Chapter 96

ALEXIA

My eyelid flung open, I looked around only to find myself in an unknown room. The room was painted white, clean, and beautiful. Every piece of furniture was in place, which made the room beautiful.

I sat up and got off the bed. I opened the door gently, the passage was narrow, and it had several doors which I classify as rooms. Furthermore, I walked down the left side of the hallway until I got to the stairs that sprawled into another room, which was the living room.

I walked down gently, wondering where I was. Then, I reached the last stair almost stepping into the living room when someone came out of another room which, I think, was the kitchen because the man had an apron tied to his waist and he held a soup spoon.

Before I could say a word, someone else came from the kitchen, it was Sophia. Sophia, my mom's friend that I met the last time at the exclusive fashion store.

'Sophia, where is this place?" I asked looking at her, I walked closer to her entirely ignoring the man coated in an apron, shirt, and short trousers.

'Alexia, there is something you have to know," Sophia said, she looked earnest.

We resumed to the dining room. Sophia held my hand, she looked at me with pity and I know it was because of my sex tape which was decorating the internet.

'Your mom hid something from you. You see, when your mom was younger, she had a boyfriend in college. His name was Patrick, and he loved her very much. However, two years after college, Patrick traveled to Scotland to chase his dreams. After Patrick traveled, your mom found out two weeks later that she was pregnant. She wanted to abort it at first, but she couldn't, she didn't want to kill you." She paused, wanting me to digest what she had said.

'Your mom didn't want you to be fatherless since she didn't know when Patrick was going to be back and his number was going through anymore. Your mother wanted you to have a father in your life, so she picked the next guy she saw. She picked Derrick because he was poor, she believed that as a rich woman, she could control him to her taste. However, Derrick was the opposite of her thought. '

'I don't understand your point," I uttered, but I lied. I did, I understood everything she said and what she was driving at. I looked at the man beside her, I knew he was Patrick, I believe that he was Patrick. His black hair was just like mine.

His eyes were brown, no Hazel but brown. His nails were lush and long, I think I took that from him. His lips were cupid shaped, exactly like mine.
I took most of his features.

Derrick had hazel eyes just like mine, but that's the only thing that we shared. I wondered why I didn't look like my mom and I didn't look like Derrick, only the color of his eyes. Now, I see the reason.

'Last two weeks, I bumped into Patrick and after then you came to my store and I wanted to inform you so had, but I didn't know how you would feel, that's why I kept it. However, now that everything turned this way, I knew it was just the right time to tell you the truth…"

'You are my father?" I asked, looking at the man who sat beside Sophia.

'I am so sorry, Alexia. By the time I came back from Scotland, your mother was already married to another man and I didn't know about you. Sophia only told me about you a few days ago. We did the DNA test as it matched mine with 98%. I left America for my dreams, your mother and I had to break up since she couldn't come with me, she had to take care of her parents' business. I was unable to give up on my dreams either, and I never knew she was pregnant. Likewise, I would have stayed if I knew. " He explained. His eyes were starting to brim with tears, but it didn't get to me.

I didn't understand why I felt nothing. Perhaps because I have bent twenty-three years with a man who ain't my father. I believe he was my father, so I endured every torture, every insult, and every challenge he brought my way.

I'm certain he knows I am not his child, this explains the reason he kept treating me like nothing. What father would watch his child's sex tape on the internet and be happy about it?

'Say something, Alexia," Patrick said to me.

'I want to be alone," I uttered.

Sophia and Patrick looked at each other, then they nodded. I stood up and turned around, heading for the stair, but his voice stopped me.

'Alexia, it's just you and me now. I lost my pregnant wife in an airplane crash and since then, I couldn't bring myself to get married again. Currently, you are all that I have. I am so rich, but I have no one to inherit them, it's only you that I have." His voice broke midair, sounding like he was going to cry.

I gently turned to him.
'That… fatherly love I yearned for, would you… Would you give that to me?" I asked, tears already in my eyes.

'Alexia, just like you, I am alone in this world. I know what it's like to be deprived of someone to love and cherish you. Alexia, the same way you need me is the same way I need you." He spoke, tears gently rolled down his cheeks, and I was moved immediately.

My jelly legs got strength and I walked to him. Seeing that I was coming to him, he came to me quickly, he pulled me into a hug and cried into my shoulders. I had never seen a man cry and shake so much in front of me.

He took a handful of my hair and sniffed it. I chuckled because it seemed like I was his long-lost lover.
'Welcome home, Alexia Gilbert."

'James!" I corrected.

'My last name is Gilbert, Derrick is the one bearing James." He carefully elucidated, scared that I would be annoyed by his corrections when I was only joking.

'I know, dad."

'Oh my goodness." Patrick held his chest, and I was scared that he got a heart attack until he spoke,

'I have never heard anyone call me that. Say it again."

I laughed without intending to. His facial expression was so funny, and it got me almost rolling on the floor.

'Dad!" I called again.