April.

I hadn't given much thought about my dad being absent through all of my life till now. I missed having a father but never did I feel it was impossible to live without one. The reason I didn't feel like seeing him before was that I thought he wasn't alive.



No one in my family, not even my mother ever talked about him. First I thought because it was too hard to talk about him. It would bring back the memories of him. When I came to know about Christian's mother and how my father was their primary suspect I thought maybe he was a bad guy and that's why my mother never talked about him.


If he really was a bad guy why she married him in the first places?



In place of a father, I had my brother. Growing up with him made him my father figure. Until Gracie happened and he changed into someone I couldn't trust anymore.

My hands were clammy as I pressed them against the window and gazed outside. It had been two hours since Christian had left and any minute now I might meet him.

My dad.


The reason wasn't quite clear in my mind, but I wanted to meet him. To see him for the first time.


What should I say?


My phone moved in my pocket bringing me back from the trance.


It was Leah.


Lee: Hey, I'm sorry about this afternoon. Are you okay now?


A natural smile spread on my face as I replied back.

Me: Yes. Don't worry.

As I pressed send button I heard several cars pulling up in the driveway and my phone slipped through my fingers.

Was he here?

 
My dad?

Why was I even scared?

It was me who told Christian to bring him here.

"Hazel." I heard Christian before I could move. My skin tensed.

"What's wrong?" I heard his footsteps getting closer.

I almost jumped out of my skin when he tapped my shoulder. "Hazel?"

Slowly I moved my legs then my body. I locked my eyes into his blurring out the surrounding.

"He's here." Christian nodded and moved out of my vision.

I literally had to force my eyes away from Christian. When I finally saw him standing in the living I didn't see what I had expected. What was I exactly expecting? A guy with a big scar on his face?

The person who was standing in front of me was just an ordinary guy mirroring my expressions. His eyes and entire face was so much like mine that it broke me. It was indeed my father.

He looked old with his sagging skin and hooded eyes. His hair was cut really short and was a mixture of black and white. I always imagined him a lot taller than what he looked now. His figure was matching with Austin. Shorter but with broad shoulders.



"April?" He took a step forward.


"Are you really April?" He spoke as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. The corner of his eyes had moistened.

I, on the other hand, couldn't utter a word no matter how much I tried pushing the words out of my mouth. I didn't even recognize the feeling I my heart. Was it the joy of finally meeting my father or was it anger? For leaving us all alone. Mom died without even meeting you. Why did you leave?


His face came closer. The lump in my throat became unbearably large. I couldn't hold it in anymore.


A loud sob escaped my lips. Then another and another. By the time my father came closer and patted my head I was crying out loudly.


He was hesitant at first but when my cries grew louder and louder turning into screams he quickly moved forward wrapping me into a big teddy bear hug just like Austin used to do.


His hug was warm and fuzzy. Like I didn't have to worry about anything anymore.

My entire body was pressed against him, and I didn't want to let go.

"Oh dear." He murmured. "I'm so sorry."



Even his voice was just like Austin's which made me cry even more. Even though things weren't like they used to be between us anymore I realized I still missed my brother.

After our little union my tears had finally stopped flowing out like a waterfall I found myself sitting rather awkwardly in front of my dad. He was still trying to wipe corners of his eyes with the back of his hand but every time he looked at me instantly he would his eyes would begin to water again.



"I never thought I would see you again. You were a tiny, little creature when I last saw you." His eyes were fondly gazing at me.


"Why did you leave?" I dared. I had to know.


His eyes widened for a moment before his head hung low. His hand moved up to his beard and scratched it.

"I was framed as a murderer by George. McDermott family was after me. Although they didn't have any significant proof against me." His eyes shifted towards the window.

"If I had stayed long enough they would have found out that I had a family and all of your lives would have been wiped out." He sighed heavily and shifted his eyes back to me. "I really didn't have any choice. I had to leave."



Now I realized why mom or anyone in our family never talked about him. Christian's family was probably keeping a watch on us. Trying to figure out whether we were related or not.



"Where is your mother and Austin?"


His question burdened my heart. He didn't have any idea, did he? That mom died, and it had been a year now.

"Mom's dead." I quickly said.

I looked up to see his face. Shock was clearly written over it, but his eyes had another story.



"Dear God." He whispered. "Juliet."


He rubbed his hands over his face slowly while his mind took the shock and the feeling of loss sunk in. I bit hard on my lips. He probably looked forward to seeing her after all these years. Now he won't ever be able to see her again.


"When?" He asked after few moments.


"A year ago." I replied.


"Oh God. If only I had come back. I was such a coward." He buried his face into his hands.

"George did it didn't he?!" He snapped. "He must have killed her!"

"Dad!" I brought his attention to me. "Mom died in a car accident."

"It doesn't matter how she died. I just know it was him." His eyes grew wider and scarier with the passing minute.

"What do you mean?" I was still confused. Uncle George was indescribably cruel, so it was possible. My thoughts never landed on that possibility. I hoped he wasn't that inhuman.


Why was I even hoping anything from him?


"He uses low level methods. He is evil April." He stated the obvious. Who knew that better than me?



"He always tries to frame someone else for the crime he had done. That's what he did with me. He framed me as the murderer of Charlotte when actually it was him that bastard!" His teeth gritted in anger.



"Charlotte? Don't tell me that's-."


A wave of shock washed over me. Dad sadly nodded at me.


Oh no please no!

"Yes, that was Christian's mother." He quietly said.



"No..." strength left my legs as I slumped down on my seat. I wished it so hard that let her murderer have nothing to do with our family. Dad was a suspect. I hoped for a possibility of him not being the murderer. Even though that was true it still meant that my family did that to his mother. My family killed his mother.


Just then my eyes rose up to see Christian and I noticed that he was sitting directly opposite to us this entire time.


His eyes were calmly settled on me.


The more I thought about it the more my heart raced. Why it had to be my family. He's been doing everything to protect me. Even when there was a possibility of me being his enemy he never treated me as one. He has protected me so many times now I lost the count. But what did I give him? All these years he must have been enduring the absence of his mother. It must be tearing him apart to be away from her. All because my Uncle killed her. Why? Why was I born in this family?

I brought my sweaty palms to my face wiping the sweat from around my lips. Something was off. My body was losing strength. I glanced at my hand and my fingers were violently shaking.

"Hazel?" Christian got up from his seat.


"Honey, are you okay?" My dad anxiously asked.


It brought my attention to the fact that it was getting harder to breathe with every passing second.


"Hazel!" Christian scooped me in his arms and hitting me with his warmth.


"What's wrong?" His eyes were roaming around my face like crazy.


"I'm so sorry." I tightly said.


"What are you talking about? You are shaking!" His eyes widened.


Before I could say anything else sharp pain shot in my chest making me yelp out. I clutched on to his shirt.

"What? What's wrong? Hazel? Hazel!" He continually asked, but I could hardly hear him.

Maybe I deserved this. The continuously shooting pain in my chest and the way my lungs hurt because I couldn't breathe anymore.


I couldn't see him anymore. All I could see was darkness and then I realized that I was deeply sinking into it.

__END OF CHAPTER__

A/N: Vote and comment! :)