Chapter 2

Gianna

Sitting in front of this stranger who is my father, I feel anything but calm. Entire life, my mother hasn't told me about my father, but just a few days before her death, she told me about my father.

Toying with my bracelet, I dare to look at him to find him already looking at me with nothing but affection. There is no doubt that he isn't my father. We share a lot of similarities. However, the thing which is almost an instant giveaway is our eyes. Looking into his eyes, I almost feel like I am staring into my eyes through the mirror.

All my life, I thought my father abandoned me, but the truth is that he never left me. In fact, he lived just two towns away from me. Mom told me that they had to take this difficult decision to protect me. Mom and dad loved each other, but for the sake of my safety, they decided to part ways.

Eric, or should I say, my father, is a part of a club which means he has more enemies than friends. When I was just a few months old, some of the club enemies attacked families of the club members, which instilled the fear of my safety in them.

That day they decided to keep me away from the club's life and chose to live their lives separately so that no one would know about me. However, mom decided it's best not to tell me about my father because she knew once she had told me the truth, I would have wanted to reach out to him, which she didn't want. So to keep me away from the club and their enemies, see never told me anything about my father.

One week after mom's death, I received a phone call from a stranger asking me to meet him at the park near my home. I already knew who this stranger was, so without any hesitation; I agreed to meet him.

I thought I would be angry at him for never even trying to meet me, but the emotions which his eyes hold genuinely tell how much I mean to him, making it impossible for me to be mad at him.

"I am sorry, I couldn't attend the funeral." He whispers, and I feel surprised to hear the pain in his voice, "Melissa asked me not to attend because she said that it would be difficult for you to meet me at her funeral."

Biting my lips, I try to stop my tears while I let out a laugh thinking about what a cunning woman my mom was.

"Why are you laughing?" He looks at me with confusion, probably questioning my mental state.

"Mom asked me not to call you for her funeral, as it would be difficult for you to meet me for the first time at her funeral." Swiping my fingers beneath my eyes, I catch some moisture on my fingertips before it can roll down my cheeks.

"Melissa." He lightly chuckles, shaking his head, trying to hide his pain, "I guess she never wanted us to bond over the grief of losing her."

"Yeah, because she wanted us to cherish the moment of meeting each other for the first time." Emotions choke my throat as the bittersweet feeling grips my heart.

Silence falls over us as we both seem to be lost in our own thoughts. There is so much going on in my mind that I don't even know what I am thinking. 

After a few moments have passed, I look at him, still trying to absorb the feeling that I am sitting beside my father.

He shifts his gaze to meet, and an affectionate smile appears entirely in contrast to his cold exterior. He is intimidating with his stern expression and cold, ruthless eyes, but whenever he looks at me, a soft look washes over his face making me realize beneath this hard exterior is my father, who chose to stay out of my life for my sake.

"What now?" Intertwining my fingers, I stare at them, not knowing what to expect. I don't know how things will be for us from now onwards since we both have met each other. Does he want to keep things the way they are, or he wants to be a part of my life?

"Gia, I have just found you back, and I don't want to lose you." He grabs my hand while looking at me with a hopeful expression. At the same time, I am still stuck at the name of endearment that has passed so effortlessly through his lips.

"I want to be a part of your life; I have always wanted to be. But your mom's fears stopped me from meeting you sooner." He looks away while taking a deep breath, "She feared that me being a part of your life will only put you in danger. Even though she shared everything about you with me, still she never permitted me to meet you."

I am angry at my mother for keeping away from my father, even when I was old enough to understand what was right or wrong for me. I can understand her fears, but when I was old enough, she should have told me the truth and given me a choice to decide for myself.

The next words which came out of his mouth surprised me, causing me to look at him in disbelief.

"I want you to come and live with me." He fusses with his salt and pepper hair by running a hand through them, "Only if you want... I mean, I am not forcing you or anything. It's your choice." He suddenly sounds unsure of my answer.

A surreal feeling encases my heart when I look at the only parent that I have in this world. Somewhere during all these years, the thought of being unwanted by my father always haunted me. And now, seeing him in front of me, wanting to be a part of my life, washed away every thought of being unwanted from my heart.

I want to know him... I want to try to build our relationship... I want to give him a chance. 

But before I can ask him, suddenly another thought comes to my mind, along with a feeling of jealously.

"What if your family doesn't want me to be a part of your life?" I ask, concealing my every emotion, behind a mask. 

I don't know anything about him. What if he has other children or a wife at his home who would not want to do anything with me, just like I do not wish to be involved with them in any way.

"My family?" He raises his eyebrows, looking slightly amused, "The only family which I have in this whole world is you, my daughter. Well, apart from my brothers who would welcome you in our family without any question. And if anyone has any problem, then I am sure there is nothing that my fist can't solve." He slams his fist against the palm of his other hand, looking dead serious.

His words warm my heart, as there is nothing that can be compared to a father's love for his daughter. And even though we had just met for the first time a few hours ago, but his love for me is evident in his eyes.

"Yes, I will come with you." Giving him a small smile while nodding my head.

My eyes widen in surprise when he wraps his arms around me, holding me protectively.

Tears threaten to spill when I feel him pressing a small kiss on my head while his protective hold spreads the feeling of warmth all over me.