"And lastly, if he steps out of line—even once—he’s gone. Permanently. No third chances. Let him know that."
Ella’s eyes widened, disbelief etched across her face. The weight of his words hit her like a blow. This was not him relenting. No. He was only pretending to give in! "You’ve already made up your mind to hate him and not forgive him, haven’t you? This isn’t about conditions, Aiden. It’s about you holding onto a grudge. You’re impossible!"
Her voice cracked with emotion, but her anger didn’t waver. She turned away abruptly, her heartbreak spilling over into a fresh wave of tears. This ti, they were more genuine, raw, and unrestrained. Through her sobs, she managed to choke out, "You’re only pretending to give in. You know he’ll never agree to your conditions—and neither will I! You’re asking him to sacrifice everything. And you may be able to ask that of him. But as a daughter, I cannot do that!"
Aiden remained unmoved, his expression hardening, "So what, Ella? He loves you, doesn’t he? Isn’t that what he always says? If he really does, then he can make a few sacrifices for his daughter. I’m giving in, aren’t I?"
Ella whirled back to face him, her eyes blazing. "But your conditions are not respectable, Aiden! They strip him of everything—his dignity, his place in this family. How can you expect him to live like that?"
Aiden’s jaw tightened, his voice sharp and unyielding. "And yet, they’re necessary! As for his place in the family. He has already lost it! And that is the line I am drawing. He is only returning to the house and nothing else! These conditions are the only way I can ensure that he doesn’t hurt anyone again."
"Hurt anyone?" she shot back, her voice trembling with fury. "You an Serena, don’t you? That’s what this is really about. You’re doing this for her, not for us! Not for ."
Aiden’s fists clenched at his sides. "No, Ella. I an everyone’s safety—yours, Nathan’s, Serena’s, even mine. You have no idea what he’s capable of, and I won’t risk it."
Ella shook her head, her tears spilling faster now. "You’re wrong. He’s not the monster you make him out to be. He’s flawed, yes, but he’s still our father. Why can’t you see that? Why can’t you give him even a shred of compassion?"
"Compassion?" Aiden scoffed, his voice rising with frustration. "Do you think he showed any compassion when he hurt the people we cared about? When he put his greed and selfishness above his family? I’m already doing more than he deserves by even considering this."
"But it’s not enough," Ella whispered, "He has already been punished hasn’t he? Living on other people’s charity? But it will never be enough for you, will it? You’ve already decided to hate him forever."
Aiden’s silence was answer enough, and Ella felt her heart shatter a little more. With a shaky breath, she turned away again, her steps unsteady but resolute. This ti, she had no intention of looking back. "You’re not giving in, Aiden," she said, her voice quivering with hurt. "You’re just pushing him—and —further away."
Aiden looked away as she moved to leave, but even so his voice cut through the air. "Then let ask you this, Ella. You’ve been fighting for months—for him. But have you even once tried to talk to him about ? About everything he did? About why I made this decision? Have you even tried to bridge the gap you’re so desperate for to cross? Or is it easier to just bla ?"
Ella froze in place, her back still turned to him, her shoulders trembling.
"You want to yield, Ella. You demand it of , again and again. But you refuse to ask him to make a single compromise. Do you know why? Deep down, you already know the truth. You know I’ll give in to you because I love you. I always have. But him? That selfish man? He won’t. He never has."
Ella’s hands balled into fists at her sides, her breathing uneven as his words pierced her resolve.
"He’s using you, Ella," Aiden said, his tone turning sharper. He just hoped his words were sharp enough to break those rosy eyed glasses in front of her eyes. "Don’t you see it? He’s playing on your emotions, on your desperate need for family, to manipulate you into doing his bidding. And the mont he gets what he wants—when he’s back inside these walls—he’ll discard you like you’re nothing. Just like he always has."
"That’s not true," Ella whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Isn’t it?" Aiden pressed, his voice softer now, but no less intense. "Think back, Ella. All these years—has he ever given you even a shred of this so-called fatherly love you claim he has for you? Has he ever fought for you? Protected you? Cared for you like a real father should? No. Not until now, when he has no one else to turn to. Not until he was exiled and stripped of everything, he thought made him untouchable."
"You don’t understand, Aiden. You’ve never tried to understand. He’s our father, Aiden. I can’t just abandon him. I can’t... even if you think he is only using , I am willing to be used. I want to show him my sincerety."
"Fine. If that is how it is. You’ve already made your decision. And I’ve made my conditions. If he accepts it, then so be it. If he doesn’t... then I will be pleased."
Ella wiped her tears now. This ti she would talk to their father. Maybe he would be willing to co. And once he was ho, things would get better. She would leave university and stay ho all the ti if that is what had to be done.
"I appreciate you doing this for then. Thank you." As she made to walk away again, however, Aiden’s voice stopped her again. "Ella. If he does co ho, rember this. It was the last ti I gave in to you. From here on, you are his daughter only."
She whipped around then, to ask him what he ant. But he’d already turned away, his back to her... and she understood what he ant. The price of bringing her father back was losing her brother...
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