleeping. ”
My mother sighs with relief. “May I see him?”
Doctor James smiles. “Of course.”
My mother turns to me over her shoulder. “I’d really like if we could talk more? Maybe when your father’s back home?”
“Okay.”
She smiles before following the doctor to my father’s room.
It’s almost half an hour before my mother reappears in the waiting room doorway, announcing that my father’s awake and she’s going to grab some coffee, and I use the opportunity while she’s away to drop in on my dad.
He’s surprised when I step inside his room. His heart monitor beeps beside him, below are two different drips being fed through tubes that disappear into his arms.
“How are you doing?” I ask.
“I’m alive.”
I’ve never seen him look so sick and weak. It’s unsettling. His skin is ash grey, like all the colour and life has been drained from him.
It’s hard to see him like this.
A lump forms in my throat. No matter what’s happened between us, he’s still my dad and a part of me will always love him whether I choose to or not.
He clears his throat. “Kaia—”
“I didn’t come here to talk. I’m only here because you saved mine and Killian’s lives and I wanted to thank you.
I wanted to see you’re okay. Aside from that, nothing has changed.
You might not be my father by blood, but you are the man who raised me and for that I’ll always love you whether I want to or not.
But there’s been too much. So many things I hate you for.
I might be able to forgive you in time, but right now?
I can’t. If you do care about me and you want to be a part of my life, you’re going to have to prove you deserve my forgiveness. ”
“And your child?”
“My baby will grow up with two parents who will never stop telling them how much they love them. They’ll never have to question it. They’ll never have to worry about being a disappointment or be scared to follow their heart.”
Despite being as stone-faced as always, my words have affected him, his emotions carried through his eyes. There’s a tinge of sadness in them, something I’ve never seen before.
“I’m glad you’re alright,” is the last thing I say before leaving the room.