I Supported My Bankrupt Boyfriend for Three Years, Then Met His Wife Chapter 08
Two years later, I boarded a flight home.
Tucked against my side was my one-year-old daughter.
We’d come back for one reason only-to bring my father home after his release.
“Mommy, will Grandpa like our house?”
my daughter piped in a clear, childish voice.
I smiled and nodded. “He will.”
“We own a big rural horse ranch with horses. Grandpa’s going to love it.”
I’d left this country alone all those years ago, carrying nothing but a phone and a thin credit card. I endured endless lonely days with no one to rely on, fought through the agony of a language barrier, and eventually met the man I loved.
Kael had always believed poor people were built to endure endless hardship, that suffering was all
we deserved.
He couldn’t have been more wrong.
During those years of grinding to build a life for myself, my empty heart finally felt full.
I’d carved out a comfortable, happy life with my own two hands.
My lover saw every good part of me no one else had ever noticed, and together we’d welcomed our sweet little girl.
We called her Hazel Mercer.
I stood a short distance from the prison gates.
When I spotted the gray-haired old man walking out, tears threatened to spill free before I could stop them.
Hazel grew upset, patting clumsily at my cheeks with her tiny palms.
“Mommy, don’t cry.”
“I’m not crying, baby. Mommy’s just happy.” I lifted her up and hurried forward to meet him. “Dad,
I’m here to take you home.”
The middle-aged man stared at me and sighed softly.
“Celeste, you’ve gotten so thin.”
Tears welled up again.
I quickly pressed Hazel into his arms and twisted my head aside to wipe my eyes in secret.
“Don’t talk nonsense. I’m doing great.”
“Hazy, say hello to Grandpa!”
The little girl didn’t understand the heavy sadness hanging over us. She chirped a cheerful greeting, smearing her drool all over his cheek in the process.
“Oh my, Hazy’s such a beautiful little girl,” Dad praised. He freed one hand to brush his palm gently over my hair.
“I can’t believe so much time’s passed-you’ve got a child of your own now.”
“I’m so sorry I missed all these important moments in your life.”
I slipped on a pair of sunglasses to hide my bloodshot eyes.
“You didn’t miss a thing, Dad.”
“Your son-in-law and I agreed we’d get legally married first, then hold a proper wedding the second you were released. You’re my only family. I couldn’t let you miss that day.”
“But…”
Hazel glanced back and forth between us, her tiny voice breaking the somber mood.
“Grandpa, will you be Mommy’s flower girl with me?”
Her innocent childish words pulled a soft laugh from all of us.
Dad broke into a warm grin. “Grandpa won’t be the flower girl. I’ll watch Hazy walk down the aisle instead.”
I looped an arm through his.
“C’mon Dad, let’s get in the car. We can talk on the drive home.”
i’d barely turned around when I crashed straight into a familiar figure.
Kael stood there clutching a stack of gift boxes.
My movements froze.
I never imagined our reunion would unfold like this-me picking my father and daughter up from prison, him here to beg forgiveness for all the harm he’d caused years ago.
Kael bowed his head deeply, his posture utterly humble.
He claimed he’d only acted out of overwhelming love for me, that he’d resorted to cruel schemes just to keep me by his side.
He said guilt had gnawed at him every single day, and he begged for a chance to make amends.
He stayed hunched over for a long time. When he finally lifted his head, his gaze locked onto Hazel’s small face, and he went completely still, lost in a daze.
I’d always known Hazel was my spitting image, carved from the same mold.
The only difference was her father’s genes-thick, curly locks dyed a soft chestnut brown.
“This is my Grandpa, and that’s my Mommy,” my daughter said without an ounce of wariness.
Kael’s rigid eyes dragged slowly back to me.
I slid my sunglasses off my face, no longer the timid, subservient woman he’d once known.
I smiled openly and calmly.
“Kael. It’s been a long time.”
