Chapter 22 - A parent

I was getting anxious and restless. We are at the Emperor's Hotel meeting with my father.

A few days ago, Jayden contacted Miller's Security Agency asking for an appointment. At first, they denied us meeting the CEO, but eventually agreed when they found out that Jayden was the CFO of A.E Corporation. He doesn't really want to use the company's name with personal matters but Luke insisted so we can get my father's attention.

We were at a private room waiting for my father to arrive. Jayden held my hand and squeezed it.

"Relax. I'm here." His voice was calm and soothing. I can't see any hesitation on his face.

The door suddenly opened and my father's secretary, Jonathan came in. He was surprised to see me and was about to say something when my father came inside.

"I'm sorry I was late. It was nice -" He cut off in the middle when he saw me. He froze.

"Hello father." I simply said.

I wanted to cry. I haven't seen him for years. He was still good looking but a little bit older. His black hair was now all grayish. I can see some dark circles on his eye and wrinkled on his face.

"Margaret?" He said.

That was everybody calls me. It was Emily who gave me the nickname, Peggy. But no one have ever called me Margaret anymore. I wanted to forget that name for a long time so whenever I meet someone, I always introduce myself as Peggy Hulls. Hulls was my mother's last name.

Although, I hated both sides. I hated being a Miller more. If mother was still alive, father wouldn't abandon me. But it wasn't mother's fault she died. It was mine. But how can he blame me for everything that happened.

How can a parent leave his only daughter as soon as she was born? Knowing that she just lost her mother. It was painful to the point that I hated him so much. I hated him to the point that I wanted him to at least notice me. To accept me as his daughter.

"Mr.Miller, please sit down." Jayden broke the silence.

Father didn't say a word and sat down.

"I'm sorry for asking a meeting with you. I want to say it directly, we called just to tell you that I am your daughter's fiance." Jayden continued.

I was surprised. We haven't agreed with anything yet. But I accepted the ring so maybe that was it. And I kinda like the way he calls me his fiance.

"I don't really care who she end up with. It's none of my business. I have never had a daughter." Father said in a cold tone.

My heart was crashed once again. All this time he never really thought of me as his daughter.

I know he's suppressing his anger. He was still holding my hand so this time I squeezed it, telling him I'm okay.

"Look Mr.Richards, the only reason I'm here was because I was informed that A.E Corporation wanted to talk to me. I thought we will discuss about business but I think it's not so if you'll excuse me." He said. Then he stood up but Jayden yelled at him.

"Don't you dare walked out on me especially her or you'll regret it!" Jayden's face became dark. It was the face I saw when he beat my exes.

I know father also felt that Jayden is somehow dangerous so he sat down again.

"Good. Then shall we continue?" Jayden smirked.

Father sighed. I was looking at him, waiting for him to talk.

"Your mom and I were married for a year before she got pregnant. I was happy but I eventually found out that I'm not the father." He said.

I frowned. I thought I was born after 4 years of their marriage.

"She gave birth to a boy. I asked her who the father was but she didn't tell me. She said she was seeing the man before we got married. She married me so she can escaped from her father but she never loved me. After a few months, someone from Flousia came and took the baby. Your mother gave him to them. Then she got pregnant after 4 years, I know it wasn't mine either." He continued. There was so much pain in his voice but I can't sense any anger.

"Why do you think that?" I asked.

"I have never slept with your mother after giving birth to your brother." He said looking at me with his pained expression.

"She gave birth to you. She knows it's risky, your mom was diagnosed with cancer during her pregnancy but she wanted to continue. Before she died, she asked my forgiveness and gave you to me."

"Why didn't you tell me? Why would you lie to me? Why didn't you just gave me to an orphanage instead of leaving me alone. You abandoned me. I thought you were my father all this time. I hated you." I yelled. I was already crying.

"I have forgiven your mother but I've never forgotten what she did to me. I couldn't gave you away because when I held you the first time, I was happy. But it was so painful to accept you just like that. It reminded me of her. She looks a lot like you. So I decided to leave you on that house and just gave you everything you need so you can have a better life. I thought I was doing the right thing, then you started dating at a young age with different men every week." He continued

"You knew? You knew about it? But you never said a word. You didn't even call or text me." I almost screamed.

"I knew everything what you've been doing Margaret, until now including him." He said while pointing at Jayden.

"You're a selfish bastard you know that right?" Jayden suddenly spoke.