Chapter hundred and twenty seven

Dallas

My heart pouded in my chest as Xavier pulled up in the restaurant Ron asked me to meet him. He had insisted on going with me and I didn't argue.

As soon as I got Ron's text, my mind wandered back to the sound of gunshots. He had decided to stay back and was attacked just minutes after I left.

I tried convincing myself that he couldn't be hurt if he was meeting with me right now, but the thought did nothing to soothe the panic swirling in me.

If he was hurt, it would be entirely my fault. That was the main reason I didn't want people around me. I didn't want them to be caught in my mess and get hurt.

“So we're going in?” Xavier's voice pierced through my trail of thoughts.

I turned to him and shook my head slightly.
“I'm going in. I don't want him to know I came with somebody.”

Ron has been paranoid about anyone else finding out about Lucien. I didn't know why but it was quite obvious when he asked me to break up with Oliver.

But his reasons had been genuine so I didn't really question his paranoia. Plus, he was helping me.

I sighted Ron immediately I walked into the restaurant. Half his face was covered with a mask but I would recognize those green eyes anywhere. He was sitting at the far end, his back to the wall and his eyes on the door.

He could see anyone that entered or left the restaurant from that angle. I made my way towards him.

“What do you want to talk to me about?” I asked as I took my seat across from him.

He was quiet for a few seconds for some reasons I didn't care about.

“Is Oliver okay? Things seem serious the other day.”

I looked him in the eye, but only worry for his friend's son laid there. I didn't sense any ulterior motive.

“He's fine.” I ran my eyes across his body as best as I could while sitting. “And I assume you are as well?”

I didn't mean for it to come out as a question. I didn't want him to know that I knew about the shooting. But I just gave myself out.

“Oh yeah, I'm fine. I've survived worse.” his answering smile was the confirmation that he knew.

We went silent, neither of us seem willing to fill the palpable silence. There were still so many things we needed to say to each other and there was limited time.

Lucien was still on the loose, the twins were planning god-knows-what, Oliver is injured, but instead I was sitting with the man who abandoned me. This whole thing was ridiculous.

“You know, I loved your mother.” He started.

“Don't!” I seethed. A sudden wave of anger washed over me.

“Don't talk about her like that!”

He stared into my eyes and sighed.
“We have to talk about it someday. You don't fully trust me despite that we have common goals. You hate me and have every reason to, but–”

“Exactly.” I cut in, “I have every reason to hate you. You left us for your perfect family. Wife from a wealthy family over an orphan girl you got pregnant, a perfect daughter over the wild one whose hobby is fighting with swords. You made your choice very clear, now fucking drop it and tell me why I'm here.”

I stared down at him, allowing him see every bit of rage and hatred I felt for him.

He hung his head low and I thought I saw something like regret on his face. He finally raised his head, his expression hardening.

“No.” He said.

“Very well then, I'm going to take my leave–”

“You have to hear me out. After then, you can decide if you want to continue hating me or work with me. I don't mind if you don't forgive me but Lucien needs to be caught. We can't do that if you don't trust me, and you really need me.” His face softened slightly.

“Please, Dallas. For your mother's sake.” he added, practically begging me.

I scanned his face one more time, my anger slowly dissipating due to his words. For my mother. I loosed a breath to steady myself.

“You have ten minutes. A second after that and I'm leaving.”

His face sagged with relief and he adjusted his posture.

“I didn't abandon you, not the way you think,” he said softly, staring at me as if he was afraid to set me off.

“Well, the twenty five years of disappearance says otherwise.” I didn't mean for the words to slip out but it did. I was losing my patience.

“I met your mother when I came down to the States for some business.” His nose crinkled at the last word.

I noticed his reaction and couldn't let it slip. Something about the ‘business' sound suspicious. I already knew he had a gun. I wanted to know if he was into something shady.

“What business?” I asked.

“Henry and his family had just moved here then, and Henry wanted to start a new company. Kang Chemicals. He wanted me to help so I left my wife and daughter back in Korea and came here.”

I knew Ron and Oliver's father were business partners at a time, but I didn't know they started the company together from scratch.

“I don't get how this is related to my mother or Lucien. As far as I know, neither of them knew the Kang family. Well, not until Lucien sold my mother's jewelry to Oliver. I don't understand where you're getting at.”

“Your mother used to work as a janitor at Henry's new company. That's how we met.” A ghost of a smile appeared on his face as he was relieving the memories.

I sat still, not feeling the urge to interrupt him. A part of me crave for the new information about her. There were so many things I didn't know about my mother because we spent most of the time arguing about her new found family.

“I fell in love with her immediately and she felt the same towards me. I knew it was wrong because I was married so I kept it from her. Henry and his wife didn't know about my affair either. Not until it was too late.” He paused for a few seconds before clearing his throat.

“When it was time for me to leave, Isabella was already pregnant. I told her to get rid of it and informed her of my marital status. She refused and insisted on keeping you. I've never seen anyone so brave.” He smiled.

“That was when Henry and Regina found out about the affair. They told Juliana, not wanting to betray my wife. I really loved Isabella, more than I did my own wife. My marriage to Juliana was arranged so there were no feelings involved back then.

I wanted to stay back with Isabella, but she didn't allow me. She didn't want me to abadon my family for her so she urged me to leave. I set her up with enough money to make sure she never suffers with you. She refused at first but my mind was made up. Isabella had always been that sweet.” He smiled again.

He seem to be completely ignorant of what his confession was doing to me. I curled my fingers into a fist and forced it under the table. I couldn't lose my temper now.

“I intended to come back but I got so busy with–”

“The family you chose over her.” I bursted, unable to control my anger anymore.

“I told you, I didn't mean to–”

I held up my hand, indicating for him to keep his mouth shut. I didn't trust myself not to hurt him if he kept talking.

“Let me get this straight. You cheated on your wife with my mother, got her pregnant, and abandoned her with a child and some cash.”

He didn't say anything. I let out a humorless laugh.

“You know, she never said a single bad thing about you. She would feed my ears with lies of how perfect my father was and that he'll come for me one day. I guess she didn't want me to hate you before I got to know you.” I said.

“So you just showed up like a knight in fucking armor spilling bullshit about helping me and how you didn't want to abadon me. Did you expect me to just welcome you into my life after you told me this?” I cleared my throat, trying to keep my voice from cracking.

“I was the product of an affair. You had me because you couldn't keep your cock in your pants and stay loyal to your wife. And now you're feeding me bullshit about loving my mother?”

“Dallas, I'm sorry–”

“I'm not done talking!” I half yelled. Many heads turned towards us now but I didn't care who was listening.

“I waited for you for twenty five years. I yearned for a father's love. Instead all I got was scrapes and was tossed aside. Every birthday, every holiday, I wished for you to come back, but you didn't. You left me.”

I wiped away the tears that have gathered at the corner of my eyes.

“You're a liar and a fucking cheat. I want nothing to do with you. As far as I'm concerned, my only parent died in a car accident five years ago. You're just the monster who fathered me.”

His eyes widened as the word ‘monster’ left my mouth, but I didn't care. I stood up, the chair screeching with how fast I stood.

“Burn in hell, Ron!” I yelled.

I turned and walked away from the man who was supposed to protect me all these years, my heart broke with each step.