Chapter 79

Dominik had his soul in deep pain. The woman he had just met had nothing to do with his sweet, innocent Samanta. In her eyes there was anger, pain, resentment and bitterness. He felt his heart shrink as he remembered the angelic face he saw the first time they met. That girl moved him, with just looking at her. Knowing she was his daughter made him feel like in some sort of weird dream. He couldn't stop thinking about Samanta and that man, most likely her husband. He remembered Dihanna.

“You should talk to your wife. She's not innocent either.”

Friedrich's voice resonated in his head, torturing him again.

He refused to believe it. No. Dihanna could not have a part in this awful lie. Thinking everything was a product of Friedrich's lie made his blood boil again.

“That son of a bitch” he mumbled.

Dominik seemed like a caged lion. walking in circles in his hotel room. Feeling desperate, powerless and anxious.

He took his phone and called his wife.

“Dominik? Where have you been? You're not answering your phone. I called Ewald and he has no idea where you are. He told me about the man who attacked you getting to the stadium in Los Angeles. Are you okay?” Dihanna sounded very worried.

“I am fine” said Dom. “I am in Egypt.”

“What? What are you doing in Egypt?”

“Long story. Dihanna, I need to ask you something and you have to tell me the truth.”

“What's going on, Dominik?”

“Listen to me, please. Seven years ago, Samanta tried to get in touch with me. Do you know anything about that?”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you know about that?” Dominik insisted.

“Dom. I don't…” Dihanna mumbled.

“Answer me, please. Truthfully.”

“Seven years ago. Yes. I remember something.”

“What do you remember?”

“Friedrich said I shouldn't tell you someone had called you from Egypt. I insisted so much he finally told me it was Samanta. She texted you, and Friedrich replied. I know nothing else. Friedrich said it was best I didn't know.”

“Why didn't you say anything?”

“I knew how you feel for her. I was scared you might ditch me for her.”

“Oh Dihanna! All the things we could have avoided.”

“Avoided? What are you saying? Do you regret me? Your son?”

“No. That is not what I mean. I would never regret my family.”

“What is going on, Dominik?” Dihanna was very confused.

“Samanta had a daughter. Of mine.”

“What?”

“I found out two days ago.”

“Oh God! That's what Friedrich was hiding.”

“Yes. It was.”

“So, you deiced to go to Egypt, no looking back, no matter what, not even…”

“No matter what? What are you saying?”

“What's gonna happen to us?” She intervened.

“Us? You and I? What about that?”

“No, Dominik, Abraham and I.”

“Abraham is my son and you are my wife, that will not change.”

There were some sobs and Dominik knew his wife was crying.

“What are you doing, Dominik?”

“I'm fixing the mess Friedrich made. Please understand and support me.”

“You're going with her” Dihanna whined and Dominik's heart broke.

“No. I will not. I love you and what happened does not change that.”

“Promise?”

Dominik went silent. Deep in his heart, something stopped him from making that promise

»Dominik?” his wife insisted.

“Yes?”

“Promise me that!”

“I promise” he responded, although his words were not convincing.

“I love you” she said, sobbing.

“Me too. I will call you tomorrow. Tell Abraham I miss him and I will be back soon.”

Dominik hung up and felt his world crumbling.

Why was this happening to him?

Why did he have to go through all this pain?

He never meant to hurt no one. Not like that.

He never played with anyone's feelings, especially cheated on a woman.

He thought of Friedrich and his confession, and he felt bad.

Very bad.

How was it possible that the one person he thought was his best friend had been in love with him all along? Worst of all. How could he not notice?

He imagined how hard it must have been for Friedrich and he even pitied him. He felt sorry for someone who had to go to these lengths to keep the one he loved next to him.

The room door opened. Carlos walked in angrily.

“Thanks for leaving me behind at the museum.”

“I did not leave you behind. You were with your… friend.”

“Right. The friend who wants my head on a plate” he said, looking around the room. “Jeez! Couldn't you get anything more modest?”

“It is only a double.”

Carlos felt like a real Sheikh. He had never had the privilege of staying at a place this pretty. Something like this, he could have never afforded it. From where he stood, he could see the Nile. El Cairo Marriott was a dream.

“Which one is mine?” asked Carlos, seeing the two beds. One by the window and the other one by the bathroom.

“Your call. I don’t care” answered Dominik.

“Dibs on the one by the window” he said with notable excitement.

Dominik took his phone again and dialed another number.

“Mr. Hallagan? This is Dominik Weigand. I am calling you from Egypt to… no, no, I am fine. Everything is fine, there is no problem here” he paused. “Well, no problems for now” Dominik laughed. Carlos watched him, intrigued. “You see. The reason I am calling you, is because I want to ask you something and, hire your services at the same time” another brief pause. “I will be straightforward with you. I recently learned I have a daughter” Carlos came closer to Dominik. “No. Not Abraham. A daughter… I did not know about her until two days ago. The mother, certainly will not allow me to see her or have contact with her, she claims I refused to own up to her as a father back then. What? How old is the child?” Dominik sighed. Seven. She's seven years old” another awkward silence took over the room. Carlos was listening to this conversation so closely, more than a conversation it sounded like a monologue. “Yes, I wish to appeal to the court, I do want to exercise my rights as a father.

Carlos opened his eyes and denied with his head.

“What are you doing?” Me muttered.

Dominik shook his hand to shush him.

“No. I have no evidence of the girl being mine, but I am sure she is” Dominik kept talking to his lawyer. “Yes. I understand. I will send all my information by text message” Dominik went silent again. “When? As early as possible. Tomorrow, if you can. Trust me when I say you will be rewarded for your service. Very well, Thank you very much. Good night.”

Dominik hung up and he started typing all his personal information for his lawyer to summon a hearing in the nearest court of law, starting the legal procedures.

“What the fuck did you just do? Are you insane? Are you trying to steal the girl from Sam?” Carlos was offended.

“I will not steal nothing from nobody. I only want my rights as a father. That is all.”

“Cruel, Dominik. That girl has no guilt of any of the shit her parents ever did. She grew up thinking that man is her father.”

“That guy has nothing to do with her. I am her father. Samanta has no right denying what is mine. This is not my fault either and you know it. Give me some support, man.”

“I dunno. She's my friend.”

“Put yourself in my place, please. How would you feel if all this shit was happening to you?

“Tell me something, Dominik. Are you doing this for the child, or for Samanta?”