Chapter 11 A Mistake?

Meanwhile...

"Daddy, I want Mommy," Emerald said in a soft voice.

Dave turned to her, uncertain of how to respond. She looked heartbroken, and nothing he did could lift her spirits. She had lost interest in all the activities she once loved. The past few months had been a nightmare for her, and he felt powerless to help. Despite taking her to the best child therapist, nothing had seemed to work. She remained withdrawn, depressed, and sad. Once full of energy, she was now a mere shadow of her former self.

The decline had begun a few months after Zenab vanished. Emerald had struggled with sleep and often came to his room. One night, while he held her, waiting for her to drift off, she turned to him and asked, "Will you take me to Mommy tomorrow? I want to tell her I'm sorry for being so mean. I've been a very bad girl."

He had been taken aback by her sudden request and the tremor in her voice. The tears that glistened in her eyes shattered him.

He hadn't known how to react. He had assumed she was happy with Miles as her new mom, that she didn't miss Zenab and wanted nothing to do with her. But now, faced with Emerald's plea, he panicked, realizing he had no way to contact Zenab. The only person who knew her whereabouts had turned him away, with Jaymie angrily telling him to leave her alone.

From that point on, everything spiraled downward. Emerald couldn't sleep at night, often waking up screaming, trembling, and drenched in sweat. She spoke of nightmares, horrific visions of Zenab dying—specifically, of Zenab being killed. Each night, her cries for her mother grew more desperate, each nightmare worse than the last.

Dave tried to reassure her that her mother was safe, but she never believed him. She was convinced that Zenab hated her for her behavior, that Zenab no longer wanted her because she felt like a bad girl. This belief consumed her, making her feel abandoned.

In the weeks that followed, she lost her spark and preferred isolation. Both of them were exhausted, dark circles under their eyes from the lack of restful sleep.

Miles, who had been living with them, eventually grew frustrated and decided to move back to her own home. Although they still maintained a relationship, most of Dave's time was spent trying to care for Emerald amidst her depression.

Only a few people—Miles, the staff, and the therapist—were aware of the turmoil they faced. Emerald insisted on keeping it that way, not wanting others to label her as strange.

Dave tried every possible avenue for help—consulting oracles, scheduling appointments with various child psychologists, even taking Emerald and Miles on vacation in hopes of a change. Yet nothing seemed to make a difference; progress remained elusive.

When they finally saw Zenab in the hospital after a year, Dave felt a mix of shock and relief. Finally, they might be able to get the help Emerald so desperately needed.

My relief was fleeting, for the woman standing before them wasn't Zenab. She resembled her, but she wasn't the same person. Just like with Emerald, the light and warmth that once defined her were gone.

Dave couldn't help but wonder if he had damaged her beyond repair. She felt cold and lifeless, and the intensity of her hatred was almost palpable. If glares could kill, he believed he would have been dead on the spot. It was unfathomable to him that she could harbor such loathing.

What had he expected? A warm embrace?

His wolf was torn; it loved Miles as its true mate, yet it still had feelings for Zenab as its chosen. At that moment, Zenab's disdain for them was unmistakable.

Dave was further surprised when she didn't even acknowledge Emerald with a hug. He knew Emerald had said some hurtful things, but he never anticipated Zenab would respond that way to her own daughter.

Emerald had cried for hours after Zenab left, especially after Jayson recounted the tales Zenab had shared about her whereabouts. Emerald was devastated, convinced that her mother truly despised her. The pain etched in Emerald's eyes as she watched Zenab walk away, leaving without so much as a word or embrace, was seared into Dave's memory.

When he finally approached Zenab in her office, her icy demeanor nearly paralyzed him. For the first time since they had met, he found himself at a loss for words.

Her eyes blazed with anger, hatred, and bitterness—emotions that were alien to him. Zenab had never been one to harbor such resentment.

Yet beneath those emotions lurked something darker and more twisted. He couldn't identify it, but it had no place in her.

Dave wanted to reach out, to find out how she was doing, and to share news about Emerald. However, before he could express any of that, she had kicked him out.

He felt a swell of shame as she reminded him of everything he had done to her, all the pain he had caused. Zenab wasn't the person he once knew; she had become harsh and vindictive.

Something within him whispered that he was accountable for her new demeanor. It was his fault for breaking her. He also felt guilty for what Emerald was enduring. If he had managed to foster a better relationship between mother and daughter, perhaps they would both be okay.

"Daddy?"

He sighed, pulled from his thoughts by Emerald's voice. Looking at her, he could still see the shadows on her small face.

"Sorry, sweetie. Daddy wasn't paying attention... What do you need?" he asked, gently lifting her onto his lap.

He held her tightly, wishing he could chase away her demons and ease her worries. He would do anything for his little girl, and it broke his heart to see her in such distress.

"I want Mommy. Can you call her for me?" she whispered, tears brimming in her eyes.

Damn it!

Reluctantly, he pulled out his phone and dialed Zenab's number, hoping against hope that she would answer. But just as he feared, there was no response. He tried two more times, each attempt yielding silence.

"I'm sorry, honey; she must be busy," he lied, forcing a smile.

Tears began to fall down Emerald's cheeks. "But I want to talk to her. I miss her so much," she said, burying her face against his chest, her sobs soaking his shirt.

"Great, is she still going on about Zenab? When is she going to stop crying for her? She should just move on," he heard a sneer from beside them.

Turning, he caught sight of Miles, arms crossed tightly over her chest, tapping her foot in visible irritation. Emerald's cries only intensified.

"Miles!" he warned, a tinge of frustration in his voice.

"I'm just speaking the truth," she shot back, but he narrowed his gaze.

"If you can't say something nice, then just leave," he snapped.

She huffed, stomping her foot like a petulant child before storming off. Dave pulled Emerald closer, whispering soothing words in her ear.

What was wrong with Miles? Why couldn't she show a little understanding for what Emerald was going through? She was just a child who missed her mother, for crying out loud.

Miles had been warm and attentive to Emerald, but everything changed when Emerald's struggles began, and he resented that. The kindness and understanding had vanished, and it left him feeling isolated in his efforts to support his daughter.

Had he made a mistake by choosing Miles over Zenab? Had he selected the wrong woman? Doubts swirled in his mind as he held Emerald close, wishing for anything that could ease their suffering.