The Dad He Didn't Have To Be Novels & Stories

After all, the higher she stood, the harder she would fall. Once class was over, I rushed home. “Mom. What’s going on? Why is Janice Dad’s illegitimate daughter?” I did not understand. My mom settled me down and brought me a cup of water. “Calm down first, I’ll tell you what happened.” Last night, Janice had returned home with my dad. He admitted it himself that Janice was his illegitimate daughter. When my mom heard Janice’s name, she stayed calm and treated her kindly but quickly had someone run a DNA test.

Granted not the best, but I wouldn’t say horrible. “You’re still my dad and you’re not that bad. You give pretty good marriage advice.” He chuckled and patted my back. “I don’t deserve a daughter like you. Now go enjoy the party. I’m sure your husband must be looking for you.” Dad might have been an absent father, but other than the air I breathe I can thank him for one more thing. I wouldn’t have married Brad if it weren’t for him. ***

, " No! I'd never, these are two different things, and Dad, I really need this" " And do you think you're worthy of it?", " What?! S..sure?", " You can't even be honest with yourself, how can you be honest with the company, my father did a great job building it and I did a greater job, I won't let you ruin it", " Dad",

“That’s nice to hear. Did you see Beau?” “Yes, I did.” At least Tamara had realized there was a chance I might have seen Beau at the party, unlike myself. I can’t believe I forgot Beau is a car enthusiast. Of course, he’d be sure to attend a Tesla event. It was one of the reasons my dad used to like him. He said Beau was like the son he never had. It explains why our breakup also hurt Dad, because he had thought Beau was one of the good ones. Dad feels like what happened was his fault because he couldn’t see Beau’s true colors. But it wasn’t. There was no way he could’ve seen through Beau’s charms. Even I didn’t.

Get things to a place where we could show the video we had made. But no. I’m in a room with Hector, Bruce and Dozer and it’s way too small for all this testosterone. “Look, the jury needs to hear what my dad was… What he wasn’t. He was a shit father, and husband. He would never fully commit to any one female by mating them. He has four kids under ten that are never going to know him and that’s a good thing. I want to tell them that. All he ever did was groom me to take over his life of crime, greed and murder. Nobody misses him, not even me. I was supposed to have been made in his image but the more I saw who he was the more I knew I was nothing like him,” he says, as Doze and I lock eyes.

“Really? That’s your Summer voice? I don’t sound like a squirrel on helium.” “You kinda do,” he said, sipping the water dramatically. “Yup. Tastes like your shame after you fainted in front of Hayden.” I stared at him, then slowly turned to Dad. “Tell me again why we didn’t leave him at the hospital when he was born?” Dad just smiled without looking up. “Because they wouldn’t take him back.” I cracked a small smile. But under the jokes and overpriced water and napkins folded like weapons, I could still feel it. The barbed wire wrapped around my chest.

But I can’t bring myself to say it, not when Adrian is looking at Liam with such warmth, not when Liam is looking at him like he’s the safest place in the world. Adrian chuckles, shaking his head. “You’re not wrong, but being a dad is more than that.” He exhales slowly, his smile fading just a little. “You know, I never really had a dad either. My father wasn’t around much, and my mom… she passed away when I was young.” Liam’s face scrunches up in concern. “You didn’t have a mommy either?” Adrian shakes his head. “Not for a long time.”

"You don't get to talk about him, Quentin. That baby was doomed from day one. Nobody wanted him. Why bring him here just to suffer?" I stepped forward, slow and silent, like something already gone. Blood slid down my legs, thick and warm, leaving smeared footprints behind—little bits of what used to be. I stopped inches from him. My voice? Empty. "Even his dad wouldn't claim him. So tell me—who was actually waiting for him?" Quentin's lips tightened, but his eyes gave him up. Full of fear. Shaky. Shattered. His mouth opened. Nothing came out. He had nothing.

"My dad was sitting by the kitchen doors, and you said he was fine where he was. My brother got pulled from the wedding party, and you said Theo looked better up there. My dad's name disappeared from the program, and you said he wasn't comfortable with that kind of thing." I went through it piece by piece, my voice level the whole time. He couldn't argue with a single one. Dad closed the lid on the repaired chest. The new clasp clicked softly into place. "Mr. Chambers," Dad said. "My daughter isn't looking for compensation. She just wants her family to be treated like they matter." Elliott's fingers tightened at his sides. Just then, his phone rang. He answered, and I watched the color drain