66

AUDREY
I phoned Charles’s number immediately as I meant to speak to him anyway about the house—to tell him I would finally pay the debt. However, I couldn’t believe the most ludicrous scenario I couldn’t quite imagine.
“Listen, Audrey. I didn’t know what to do.” He sighed in frustration and spoke as if he was hissing. “He came to my uncle’s office in person. I didn’t know they were that close. He found out I was going to New York, and my uncle told your father we met recently, so…”
“So you brought him here. God, Charles!” I shoved my hands in my hair. “You know I ran away from him.”
“I know, but he just won’t leave me alone,” he said tightly and exhaled again. “Come on, Audrey. You’ve just got to talk to him, okay?”
“What does he want from me?”
“He didn’t say.”
“Look. Tell him I don’t give a damn about what he wants from me because the last time I came home, he called my mother a whore,” I ranted angrily, and the pain he caused me I was trying to heal was fresh again.
“Don’t you want to know, at least? He came to Manhattan to see you. Aren’t you curious about what he wants—hey!” Suddenly, a screeching sound from the other line shattered my ears.
“Audrey?” It was my father’s voice.
I pressed a hard line on my lips. “What do you want from me?”
“Listen, Audrey. I know I’ve done bad things in the past, so I want to make it up to you. I’m here to ask for your forgiveness, my daughter.”
My heart clenched. “There’s nothing you could do for me to forgive you.”
“I know, but…” He sighed. “I need to tell you something very important. It’s the truth about your mother,” he said in the sincerest voice, like the best actor he always was.
I shut my eyes briefly and gritted my teeth in much more anger. He did sound like the father I used to look up to—my hero, but right now, I couldn’t get myself to believe in him. I was so angry; I didn’t want to see his face. He had hurt a lot of people, including his own family.
“I wouldn’t believe it’s the only reason you are here. Why do I feel you need something from me?”
“Because I need you. You’re my daughter, Audrey. I need you by my side to support me. I’m running for public office, and it would be nice if you were there.”
“See? You need me because you want to use me! Is this how you said you want to make it up to me?” I exclaimed. “No, thank you. If that’s what your fatherly affection means, I don’t want it!”
“Whether we like it or not, we are family, Audrey.”
“Family?” I sneered. How dare he talk about a word he doesn’t even know the meaning of? “You destroyed my life! Accuse and torture a person just because you enjoyed screwing people! You sold me to marry an old man, and you called my mother… never mind!”
“Honey…” He cleared his throat. “I’m truly sorry for everything I’ve ever done. I know it might be hard for you to forgive me, but I’ve changed, and I want to prove it to you. Remember your mother’s house? I made a deal with Charles’s uncle here to extend our deadline, and he agreed to an installment payment.”
I rolled my eyes. “If that’s what you’re worried about, I’ll pay the debt you and your mistress’ scammed. And you don’t have to call me because I don’t have anything to do with you anymore.”
“Audrey, why would I hate you, Audrey? I hate myself because I was a bad father to you and your brothers,” he said, trying to sound so sincere I almost believed it. “How did you get the money to pay for it?”
“That’s not your business to know,” I snapped.
“Your mother cheated on me!” he thundered. “There. I said it now, and yes, that’s the truth you wanted to know. I made a mistake, Audrey, but your mother wasn’t who you thought she was.”
My muscles agitated. “Why would I freaking believe that?”
“Because you are the living evidence of her adultery!” he pressed. “Now, I don’t want to tell this to you over the phone because it’s not what you deserve, but you are still my daughter—”
“I’ll be there. Text me the place.”
I wanted to know the truth coming from his own mouth. I wanted to hear from him the truth about Samuel and me. He wasn’t our father, just like what Gabriel said, because it all added up. I needed to hear it from his own mouth and hear his side, even if I was already expecting another lie.
I had to face him and get this over with.
Hastily, I picked up my clothes and got dressed. Gabriel was still in the restroom, but I didn’t want him to know that my father was there, let alone see his face and find out that Liam was still alive. They would clash, and I wanted to avoid that as much as possible.
Then, I received a message from Charles about the address, and they met in a French restaurant at East 61st Street.
I knew what I was about to do was wrong, but I grabbed a pen and paper and wrote a note from the drawer.
Something important came up. I’ll be back and explain later. I love you. Yours, Audrey.
I rushed outside Gabriel’s penthouse and called for a cab. A part of me worried about what Gabriel would say later. He would be furious, so I need to get back as soon as possible.
It wasn’t hard for me to find them because I could never forget the face of the first man I had never trusted in my life but who failed to take care of me. He was not groggy as I last saw him at Samuel’s wake, and next to him was an anxious Charles Scott, who seemed to have caught up with my father’s scheme.
Dad stood up as soon as he saw me and reached his arms to me, but I halted. “Save it.” I pulled out a chair and sat across from the two men.