Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 109716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
I sniffled and choked back a sob. How long had I craved to hear words like these? To have a father who loved and protected me?
For years, I dreamed of my father looking at me with soft eyes…if only just once. But he never did. He treated me as if I didn’t even exist.
But this man standing in front of me, he was looking at me with the love my father should have had for me.
I stood up from Alessio’s lap and went to Isaak. He straightened up instantly, standing to his full height.
“I never had a father,” I said, stopping in front of him. “I prayed and wished that I did, but that never happened. I didn’t have anyone.”
Before he could move a muscle, I wrapped my arms around him in a hug. He was startled, freezing in shock. “What I didn’t realize was that I had a father, loving me from afar.”
Isaak sighed, sagging with relief. I felt every tense muscle in his body relax, and he slowly brought his arms up, hugging me tight.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t save your mom. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. All these years—” he broke off.
My emotions clogged up my heart and throat. “I don’t hate you. It’s not your fault. It’s not mine. We can’t blame ourselves for something that wasn’t in our hands.”
“You sound so much like your mother, Ayla,” he said softly.
“Am I like her?” I asked curiously, my heart beating just a little faster.
“You look so much like her. The first time I saw you, I thought it was a dream. I thought I was being haunted,” Isaak replied, slightly pulling away so he could look at my face.
“And you have her wisdom too. So gentle. Just like my Leila. I don’t think I will ever forgive myself for not being able to keep my promise to her. But having you here, safe and loved now, I think I can live and breathe a little better,” he finished, his eyes holding unshed tears.
My chin wobbled, and I nodded. Taking a deep breath, I uttered the most important question.
“Can I still be your daughter?”
I felt like a child, hoping and looking for a scrape of love.
My mind went back to when I was just a few years old. I always waited for my father to come see me. I wanted him to play with me, put me to bed, read me stories.
Anything…I just wanted a small bit of his time and attention. Maybe just a few minutes. One soft and loving look.
But I got none of that.
In this moment, I got all of that. In just mere seconds, Isaak Ivanshov gave me years of love that I was yearning for from a father.
“You were my daughter and still are. Always will be, Ayla.”
I sniffled and closed my eyes. Isaak pulled me into his arms again. “Thank you,” I murmured through my tears.
“You were always meant to be an Ivanshov. From the very beginning,” he replied as we pulled away.
I felt Alessio standing behind me, his heat warming my back, and I moved slightly back. Our bodies molded together, and his arms went around me. I felt his face in my neck as he placed a kiss there.
Isaak smiled and shook his head, muttering something under his breath. “I will see you both downstairs for lunch.”
He gave me a final look and smiled, a huge warm smile that lit up his whole face. I smiled back, feeling my heart flutter with absolute happiness.
Isaak walked away, and I turned around in Alessio’s arms, facing him. “Thank you for giving me this. It was meant to be, you know. Me finding my way into your car.”
He chuckled. His lips turned up in a small sexy smirk. “Thank God I parked my car there.”
We laughed, and then he kissed me, our laughter falling silent.
We broke apart when we felt a kick. A hard kick.
“Already a cockblocker.” He huffed, sending my stomach a mock glare.
I sighed, pulling at his arm. “Time for lunch. She’s hungry, which makes me double hungry.”
***
We settled at the table, Alessio and I taking the head. I no longer worked as a maid. That was out of the question.
Alessio would probably blow a fuse if I ever brought that up.
I sat to his right as the others started to take their seats. Including Maddie.
She no longer worked as a maid either. We both found it very weird that she would serve me, so that was out of question too. Anyway, she was more a sister than a maid. Maddie only worked as a maid because she didn’t have anything else to do.
Not that she did much anyway as a maid. She only helped Lena cook.
Alessio made sure I had my food first before himself. He always did that.
The guys talked while eating. I just ate, content that my stomach had food. I was starving. Maddie was strangely silent, but she kept looking at Alessio every now and then.