The Girl He Craves novel (Sophie and Aiden) novel Chapter 177

Meredith's pov

He hauled in a shaky breath, his eyes swimming with sadness. I had hit him with the past, something that could potentially bring out the man he once was.

’She’s dead." He whispered, pushing the photo away. "The dead can't speak.'"

I blinked in sadness, pitying the man he is now today. "But they can still see and hear. If mom was here, she'd smack you upside your head and then nurse your wounds."

He clenched his fists, turning away from me completely." Is this why you came here? To remind me of why I'm actually doing what I'm doing? Look at me, Meredith." His eyes snapped up to mine suddenly and I had to take in a very sharp inhale as emotions swam through the windows of his soul.

Father was in more pain than I realized.

’I'm a shell of a man because of her. I can love no other, I have a permanent hole in my heart because of her. Love is selfish Meredith, the pain is unbearable. I tried to save you from it too," He looked over my shoulder at Grant.

He continued. "But I was too late. I need to save my grandson before it's too late."

I shook my head, reaching out for him. My heart ached for my father. A man who once believed love was the answer to everything now made love his enemy. It was painful and tormenting to watch him become this person.

When my fingers touched his hand, he flinched. His eyes swept to mine in shock. I don't remember the last time I held my father's hand or the last time I voluntarily stood this close to him.

After mom died, our father-daughter relationship was swept up and tom into shreds. He would come home late from work, smell of booze, and trash the entire place.

I can recall listening to a few bottles shattering on the wall. I can even remember the feeling of that broken glass piercing through my heel one of those mornings after his rampage.

He didn't even flinch when I cried out in pain, he looked at me dead in the eyes that day, his soulless eyes, and told the maid to help me. He didn't come to see me that day too.

Instead, he had me stay up alone in my room, crying my eyes out. My foot wasn't the only thing that hurt that day, my heart was too.

That day I came to terms with the fact that I lost my father the same day I lost my mother.

From that day, we regarded each other coldly, like we were not father and daughter at all. I did what he asked and made sure to not upset him.

But of course, I met Grant and everything changed.

"You're wrong dad,’ I whispered.

I hadn't called him dad in a while too. Always regarded him as father.

He looks surprised when he heard my words. There's a flicker in his gaze, a flicker that reminded me of the past and the way he looked at me before mom passed away.

’Love is beautiful. It's worth it. Those years you shared with mom, I was sure were the happiest you've ever been. Do you regret meeting her? Sharing life with her? Making life with her?’

I watch his adam's apple bob as he swallowed and croaked out. "No. I don't regret anything when it comes to your mother Meredith.' He tore his eyes away, burying the pain deep within his soul.

’If I had to go back I'd do it all over again." He whispered. “I'd choose her all over again. ■