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Chapter 3 - Answers

"What is it this time?" Callum asked. There was a hint of worry in his voice, making me sigh in relief.​There was so much going on in my head that I didn't know where to start. I learned long ago not to let his mother drill doubts into my mind, but with his recent behavior… how distant he'd become, I couldn't help but worry. I knew in the back of my mind I feared he'd see me the way other people did, and I was afraid they were right. That I wasn't worthy. That he could do so much better. ​I didn't want him to think I doubted him, so, instead of asking him about what his mother showed me, I asked, "When was your flight back again? You won't exte–"​

"Is that all you wanted to say?" he suddenly snapped, cutting my sentence short. "Since when did you become so fucking needy?"​

"W-What?" I mumbled, dumbfounded by the tone of his voice, the choice of his words.

"What's wrong about asking when you'll be back?"​"I already told you. I'm busy. I have a lot on my plate right now. You wouldn't understand because all you do is lounge around in my house."

​My heart plummeted back to the pit of my stomach. My chest tightened before my brain could process what he just said.

​"Are you hearing yourself right now, Callum?"

​I heard him take a breath before he responded. "Don't disturb me again."

​I flinched when I heard the beeping after the call ended. What… What was that?​

It was that same sinking feeling I felt when I saw my mother on that road… Like, there was this new reality being shoved down my throat, and there was nothing I could do about it.

​My movements were urgent, desperate even, as I searched for the papers that Cadmus' mother brought earlier. I picked them up and skimmed through them. There I found the name and hotel number of where Callum was apparently staying.​

I didn't want to believe it, but I needed answers. If Callum couldn't give it to me, then I'd look for it myself. I refuse to make the same mistakes my mother did–even though it seemed like I was halfway there.

​When I got out of the house, my driver, Ruben, saw me hurrying to my car. "Is everything alright, Miss?" he asked.​

"I need the keys, Ruben," I said as I opened my palm to him.

​"If you're going somewhere, then I'll drive you, child," he said, his voice turning serious. He had been more than just a driver to me; sometimes, he felt like a father, given how much he cared. But I still didn't want to involve him in this matter.

"I won't take long. I just really need to go somewhere. Alone," I said as I held his perceptive gaze.

​Ruben quickly relented. He fished the keys out of his pocket and handed them to me. "Drive safely."​

I gave him a nod before hopping into the car. My hands were cold, and I doubted if I should be driving in this state, but the dread and doubts were killing me. I had to know. So, I tried to clear my head, kept my eyes on the road, and didn't let my mind wander.

However, the world seemed to be testing me today as a familiar white car stopped in front of me. I tried to drive around him, but the road around this part was too narrow. I didn't have the time or mental capacity to tolerate this man right now.

​Isaac hopped out of his car and walked to mine. He leaned against my door and knocked on the window. He had always been insistently annoying, but this was the first time he went as far as blocking my damn car.

​"Get your car out of my way. I don't have time to deal with this right now," I snapped as soon as I rolled down my window.

I had told him off a thousand times before. Isaac was my birth father's lapdog, who had been pestering me for months now.

​"You don't respond to my texts or answer my calls. I'm getting desperate here, princess," he mockingly said, his signature smirk plastered on his face.

​"How many times do I have to tell you that I don't want to get involved with that man and his family?"

​"Look, I know you have daddy issues, but I swear what he wants to talk to you about is important. You'd want to hear it, princess."

"Daddy issues?" I scoffed in disbelief. "He tricked my mother. Got her pregnant. Then he abandoned her–me! He isn't my father."​

"Right. Right. You blame him for this and that. Honestly? I get it. If I were you, I'd be a pissy little princess, too. I mean, he has so much money and didn't share it wit–

​"That is not–" I groaned when I realized there was no point in talking to this guy. "You are the most–You're so insensitive and insufferable. Jerk!" I snapped as I tried to roll my window back up, but the stupid guy jammed his arm into the gap.

I hated how he'd downplay every reason and explanation. He treated my past like it was some kind of joke or something trivial we could brush under the rug.

​"I'm a lawyer, I've been called worse," Isaac winked. "Your father's sick, princess. He's only asking for one talk, conversation, or just an hour of your time."​

"No," I flatly said as I pushed his arm out. "Asshole."​

If Isaac thought I'd start caring for the man who ruined my mother's life because he was sick or even dying, then he must really be out of his mind. That or the fact that he worked for him meant he was just as heartless.

"Yeah, you gotta think of something better because I've been called far worse than that."​

I quickly put my car in reverse when I successfully shoved his arm away. Isaac's eyes widened when I recklessly drove backwards. He immediately threw both his arms in the air.

​"Hey! Hey! I get it, okay! I'll move my damn car," he yelled. "Geez, princess. You're gonna hurt yourself and get me fired."

​I waited for him to move his car, my hand still on the lever just in case he was bullshitting me again. I'd really drive this damn thing in reverse if it meant getting away from him. ​

The moment he moved his car out of the way, I immediately sped off. Once he was out of sight, I pushed everything we talked about to the back of my mind. I didn't have time to think about someone who had never been a part of my life.

​I didn't bother going to the reception when I arrived at the hotel. I went straight to the floor and the room number that Callum's mother gave me.​

My hand hovered over the door as dread gripped my heart. What if he were here? What would that mean? ​I clenched my fist until my nails dug into my skin… then, I forced myself to knock. I thought the worst I could feel was pain, but my whole body went numb when my husband opened the door. And my world flipped when I heard a female's voice from inside.

​"Were you expecting someone?" the woman asked. Callum didn't answer. He only stared at me with recognition but without the usual warmth.

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