A WISH : Chapter 31 – The End

?A Wish?

Chapter 33

“Are you sure you can talk to him alone?” Xavier asked, his eyes doing a double-take around the room.

“Yes, if i feel uncomfortable with him, I will call you.” I squeezed his hand, trying to assure him that i’ll be fine.

“Okay, princess.” Xavier leaned in to kss me. “If you say so.”

“Where is he?” I looked around. “He said he’ll meet us here at exactly 10:00 am.”

“Speak of the devil and he shows up.” I heard Xavier mutter.

My Dad casually walked inside the cafe. I could tell he is popular because of the gasps that came from people as they stared at my Dad in awe, could even see some middle aged woman flashing him flirty winks.

The sight made me internally gag.

He just ignored them and looked around the room till he spotted me and Xavier. He looks different than before, yesterday he was wearing a suit but now, he had on a simple blue button up shirt and black jean with a pair of white converse. His hair was gelled to the back.

With a smile spread across his face,he strode over to the table. Xavier acknowledged him with a stiff nod and my Dad returned the gesture. Xavier kssed my forehead and gave my Dad one last glare before walking out of the cafe.

“Um, hi.” I inwardly cringed at how my voice sounded so squeaky.
“Hello, bambina.” My Dad flashed me a genuine smile.

“So, um you’re my Dad.” I said, shifting on my seat in an awkward manner.

“Yes, i mean look at us.” Dad gestured to his face. “Dont we look alike?”

I laughed. “Yes we do.”

It was quite for some seconds and broke it by calling the waiter and ordering for one mocha. When i asked my Dad what he would like, he said he loves drinking mocha coffee too, so i ordered it for the both of us.

“How old are you?” Dad asked, taking a sip out of his coffee.

“Seventeen.”

He nodded but i didn’t miss the sad expression that clouded his face before he quickly masked it up.

“What about my mum?” I blurted out without thinking.

Dad face instantly morphed into sadness. “She’s dead, she died while giving birth to you.”

“Dead?” I choked out, biting my lip to hold in the sob that threatned to escape my mouth.

“I’m sorry for telling you this, Brielle.” Dad mumbles colourful words. “I shouldn’t have been so blunt with it.”

“No.” I cut in. “You weren’t being blunt and am thankful that you told me the truth instead of lying to me like some other parents usually do. I just wish, i had met her.”

“How was she like? You know, Mum?”

Dad smiled. “She was my first love. She’s humble, sassy, smart, intelligent, confident. Your mother was an amazing woman. When you were still in her stomach, she would sing songs to you. And she always tells you how much she loves you. She loves playing the acoustic guiter whike she sings. When she was on her death bed, she made me promise to always take care of you and for me to not give up on loving again.”

Dad let out a shaky breath. “I’m sorry Brielle, i broke that promise. I was suppose to care for you, love you and always protect you but you got kidnapped and taken away from me.”

I got kidnapped? Could this mean that Liam kidnapped me when i was still very young?

“How was i kidnapped?”

Dad stares at me in confusion. “You dont remember?”

I shook my head. “No, i seriously dont remember. How on earth do you expect me to remember how my life was when i was just two?”

“You were four Brielle.”

I slumped against my chair. “Then why cant i remember? Why didn’t i have a single glimspe of memory when i saw you?”

Dad shook his head and sighed. “Each time i look at you, my mind drifts off to that dreadful night.”

“A hotel where i lodged in with you.” Dad continues. “It caught fire, the fire was everywhere but all i could think about that moment was you. You were crying so hard, Brielle, and you shouted my name, you yelled for help. I managed to pass through smokes and burning woods just to get to you but a heavy wood fell on me, mostly hitting my head. The last thing i saw before i blacked out was you being dragged away by someone.”

My brows furrowed together at Dad’s statement. Dad? I’m not really comfortable in calling him Dad cause its still new to me and i just met him yesterday.

“Dont take this the wrong way because this might sound weird, but please what is your name?” I asked uncertainly.

Nothing in his features portrayed any signs of anger or hurt, instead he smiled warmly at me. “Alessandro, Alessandro Victor Ross.”

I nodded. “So that is what the R stands for.”

His eyebrows knitted together. “R?”

“Yes, back at home, my boyfriend and i were trying to look up on some information about my real parents so we searched and found a picture of me with some details that had my name written on it. It only showed Brielle Valentina R.”

He chuckled. “Must have been really confusing.”

I smiled. “Yeah, it was.”

“Is it okay if i call you Alessandro?” I blurted out. “Am still not really comfortable in calling you Dad.”

“I understand.” Alessandro said softly.

“So what happened after i got kidnapped?” I asked, wanting to get back to our previous discussion about the fire outbreak.

Alessandro eyes glimmered with anger. “The impact of the smoke made me go unconscious but luckily, help arrived on time before i could have been seriously injured. I woke up the next day in the hospital, my condition wasn’t really serious. The wood did hit me on the head but there wasn’t anything more than a bruise, but i had a broken arm and it was in a cast for months.”

“I’m sorry you had to go true all that pain.” I apologized.

Alessandro gave a small smile. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about Brielle. Actually, i really didn’t care about my bruises and broken arm. My main concern was finding you. I was devastated, i searched for you but i still couldn’t find you. It was like you suddenly disappeared from existence. I almost gave up in searching for you but then Madison came along in my life, she encouraged me to never give up on you and was very supportive.”

“Madison?” I questioned. “Your wife who was seated beside you yesterday?”

Alessandro smiled. “Yes, i got married to her a year after you left. We met at a gym. At first we started of at friends but after some months we dated before i then proposed to her.”

“I would love to meet her.” I said, with a smile.

“Madison was surprisingly excited to see you even when our first meet-up didn’t go well.” Alessandro scratched the back of his neck.

“Well i hope to meet her too.” I said, taking a sip out of my coffee. “Since she’s my step-mom, we might as well get along.”

“You’ll love her.” He said, with a small smile. A comfortable silence stretched out between us and i subconsciously leaned against my chair, shutting my eyes for a brief moment.

My eyes shot open when Alessandro chuckled. “What?” I asked, feeling my cheeks heat up in embarrassment.

“That’s what i always do in meetings when am lost for words, lean against the chair and close my eyes.”

“Me too.” I laughed.

“So, Brielle.” Alessandro leaned close to the table, his elbow placed down on his lap as he stared at me with those pair of identical blue orbs. “So far our conversation has gone well, i answered your questions and i think you should also answer mine.”

Where is he going with this?

“Do you by any chance remember what happened after you were kidnapped.”

I tensed up at his words. It never crossed my mind that Alessandro might also be curious about what happened to me. Beneath his casual stare, i could also see worry and concern pooling in his eyes.

No, i cant tell him or else he’ll blame himself for what happened to me.

“I uh, um the man who kidnapped me was uh a really mean man, he locked me up in his basement but luckily, i found a phone in the basement and called the police. So the man got arrested and i was put into foster care. Um so when i turned sixteen i ran away from foster care. That’s when i bumped into Xavier, Damon and Alex. We became friends and they took care of me, bought stuff for me and um we played a lot. So that’s what happened.” I cringed at my choice of words all in the name of a lie. I’ve never been really good at lying. Even little Johnny will know that am lying when he listens to what i just said.

Alessandro stared at me for some seconds, his face blank. He shook his head in amusement and snickered.

I frowned. “What’s so funny?”

“Your mother was always terrible at lying and i can see that you inherited that from her.” His expression suddenly turned serious and stern. “I dont like lies Brielle so tell me the truth, please.”

I glanced down at my lap and sighed, looking back up to face Alessandro. “Is it okay if we talk about it at some place that is a little more private.”

Alessandro nodded and stood up, fishing out a few dollars from his pocket and placing it on the table. We both exited the building, walking towards the park with an awkward silence between us.

“I was abused.” I blurted out. “I was abused physically and verbally for nine years.”

Alessandro lips parted in shock, his features clouding with different emotions. Pain, anger, hurt and guilt.

“I dont really remember much. But when i was young, i woke up in the hospital and saw a man, he said he was my Dad and i believed him. At first he was really nice to me, he was a loving and caring man. He then started abusing me when i was only eight. I thought it will stop but it continued and got worse day by day. He would call me names and hit me. He always said i was a mistake and that i deserve to die. I never allowed his words to get in my head, the stars made me believe that one day i will be with people that l will love me and it happened. I have friends i consider as brothers, a best friend and an amazing boyfriend. They showed me love with the short period of time i’ve been with them.” A smile made its way to my face at the thought of the people who showed me love.

Alessandro had a small smile on his face but his expression was clouded with hurt and pain.

“My stepfather abuses got worse day by day.” I continued, causing the smile on Alessandro face to falter. “I was not only abused by him but i also got bullied in school. Xavier, Damon and Alex were the one’s who defended me and after that we became friends. I never told them about my stepdad but they got suspicious when i came to school with a bruised cheek.”

I inhaled and exhaled, wiping my teary eyes with my sleeve. I didn’t flinch or move backwards when Alessandro held my hand as he gently stroked my palm with his thumb, instead i relaxed at the simple gesture of affection.

“Xavier, Damon and Alex were there to help when it got worst. Liam took $1000 from one of his friends just so that his friend, could… Just so that he c-could r-rappe me.” I was sobbing uncontrollably when i said the last words. That day was really h©rrible and i dont think i will ever forget it.

Alessandro released a shaky breath and he took a step closer to me. He slowly wrapped his arms around me and that only made my cries increase. I was not crying because he’s hugging me. Am crying because the hug felt so warm and comforting. I’ve yearned for the hug of my father for so long, that right now it all feels like a dream to me.

I wrapped my arms around his torso, feeling warm and protected in his arms. I felt him kss the top of my head, letting it linger there for a few seconds. After a minute or two, we both released from the hug.

“But now.” I continued, letting out a shaky breath. “He’s in jail, with his mor©nic friend that tried to rappe me.”

“What is your step-father’s name?” He asked, his eyes showing nothing but anger.

“Liam, Liam Johnson.”

Alessandro closed his eyes and suddenly kicked hard at the tree in front of us. “Liam, i thought that ba$tard will finally leave me alone but clearly i was wrong about it.”

My eyes widened. “You know him?”

“Liam was my step-brother. He was always jealous of me because my Dad favours me over him. He isn’t even blood related to my Dad, but was still jealous. He always saw me as a competition. Liam was really jealous and angry because your Mum preferred talking to me back then in high school. He flipped when we started dating and tried to occasionally set things up that will end me and your Mum’s relationship, but our love was stronger. Liam later did give up in trying to ruin your Mum and i relationship and i saw it as a sign that maybe he was finally changing for good.”

“When my Dad wanted me to be the next CEO of our company business, i’ve never seen Liam so pissed off. He tried to steal a huge amount of money from the company and got caught. He was suppose to be in jail for some months but we heard news that he escaped. When Liam didn’t show up for long, i was at ease because i thought that he finally gave up and left for a change. But no, he set a fire and almost killed me. Worse part of it all was that he took my child, he kidnapped my precious daughter and abused her.” Tears were already streaming down his cheeks.

“I’m sorry Brielle.” He whispered, wrapping his arms around me. “I wasn’t there to protect you. Please forgive me.”

I pulled back from the hug and stared up at him, wiping the tears off his cheeks. “Dont put the blame on yourself Dad, it wasn’t your fault. Its all in the past and i’ve forgotten about it. Right now am focusing on the future and am really happy that you’re part of it.”

Dad smiled. “Hearing the word ‘Dad’ from you makes it sound so beautiful.”

“Calling you by your first name sounds really weird and you’re my father so, Dad, is more preferable to me.” I said, grinning.

“My little bambina.” He leaned in and kissed my forehead, wrapping his arms around me.

“Dad?” I called.

“Yes principessa?”

“Do you and Madison have kids?” I asked.

Dad pulled back from the hug and smiled brightly at me. “We have two sons. Our first son, Antonio, is twelve years old. He’s really smart and intelligent, a comic lover and a computer genius. Then our second son, Angelo, just turned six. He’s a little goofball who loves to play around. He will do anything to put a smile on your face. He’s a competitor and loves challenges. Most of his teachers say that he’s really smart for his age.”

“I would love to meet them.” I said, with a genuine smile.

Dad’s hand leveled down to my head and he gently stroked my hair. “I told them about you, they were both shocked at first but gave it a second thought and now they also want to meet their big sister.”

“Really?” I asked excitedly.

“Yes, princess.” Dad said softly. “We can go meet them now if you want.”

“Of course!” I held his hand and started dragging him. “Let’s go!”

I stopped when i realised that i have no idea where he lives, i dont know what his car looks like nor do i know where it is parked.

Turning around to face my Dad, i smiled sheepishly. “I have no idea what your car looks like or where it is.”

Dad lips curled up into a smirk. “Its parked where other cars are parked, at the right corner of the cafe.”

“But i dont know what it looks like.” I whined.

Dad chuckled and ruffled my hair causing me to shoot him.a playful glare. “Just kidding princess, its over there.”

“Well come on.” I managed to drag my Dad towards his car. “i cant wait to meet my step-mom and step-brothers.”

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