Chapter 147 - Too Much Honesty

Sam's worst agony had finally come. He dreaded the day that Allie would know that he was not her biological father. He was afraid of too many things, including the possibility that she would blame him for not telling her the truth. They lived a life of hardship and poverty and she could have been spared if her real father was given the right to know her. She could have lived in luxury rather than fighting against the difficulties and struggles of their daily living. Such insecurities pressed him down, what he could only offer was the income of a mere factory laborer. The only wealth he could give was accepting her as his own daughter.

He sat quietly beside Mary who was in tears with Allie and he was glad that she accepted the truth with an open mind. However, he was the pillar of their home and such a decision to tell her the truth when she was younger relied on him. This thought made his guilt spiked higher as he watched them.

"Pa, thank you so much. You're one in a million!" Allie's voice snapped Sam up from his depressing thoughts.

He stared at her for a long while, wondering if there was any displeasure concealed behind those warmth and acceptance she showed right now.

"Pa?" came Allie's voice again. She was a bit surprised at his behavior and wondered what was in his mind.

"Allie, are you really not mad at us? You could have lived a better life had we not deprived you of your right," explained Sam, the gloom in his eyes slowly fading away.

"Pa, what are you talking about?" 

Allie understood his unspoken insecurities and her heart was rent in pieces. Of course, the gap was great and she could not deny that but he provided her with the essentials of becoming a happy and emotionally-secured child. Her courage, determination and her principle of fighting what was right and best for all, came from him. And that was more important than the wealth he was so insecure about. She sobbed at this realization as she hugged the fragile built of the man who made sacrifices to make them and her mother live a good life. They may not have an abundant life but they were happy and secured in their simplicity.

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Their plan to explore the other tour highlights of Ho Minh Chi City such as visiting the Saigon Opera House was canceled due to their emotional encounter and they all decided to go back to the ship. When everyone was called for dinner, they gathered around and tried to dispel the awkward atmosphere with diverse topics until everybody seemed to forget what happened earlier. They were laughing over certain funny topics and got goosebumps as well as shifted to horrifying stories. At times, Chloe and her childish ideas and interruptions made her their laughing stock and the center of their attention. 

"Louise boy, aren't you planning to move here? You're so far away from home. You can always have someone to do the work for you." Mr. Lopez asked in a worried tone after a bout of their laughter abated.

Without a second thought, Hayri answered the question. He looked at him straight in the eye like no one else was around

"That was supposedly the plan when we secured the new port but I have to move it forward. That would have been the new location of Rina DK Builders," Hayri explained with a faint smile, stealing a glance at Allie.

Mr. Lopez need not be reminded. Time and distance were the elements to solve deep and complicated matters related to the heart.

Allie was not dumb and not insensitive either. She understood very well that Hayri needed a space to be able to move forward. And her heart went out in pity for him. Her fear that she would go into another stage of depression worried her. She looked at him with glints of sorrow in her eyes. There's no one to comfort him there anymore, no one to guide and give advises.

"Hayri, I'm so sorry."

Hayri returned her gaze and he smiled back. There was a sense of bitterness in his eyes but he tried hard to conceal it by giving out a soft laugh. "Don't worry dear, I will move here once I can look at you as my sister."

Everyone stiffened in their seats with his straightforward answer. They all marveled at how too must honesty could be scary at times. Even Adrian was lost for words, he just held Allie's hand tightly under the table, staring dumbly at him. Yet, on the other side, he was ashamed. Hayri was being persistent in the name of love. He didn't care about Allie's past, he didn't care if she was married and he didn't care if she got pregnant with her ex-husband while committed to him. Looking back, he filed an annulment because of anger, because he couldn't accept that she was defiled by another man. Such love he had was so divine and he realized he was not worthy.

"Sheena! Sir Hayri!" The voice of a beautiful woman interrupted them, all thanks to her as everyone was already fidgeting. 

Allie turned to her and sprang to her feet the moment she saw her. "Cherry, my goodness! You're getting prettier as the days go by!"

"And so are you!" Cherry returned the compliment, laughing while the two fell into each other's arms. "How's Adrian?" she added. 

"Happy to see you again, Che!" said Ajie as he also stood up to hug and greet her. 

"And so am I" she replied as soon as Adrian released her but added, "Can you tour me over to this masterpiece  of yours?"

"I'll do it," came the reply of Hayri from the other side of the table, "before I'll leave later. Join us for dinner first."

Cherry's eyes widened as she also grimaced. "That's, not the plan."

Hayri looked at her with a meaningful gaze, hoping she'll understand. "I have other needs to attend."

Before she could reply, a male voice from another side of the dining room floated into their ears and they all turned towards him. 

A tall, handsome and lean young man at about Ajie's age, walked towards their direction. His eyes fell on Allie and it never left her even when he said, "Miss Perez?"