Chapter 438
Chapter 438:
For one brief moment, I felt as though I had slipped back into childhood — back to a time when my mother was still with us, when my father seemed invincible and warm, when our family was whole, with my brother at my side.
“I’m sorry for all the times I made you cry, my little girl p>
His voice broke through my thoughts, and I raised my hand to touch my own cheek. Only then did I realize it was wet. I had been crying without noticing, lost in memories of those distant days that still echoed far too loudly inside me.
“Belle, I’ll leave you two for a little while. I’m going to help Angie with dinner p>
I nodded and smiled softly. I watched my mother until she disappeared from the porch, then turned back to my father. Slowly, I guided his wheelchair to the wooden bench beside the railing.
“How are you feeling, Dad?” I asked, taking his right hand in both of mine.
He drew a long breath, then looked at me with a fragile smile that carried more sadness than warmth.
“I wanted to tell you how glad I am. Glad that you and your mother came back, and that your brother is here too.” His voice trembled and he paused.
“Dad p>
Instead of answering right away, he lifted his eyes to the night sky. The stars burned brightly, borrowing their glow from the moon, and I realized I couldn’t summon a smile that felt honest.
T𝗁е 𝘣е𝘴𝗍 𝗋е𝖺𝗱i𝘯g eхp𝗲𝗿𝗶e𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻
“I’m happy, Belle. So happy it frightens me. I don’t have much time left. Maybe months. Perhaps even less. And I don’t know how to show you how much I love you in whatever time remains. I regret every moment I wasn’t there for you. I became selfish. I turned into someone I no longer recognize, and p>
“Dad p>
I stopped him the moment his eyes filled with tears, because I couldn’t bear to watch him break apart any further.
That chapter was closed, and we were here now — together again, as a family. I told him it made more sense to look forward than to stir up moments that still hurt. I told him we would build new memories from this point on, and I refused to let him speak of leaving us.
“Belle p>
“No. From this moment on, you are not permitted to speak about your illness or what comes after. We are starting fresh as a family. You don’t have a choice in that. You will play the piano again. For me. For Mom. For Steven. That is an order. Do you understand p>
A soft laugh escaped him — one I recognized instantly. It was the same quiet laugh he used to give when I was small and he would gently correct the position of my fingers on the piano keys.
“And we are not going to reopen the past. We will talk only about our family — you, Mom, me, and Steven p>
“Of course. And once we’ve finished talking about family matters, we can move on to your love life p>
“Dad p>
My back straightened instinctively and my eyes went wide.
“Or perhaps your future married life p>
“Dad p>