CESAR
Right now, my mind has already checked out, but my father is still talking. But my mind is still stuck at,
Someone Special?
That's the only word that keeps replaying in my head.
And then, all of a sudden, he's putting his phone in my face.
I wonder why his phone is in my face, but then I glance at the screen and see a picture of a blonde girl.
I have to admit—she's cute. Beautiful, even. And she looks sixteen.
I narrow my eyes, does he have another child? Is this my half-sister?
"Who is she?"
Deep down, I'm hoping he says something insane, like maybe he screwed up and there's another child out there.
But my father laughs tenderly.
"That's Irina Gray," he says. "The woman I was telling you about. Things are serious, I'm going to propose soon. She's the one. I'm in love, son."
All the words he just said are foreign to me.
Did he say propose?
Did he just say in love?
Is this the reason he suddenly wants to retire? Handing me the company because of this teenager?
I can't help myself. "Is that why you're retiring?" There is something a lot like disgust in my tone.
And he doesn't even notice my tone or have the nerve to deny it.
He smiles, looking at the picture on his phone. And on his face, I see something I never thought I ever would—happiness.
"You wouldn't understand it now," he says warmly, "until you finally find your other piece."
I can't help it. I'm angry. Why couldn't he have been this man when Mom and I needed him?
He just met this teenager, and suddenly, he thinks he's in love?
Where was this love when my mother begged for a shred of his attention?
Where was this love when I needed a father? When I needed his presence?
But now, he's ready to leave his entire kingdom.... leave everything behind for her?
"You're doing all of this for a teenager?" I snap.
He frowns. "What?"
"She looks sixteen."
He laughs. "Irina just has good genes. Come on, you'll meet her later. I'm sure you'll love her. There's nothing not to love."
And then he walks away, a smug smile on his face.
And I'm left fuming, my fists clenching. I want to throw something against the wall.
Thirty minutes later, I'm walking into the restaurant where we will be having this historical family dinner.
As anyone could tell, my mood is down the drain. Because my father—a 60-plus-year-old man—has decided to date a 16-year-old girl.
If I had started having sex by twelve, I could probably have a child her age. Hell, if he'd had me earlier, back in his twenties, I could have a child her age.
This could be his grandchild. I am grinding my teeth so hard I sense they are going to crack.
Wait till my mother hears about this.
The waitress leads me toward the table, and when I get there, I see them.
My father. And her. And okay—she's not sixteen. Thank GOD!
Too much editing in those damn pictures. But still, she looks young. Younger than him by decades.
And let's not forget—beautiful. Not that I have time to think about that, because right now, my father is acting like a man I don't recognize.
He's attentive. Almost caring. Acting like a man in love.
His hand is resting behind her chair. He's leaning toward her, listening. And not just nodding along—he actually looks interested in whatever she's saying. There's a smile on his face. He looks chilled, relaxed, even happy.
How the Fuck did this man find a way to be happy. Without us.
And this woman—my feelings aside—she's lovely.
Too lovely.
The minute I reach the table, my father introduces us, and she immediately comes in for a hug. A hug.
She doesn't even know me. But she hugs me like we're a long-lost family like we're supposed to get along.
My father is still smiling. He's happy, he's watching us like a proud dad. I so want to ruin this moment for him.
Immediately after we take our seats, she starts asking questions.
So. Many. Questions.
"What do you do now?"
"How are you enjoying working with your father?"
"Isn't your father such a good man?"
"Did you know he's so romantic?"
"He's such a great person, isn't he?"
"I am so lucky!"
And I'm sitting there, staring at her, because these are all things that my father is not.
So, either this woman is pretending—because she's after his money—Or she's delusional.
And that is how the dinner goes with their whole let's pretend we're one big happy family act.
Irina keeps doing her best to include me in the conversation. She's trying to get me to open up to her, asking me about my life, acting so interested in me.
Trying to act like my mother... Good luck with that.
In the end, I came to the only conclusion possible—She doesn't know my father. Because if she did, she wouldn't be here.
And my father—he's the one who makes me the angriest.
The way he takes care of her. The way he pays attention. Like he actually gives a damn about what she says. I just keep hoping this whole drama will end soon...
But then, six months in with this whole forced family dinner...The bastard proposes.
Right there. In my face. I mean, he couldn't have waited to propose when they were alone? When they had a private dinner, just the two of them?
No. He had to wait for our murderous dinner to drop down on one knee like some idiot.
And here they are—celebrating their engagement. I hope Mom takes this news well...
~~~~
I skipped a lot of the holidays, so my father twisted my arm. And that's how I find myself spending Christmas Eve at his house.
Luckily, it's already Christmas morning, because I booked a flight for tonight.
We're at one of his houses in Athens. It's morning. We're having breakfast. Everything is fine—until suddenly, a maid comes in.
She announces, "She's here."
Here, who? I wonder but don't say a word.
Irina immediately abandons her food, getting all excited. She turns to my father, practically beaming.
"Leo, come on, let's go! Let's go meet her!"
And she's already heading out.
My father looks at me and says,
"Come on, let's go greet your siblings."
Siblings?
So, Irina has kids. Did she ever mention that?
Probably. Was I ever really listening to her rant? Definitely not.
Maybe I should have been paying attention. Maybe I should have asked questions.
Because the moment I step outside— I am met with the greatest shock of my life.
Standing in front of the car— Is the woman I never thought I would ever see again.
Not here.
Not with my father.
Not in this situation.
Because judging by the look of things— She is Irina's daughter.
And she has just become my stepsister.
Realizing all of this should have been enough of a shock for the day. The fact that this woman is here.
A woman I have spent years trying to forget. A woman I used every ounce of control not to look for. A woman I forced myself not to find.
I buried the need to know where she was, what she was doing, and who she was seeing. And now— She's just here.
Like fate enjoys fucking with me.
My father is already calling me over.
"Cesar, come meet your sister, Casey."
Casey.
And as I look at her— As I take her in— I try to separate her from the woman I met five years ago.
But it's impossible. Because she's changed.
She's even more beautiful now. Her body has filled in. She's got this...
Before my mind can even process that thought, I realize something else.
Someone else. Casey is holding a baby. My whole body locks up.
I don't do babies. I don't think about babies. I mean, sure, I see them around. They're cute and whatever.
But babies have never been on my radar. Yet here she is—carrying one.
And my first thought?
"Oh, she has a baby? Is she married?"
But then— My father takes the baby from her. And he smiles.
He kisses this baby's cheek. And the second I see them together—
I see it. The resemblance is undeniable. It's striking.
Like the first thing you notice. Like a damn slap in the face.
It's almost like my father is this baby's father. But that's impossible.
Because Leonard Blackwell is not Casey's husband.
So why does this baby—Why does this baby look so much like him?
And that's when my mind starts racing. The dots start connecting. My head is trying to tell me something.
But I don't want to hear it.
No.
No, no, no, no.
This cannot be fucking happening.