The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 78

Chapter 78: A Father’s Decision

A Father’s Decision.

“We won’t bother with a DNA test,” Silas said, his voice sharp enough to cut through glass. This was his son in full protective mode over his sister. “Whether you acknowledge them as your children is your choice. But make no mistake, we don’t need you, and the twins don’t need you either.”

“We owe you no explanation for keeping them from you,” Silas continued. “The reason lies in what you did four years ago.’

Sterling raised a hand, signaling his son to pause.

“Still, we are not ungrateful people,” Sterling said calmly. “We acknowledge what you did for my grandson, and we do not take that lightly.”

He studied the man before him, the same man who had just given blood without hesitation. Nathaniel had arrived in nothing more than house clothes. Even so, he sat there with the composure of someone long accustomed to command.

Sterling briefly considered telling Nathaniel about the incident from years ago, about how he had once helped Celine when he was still a teenager. But it was clear now that Nathaniel did not remember. Most dealings back then had gone through intermediaries—his assistant, Nathaniel’s uncle, and layers of distance.

“But,” Sterling continued, his voice firm, “gratitude does not erase what you did to my daughter.”

Throughout it all, Nathaniel remained silent. He did not interrupt. He did not argue. He did not defend himself.

Instead, he sat there with his shoulders squared, drawing slow, measured breaths, his gaze steady and unyielding. It was the kind of restraint that came not from arrogance, but from endurance.

“As my son said,” Sterling went on, “you may acknowledge the twins as your children. Visits can be arranged. But you will never come unannounced.”

“When you divorced my daughter, she was alone here in Velmon City,” Sterling said, the words heavy with the memory of Serena’s past account of her life. “If she had boarded that Eastwind Air flight, she would have been among those still missing to this day. And my wife and I would have been parents who found our daughter only to lose her again.”

He leaned forward slightly.

“You and your mother hurt her because you believed she was Victor’s daughter?” Sterling asked, his eyes

narrowing. “For your information, Serena was kidnapped as an infant. Given that Victor raised her, we long suspected he was behind it.”

Sterling watched carefully as the words landed.

Nathaniel’s expression changed, not dramatically, but unmistakably. His jaw locked. His face reddened. His blue- gray eyes darkened, turning cold and lethal.

It looked as though he wanted to dig up Victor’s grave and punish him all over again.

“Victor,” Nathaniel said, the name dragged through his clenched teeth.

“Yes,” Sterling replied. “Victor.”

“We reopened Serena’s kidnapping case,” Sterling continued. “Evidence suggests Jack Spell carried it out.

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Chapter 78 A Father’s Decision

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Unfortunately, both men are dead now. Justice, in its truest sense, escaped us.”

Then he added quietly, “But we got our daughter back.”

“One thing we will acknowledge,” Sterling resumed, “is that you ensured Victor tasted something worse than prison. Although we wished it had lasted much longer.”

After a moment of shock and silence, Nathaniel took it as his cue to speak. He said, “I know my mistakes, Mr. Vander. I have regretted them. I want you both to know that I truly love Serena, and I will make up for it for the rest of my life… until she forgives me and maybe… takes me back.”

“Take you back?” Silas scoffed. “That’s not happening. Not under our watch.”

“What we want you to understand, Nathaniel, is that at this point, it’s not up to you,” Sterling said. “And it’s not up to Serena either. We would rather that she marry someone whom we trust.”

“Serena is engaged to a family friend,” Silas revealed, his brow raising. “And this friend of ours is willing to be the father of the twins.”

For the first time, Sterling saw Nathaniel’s composure falter. Nathaniel blinked and said, “No, Mr. Vander, please. Please give me a chance to prove myself—”

“That’s not up for discussion,” Sterling said. “Our decision is final. You can only stay in the shadows and be the twins’ father during scheduled visits, but you are not allowed to interfere with our decisions, especially when it comes to my daughter.”

Sterling allowed himself a long, thoughtful look at Nathaniel.

He acknowledged that Nathaniel was not a weak man.

Nathaniel sat there, the weight of his past mistakes finally showing. He looked Sterling in the eye and said, “Then I will continue to atone, even without expecting anything in return. I won’t interfere, and I will appreciate every opportunity you give me to be with my children.”

A hiss left Silas’ lips.

Sterling, on the other hand, waved a hand at Nathaniel.

“Suit yourself,” he said dryly. “But we need time to tell the children. Go home, get a grip on yourself, wear something decent, for God’s sake, and come back tomorrow.”

Nathaniel got up, clearly swallowing his pride.

“Thank you, gentlemen,” he said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

***

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