Chapter 23

"A life filled with love, must have some thorns, but a life empty of love will have no roses." - Anonymous A black stretch limousine pulled up in front of what was once a dark mansion, now freshly painted with bright colors of cream and yellow that accentuated its still dark navy roofing. It was beautiful and more homely than when Dominic was last seen here. Was it that long ago? He sighed even as one of his bodyguards came around to open the doors for him and Alice. "Come on, what are you waiting for? " his wife smiled as she took a step outside and he sighed at what he knew to be the meaning of that particular smile. "come on dear, "she coerced him, her hand reaching out to pull him and he almost growled just to show her that he was not a wimp, but then again that would not have worked on Alice and presently not in her current situation for where she had always been bold before, this pregnancy seemed to have taken it a notch higher and made her impossibly obnoxious. "I am coming. " he muttered even as the woman who should have been much slower than him in her condition skipped forward to ring the doorbell beside the massive doorway. Were all pregnant women this way? Surely she would not- he began to think but was stopped by the pain of a certain memory that he still he held on to. "Katrina, " he thought even as he followed his wife into the house. The house of his baby girl. His baby girl was now grown up and was beginning her own family. He remarked with a certain sadness. Had he been mistaken? Had he been too overprotective? Just by looking around the house and the well-manicured compound outside, he could tell that she was quite capable. Had she done all these to prove her independence to him? He sighed again, his thoughts muddled up by the combined weariness of the events of the last few months and the task that was ahead of him. Wasn't it just a while ago that they had been sitting around a breakfast table smiling and laughing after Katrina had decided to finally come out of her shell? He had challenged her to prove herself to him and she had gone and done so and accomplished so much, thanks to the support of that old coot coming from her grave. What a Wiley one, he remarked. She must have been laughing at him from her grave, he noted with a smile. That old hat. "What are you smiling for? " his wife jabbed him as he took a seat on a cream leather love seat that was facing the stairway. "Oh nothing." he replied just to torment her and received another vengeful jab on the same rib. "Ow! Quit it woman!" "Woman?! Dominic Maracheli, I get this feeling that you do not actually value your own life! " she glared and despite the danger that was now flashing in her eyes, Dominic could not help but smile. This was the reason that he had married her. The reason why he loved her. She reminded him so much of her, Katrina's real mother, and yet, the two women were nothing alike. Each had their charm but the bottom line was that they were both fearless and not in the least intimidated by him. He did not get to reply though as in that particular moment a familiar voice disrupted them, one that he had not heard in several months and that broke his heart to hear it. "Katrina? " he marveled, staring at his heavily pregnant daughter who had just come to a stop at the base of the stairway. "Katrina! You are looking well! Come, come on now and sit. This time I come bearing gifts." his obnoxious wife rared as she drew closer to wrap her arms around his daughter. How she had gotten there, he could not tell nor could he keep up with her movements. Weren't pregnant women supposed to be less energetic? Then why was she acting like a super-charged energizer bunny? "Gifts? " Katrina's voice stuttered, confusion now written all over a glowing face. She seemed to look around for a while, possibly looking for the said gifts for there was no way the presence of her father could be a gift, right? "of course, I couldn't get a carton big enough but here, have a look at what I brought to you." Alice grinned as Dominic sighed, shaking his head at the weird antics of his seemingly shameless wife. Were these true hormones or was this woman taking advantage of her present condition? He would never know. He shook the thoughts aside and embraced bravery. Standing up, he took a step forward towards the poor girl who was yet to figure out what his zany wife was speaking about. "I believe that she may be actually referring to me, crazy as that may sound" he smiled even as he drew closer to the pair that until then had been conversing by the base of the stairs. "come have a seat. " he added as he held out his hand to her, to bring her to the set of lounging chairs that were waiting for them to occupy. What is happening here? Katrina wondered even as she let herself be led around inside her own house. What is it with these two? Had her stepmother always been like this and her father so forgiving? Unknown to them she had witnessed their earlier exchange and it befuddled her to think that this man was the same Dominic Maracheli whose word was law and was feared by all. "Are you Okay dear? You don't look so well, do you need me to get you a glass of something?" "A glass of... " Katrina shook her and with it the confusion that had temporarily muddled her thoughts. "No, sorry I mean I am Okay, but what are you doing here father? What did you want to talk to me about?" "Straight to the point I see? " he scratched at his stubble even as Katrina gave him a look. "It is not like you to dwaddle." "I see. You are right about that but this matter is quite delicate much more delicate than the business I usually handle." "How so? " she inquired and he had to be impressed by her forthrightness. "Because it is you and it is about the family." for a moment Katrina paused until she laughed out loudly as if she was suddenly amused by his latter words. "Family? " he nodded. "Father I would not want to dishonour you through my words, but your actions through out this time have proven to be quite contrary to those words. In fact, the more I find out about your past, the more I find myself doubting the ideals that you have taught me and have purported to hold on to." she added and he could not blame her for her thoughts. What had he done? What had been doing all this time for the duration of all her life? "I understand. You must be speaking about your grandmother? " "And a whole lot of other things that have led to this moment here. " she said with so much vehemence that he could only imagine the pain that she must have gone through. He had sworn to protect her. He had thought he was protecting her but had he been wrong all this time? "Katrina...I-" he rubbed his forehead at loss on what to say to her. How would he handle this? "Why? " she cut in. "I cannot change a thing about the things that have happened so far, neither can you, but at least, I need to know why? Why father? Why was it necessary for to to cut me off from my own family? For me to go through all that pain that I have grown through? Was there no they way? " her eyes teared. "Katrina..." Alice reached out to comfort her but she shrugged away the hand. Despite her well-meaning nature, this time her comfort would not be enough to erase all that pain now that Katrina's culprit was standing before her. "Wasn't it enough that I grew up without a mother? You had to push away every connection I had to the woman who birthed me? " her tears flowed. "You've robbed me of- " "I thought I would be enough." her father said softly and Katrina stilled do a moment. "I thought that my love alone could be enough for you. How wrong was in thinking that. I realise now that I was being conceited and selfish for a child can never have too much love. In truth, I was actually scared. I was terrified that she would take you away from me...and I...I... Fear can drive you to do the craziest of things. " he said as he broke out in tears. "Fear, that has been my downfall where you are concerned. Haven't I learnt that this past few months? That a flower cannot grow where it is stiffled. I should have known that my dear rose would blossom even among the thorns, but I feared them and tried to chop of that which was apart of you." "Father... " "I am aware that I have wronged you, and that Thorpe boy too but I have been too proud to admit it. I should have known better. " he laughed bitterly. "how ironic that the ones I fought so much should be the ones to show me the way. " "What do you mean father? " "That Thorpe boy and your grandmother, still schooling me even from her grave. As for your husband, he has a good head on his shoulders. I do not know what but also, something... Something feels quite different in him now. " "Ryan? " he nodded just as the man in question walked in among them. "Well then, You can say it to his face, right?" Katrina said as she beckoned over her husband. The man who had just walked into the foyer was seemingly conflicted on whether to join them or give them the space that their conversation required. "What are you doing? " her father hissed as she continued to wave her husband over, smiling at the expression that had now transformed her father's facial features. "Come now honey," Alice factored in with a smile of her own and it took the man everything he had within himself not growl back at her. Was she kidding him? After all, he had taken their daughter through, he was supposed to forgive him just like that? Dominic Maracheli grumbled beneath his breath even as the man in question walked over to stand beside a beaming Katrina. "How was everything?" he had her question. He leaned over and began to whisper to his daughter. She smiled back at him and then, she patted the seat that was beside her inviting him to occupy it. For a moment the man seemed hesitant and somewhat conflicted. His eyes strayed over to her parents before settling back to his wife. "Please... " she mumbled and all the hesitation that had once been present drained out from his eyes. "Okay," he smiled back and Katrina blushed sweetly. "Aaaw..." Alice cooed beside her very disgusted husband. "You two are so adorable! It's like she has you wrapped around her little finger and you as well. " "You think so? " Ryan laughed as he settled back on the sofa and Katrina blushed once again. "I am sorry." he smiled at his mother-in-law. "I wasn't around to help receive you. I had some important work-" "More important than my daughter?" the man that had been stewing silently watching as the man smiled his way into his wife's and daughter's graces suddenly exploded. "No... no, never! " Ryan stuttered back taken aback by the sudden accusation. "No? Look at her! She could go into labour any time and you left unattended! " "I didn't..." "Are you even serious about her? Or are you playing with her heart, planning to leave her like you did that other girl! " the man eventually exploded and the protestations disappeared from Ryan's lips. So this is what it is all about? He noted with a bitter smile on his lips. "Dad! " "Dominic! How could you?" "Why? " he turned to both his daughter and his wife with a burning fire in his eyes. "I need to know that he will not leave my daughter! After all he does have a track record!" All this time Ryan remained quiet. Flabbergasted even, but as he took in the words of his father-in-law, all the anger and pain from five years ago came rushing back in like raging flooding. His fists tightened as he recalled the son that he could not see. The son could not see as he grew up and he felt rage bubble up from deep within him. Ryan was so angry he was tempted to rise up and just walk out, but where would that leave him with Katrina? Wouldn't it just prove that he had not changed? No, he could not continue to run away from his problems, from his anger as well. The emotions he was now feeling were even more proof of the fact that he had some unresolved issues within him and if he intended to start afresh with Katrina, he needed to deal with it right away before it put a damper on their new and budding relationship. "Dad! How could you... " Katrina started to say but Ryan held her hand back in order to stop her. There was no need for them to further strain their relationship or for her to defend him. He could do it on his own and he knew just the thing to bring down this man from his very high horse. "Why? " she whispered back at him and he shook his head. "I don't want you to get worked up. He smiled back at her tenderly before turning back to her father with a hard look in his eyes. "With all due respect sir, may I remind you of your role in this? Weren't you and Marcus Thorpe the ones to threaten me into that position? You threatened the life of my ex-girlfriend and her unborn child! " With that accusation there was a second moment of silence then; "Dad! " "Dominic! " Two of the three women in Dominic's life gasped in shock! "You didn't?" his wife threatened. "No, no... " Dominic shook his head. "I need to hear you say it. " Alice raged. "I didn't okay! Marcus said that there was a minute problem and that he had handled it. " "Then you underestimated my father's penchant for callousness. I admit what I did to Malisha was wrong, but I stayed away for a good reason. I admit that what I did to Katrina was cruel but wouldn't you have done the same if you had been in my shoes? She disappeared you know and all along I had to wonder if one of you had taken her hostage." he said as a tear slipped from beneath his rashes. "Ryan... " Katrina mumbled as she placed a comforting hand on his forearm. He did not shake it off. Previously he would have shaken it off or pushed her and this showed her how much he had changed. To speak of such a painful topic and not to shake her off subconsciously. Truly that was some progress. Did that then mean that he had truly meant the words that he had spoken to her? Did it mean that he had come to love her? Katrina found herself wondering. "You are honestly telling me that you did not know who or where she was? " her father questioned him and at that, Ryan laughed out bitterly. "You know Veterum and its high families. Had it not been for Lenita, I would have gone on thinking that one of you had her in his custody. " There was a moment of silence and then Dominic finally spoke up. "Mother was right. " he said as he thought hard about what Ryan had just told him. He had put himself in the young man's shoes and realized that he would have done worse. To think that this man had the guts to go up against one of the high families of Veterum. He smiled at that. He even had the guts to mess with the fiancee and the adopted son of the OverLord, the Phaedra. No, the man was not a wimp like he had always thought of him. Like him, he had fought hard for his family in the only way he could back then. No wonder he had taken to drinking. The unfairness of it all could have driven men to do worse and yet, here he was. Dominic on the other hand was a man who had tasted a little bit of that. The fear of losing one's child and yet he could not even try and begin to understand him? "I am so sorry Ryan even though I know that that bastard will never bring himself to apologise. "he added with a small laugh. "but I will admit that we were wrong. Somethings should never be decided by others. " "Father... " Tears streamed Katrina's eyes. She was so proud of him. That he could own up to his mistakes and apologize to the one that they had wronged the most. "I know that I can never make it up to you and Katrina as well," he said burying his head in his hands in a show of despair. "I only hope that you can find peace now." "I have peace. I understand my strength and my limitation and in some way I have learnt to appreciate what I have previously taken for granted. Malisha is now happy though I doubt she would ever forgive me for what I did to her, so it's not your fault that it never worked out. " "What about your son? " he lifted up his gaze to look at Ryan and the younger man smiled. "My son is a prince. How can I even begin to take that away from him? I have failed as a father. Maybe in time, " he said gazing lovingly at Katrina's huge baby bump. "I will grow to be worthy of that same title. "