"Yes. This is very important to . Because mommy never told even though I asked many tis," Dax explained.
Once again, Tristan swallowed hard.
After a few monts of silence, Tristan finally started to speak, "I don’t know if you understand about arranged marriages. However, your mother and I got married because of that."
"I know that." Dax’s firm answer shocked Tristan.
"Y-You already know about your mother and being matched?"
"Hmm... I know... I always hear Great Grandpa gossiping about you and Mom when I pretend to sleep."
Tristan, "...."
It looks like he needs to warn his Grandpa about it. He was afraid Dax would learn anything terrible from his Grandpa.
"You already know but still ask?" A faint smile appears on his lips.
Dax looks at Tristan silently before saying, "Dad, it looks like you didn’t hear my question. OK, I’ll repeat, why did you divorce my mom while she was pregnant?"
Tristan, "...."
Sigh!
Tristan can’t help but take another deep breath.
Now, Tristan understands what Geoffrey said; Dax is indeed the reflection of him. He will never stop to ask if what he wants to know hasn’t been answered. He will look for ways to find that answer until he is satisfied.
Now, he had no choice but to tell him the truth.
"—Your mother and I entered into an arranged marriage without any romantic feelings involved. Despite being married, we were unable to develop any love between us. This situation led to suffering for both of us. Eventually, I made the difficult decision to let her go and end our marriage..."
Tristan’s heart tensed as he saw Dax frown, fearing he might say sothing hurtful.
He carefully continued his words, "I decided to end the marriage so that your mother would be free... because only then could your mother find happiness."
"Why did you divorce her when she was pregnant?" Dax is having a hard ti understanding this. "If you don’t love my mother, at least you didn’t let her go when she was pregnant, right!?"
Tristan’s face slowly darkened, imagining those monts.
"I know I made a big mistake by letting your mother go. But, I’m not going to defend myself by saying that I didn’t know she was pregnant at the ti... Or saying she never told ." Tristan said.
"Mom, never told you?" Dax was suprised to know this. Another question arises. Why did his mother not let him know?
"Hmm, if I knew, I would never let her go. Even if she begged , I wouldn’t let her," Tristan’s voice trembled as the emotional wall he had built crumbled.
No one knew that he had started to fall in love with Bella the mont she left, except for him. And soon, perhaps their son would know as well. It was hard to hide anything from him.
"And I started to fall in love with your mother when she left..."
Dax’s calmness slowly changed. His gaze showed a flash of confusion and curiosity — he wanted to know what his father ant.
As if he knew Dax’s confusion, Tristan explained further, "I started looking for your mother’s whereabouts since we separated. But I was late... your mother had already left the country. She even hid in a place I couldn’t find."
A bitter smile graced Tristan’s lips before he continued, "I only found out about you in the last few days. That’s why I asked to et your mother and, of course, you."
Tristan paused to take a deep breath while observing Dax’s reaction. He could feel Dax’s emotions stirring up; his eyes were slightly red, and it seed like his defenses were slowly collapsing like his own.
He stood up from his seat and moved to sit next to his son before continuing,
"I was wrong... My son, I want to apologize to you for my actions in the past, for making your mother suffer, and for leaving you without a father beside you. I’m really sorry—"
Tristan no longer cared if Dax would refuse, but he wanted to hold him at that mont. He pulled Dax onto his lap and hugged him tightly.
"I’m sorry, son... I’m sorry. I promise you I will correct everything. I will not let you and your mother suffer again," Tristan whispered in his trembling voice.
They hugged without saying a word for a long ti. Tristan couldn’t hold back his tears when he felt his son’s body shaking in his arms.
’He’s crying!’ Tristan realized Dax was crying.
He simply let him cry in silence. Just like him, he also cried in silence for the first ti in his life.
Before long,
Dax finally stopped crying. He looked up slightly to see Tristan’s face. When their teary eyes t, a faint smile graced their faces. Their smiles seed to convey a promise to no longer bla each other.
"Do you forgive ?" Tristan asked after seeing that his son was not as tense and cold as before. Dax even smiled at him.
"I don’t think you need to apologize to , Dad..." Dax said in his serious tone. "But, you should ask Mommy for forgiveness..."
Tristan couldn’t help but smile upon hearing his son’s answer. He gently ruffled Dax’s soft black hair. He is indeed correct.
"Well, son... I’ve begged your mommy for forgiveness a few tis. But it seems like your mommy still hasn’t forgiven completely. But don’t worry, son, I will try harder to earn her forgiveness and trust again." Tristan said.
"Yeah, Dad, I will cheer for you," Dax smiled.
"Thank you, son."
"Oh, right, Dad, I read so much nasty news about you out there," Dax narrowed his blue eyes at his father. "Are all the reports true?"
The smile gracing Tristan’s face imdiately disappeared after hearing Dax’s question.
"No! It’s all rumors. Please, don’t believe the gossip. I... also already explained this to your mom. I hope she understands."
Dax was satisfied to hear his father’s answer. This is what he wanted to hear. He didn’t want to have a playboy father. He feared, one day, many new mothers would appear before him, claiming to be his father’s wife. He couldn’t imagine that happening.
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