Chapter 29

Cecilia's house is a very large villa. The car stopped at the entrance, and I hesitated whether to go in.
However, a slight curiosity in my heart convinced me to get in.
Since it was midnight, all the lights in the villa were off. After Brian knocked on the door, someone was called from inside to inform the homeowner.
A middle-aged man wearing silk pajamas came out from the inner room. His hair had some gray, but he looked energetic.
When our eyes met, my heart was shocked. Suddenly, I felt a nervousness I had never experienced before.
This is my rumored father?
"Brian, come sit. Why did you come?" He welcomed Brian warmly, but when he saw me, his expression turned unfriendly.
"I brought something for Daniel. Is he asleep?" Brian stated his purpose directly.
"He caused a ruckus for a while, but he's asleep now." With his hands behind his back, he glanced at me hesitantly.
"Cecilia has had feelings for you all these years, and you're not unaware of it."
"I heard from our Cecilia that you're getting married?" He looked at me disdainfully. "Well, I guess you don't have any standards."
I stood there, suddenly losing all my strength. Because I live in the slums, because I am fierce, because I am a single parent, many people look down on me.
I don't know how many times I've heard these words. I thought I was immune to them already. But he is my father, and the disdain and contempt in his eyes felt like a sword stabbing into my heart, trampling on all my dignity.
"Mr. Bell, this is my wife, and I think you crossed the line, so I decided to cut the tie between my companies and yours." Brian put down the teddy bear, grabbed my hand, and prepared to leave.
My father's face suddenly turned pale with fear.
But I raised my head and looked directly at him.
"I'm Vanessa."
He looked at me and clearly didn't care about who I was.
"My mom's name is Lucy Gray."
"It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time, and I apologize if I have caused any inconvenience." I did my best to force out a smile.
With a smile, I turned and followed Brian. In that instant, I saw the astonishment and shock in his eyes, and I laughed in my heart.
But as I laughed, I began to cry.
My mother was right; my father was gone, and I didn't have a father who cared for me.
As I walked out the door, Brian looked at me, tears streaming down my face, and suddenly felt a little lost. He must have been puzzled as to why I was crying.
"Don't cry," he pulled me close and looked down at me, sounding a little anxious, "It's my fault, I shouldn't have brought you here." He thought I was hurt by what Mr. Bell said.
But Brian didn't know that the only reason that man could hurt me was because of his identity.
"It's not your fault," I turned my back, wanting to preserve a bit of dignity in front of him.
"He is my father," I squeezed out a smile, trying to sound like I didn't care. You may not believe it, but this is the first time I've seen him."
I wiped away my tears, I thought I could hold back, but when Brian lowered his head and looked at me with a tender gaze, I instantly broke down.
He didn't say anything, he just looked at me like that for a long time, then finally pulled me into his arms and held me quietly.
"Vanessa, don't cry," he gently touched my head. Again and again, he told me, "Vanessa, don't cry."
But I cried even harder, unable to stop at all.
I had imagined this sentence many times. When my mother scolded and yelled at me hysterically.
When my classmates at school mocked me for being a fatherless child.
When I worried about my mother's health and couldn't afford to get her treated...
I had always fantasized about my father coming to me, holding me, and saying, "Vanessa, don't cry." And then he would help me overcome all difficulties.
I never dared to express my longing for my father in front of my mother, but always considered him a distant redemption in the lonely nights. But life is much crueler than imagination.
On the way back, I didn't say a word. Brian didn't ask me again either. Maybe he wanted to preserve a bit of my dignity.