Alpha’s Rue: His Shunned Luna (Athena Enchanted) novel Chapter 326

He nods, “I apologise, Aeliana, but I do care, you’re my daughter. You were always wanted,” he says, his words convincing even though I never once felt that way. “You were wanted so badly that your mom gave her life away, and in a way I gave mine as well because Freya was my whole life, I’ve never loved anyone as much. But I have no excuse, I should have been a better father.”

“You should’ve.” I nod, blinking back tears. “I spent years watching you treat Seraphine and Oakley like princesses, they weren’t even yours, but they still made you so happy. I yearned for that, and each time I failed, I felt something was wrong with me, that maybe I wasn’t pretty or smart enough to be recognised as your daughter.”

“You are, you’re very smart, my smartest kid.” He says, grinning proudly. “And you are the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen, you have your mom’s.....” he pauses, staring at my face as if reminiscing about her. “Everything,” he says. “Freya was the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. No one matches her beauty, and she made you, so how could you ever compete with anyone?”

“But I did.” I gulp, I would have loved to hear these words years ago, but he never gave me anything. He ignored my existence, and it hurt, it still does. “For years, even now, I competed to come out on top so you would remain proud. I yearned to see you smile when I called you Dad just like you did for the other two, but all I got was that fixed look of detest.”

“Detest?” He frowns. “It’s admiration, Aeliana. That’s all I feel when I look at you and your brother, I admire Freya’s creation. Your mother always did make the most gorgeous sculptures, and she made you both.”

“You loved him,” I almost whisper. There had never been any doubt that he loved Gareth, he didn’t have to keep his feelings inside for this long.

“I loved—love you both the same.”

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