Alpha's Regret After the Divorce by Christina novel Chapter 198

Chapter 198

He gazed out once more at the garden, the morning sunlight catching his thinning hair and turning it a soft silver. “I’d really like to stroll through the grounds today,” he said quietly. “It’s been ages since I’ve been outside. Do you think that’s possible?”

I hesitated, my mind racing. The estate was riddled with potential hazards—hidden corners and reminders that could spark questions I wasn’t prepared to answer truthfully. Yet, denying him this simple joy felt cruel.

“Of course,” I replied cautiously. “We should wait until it’s a bit warmer, and we’ll need to take it slow.”

He smiled faintly, a glimmer of his old humor returning. “Naturally,” he agreed. “I’m not exactly training for a marathon just yet.”

As we finished breakfast, I mentally charted a cautious path through the gardens—steering clear of Rocco’s private office wing, the recently added buildings from the past three years, and especially avoiding the route to the garage where Rocco kept his impressive car collection.

An hour later, as we ambled through the garden paths, I felt as though I were tiptoeing through a minefield. Every corner held the risk of exposing the fragile façade we were desperately maintaining. Dad leaned gently on my arm, his pace slow but resolute.

“The Japanese maples have flourished beautifully,” he remarked, pausing to admire a tree with deep red leaves. “I recall suggesting to Rocco that he plant them here. He actually took my advice.”

I nodded, relieved to have found a safe topic to discuss. “They’re stunning in the autumn.”

Turning a bend, we almost bumped into Oliver, the head gardener—a kindly older man with a weathered but warm face who had tended the Blackwood estate for decades.

“Mr. Silverstone!” Oliver exclaimed, genuine delight lighting up his features. “It’s wonderful to see you up and about, sir! It’s been far too long—”

“Oliver,” I interrupted gently, “Dad’s enjoying the gardens this morning. Everything looks as beautiful as ever.”

Oliver gave me a puzzled glance but quickly recovered. “Thank you, Ms. Silverstone. We’ve been focusing especially on the east beds lately.”

Dad seemed oblivious to my interruption. “Excellent work, as always, Oliver. The property has never looked better.”

We continued our slow walk, with me subtly guiding Dad away from the newer landscaping features I feared might raise questions. I steered him toward the library, thinking it would be a safe, quiet place to rest. But then I remembered—Rocco had renovated it two years ago, installing an entire wall of built-in shelves that hadn’t been there before.

Too late. We were already inside, and Dad was looking around appreciatively.

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