Chapter 446: Isn’t He Supposed To Be Dead?
After keying in the code to unlock the door, they entered the building, and the quiet hum of the city outside gave way to the muffled silence of the hallways.
Their footsteps echoed off the polished floors as they made their way up to the third floor.
When they reached the door to the apartnt, Ariel hesitated, turning to face him. For a mont, she looked like she might say sothing more, but then she simply knocked twice.
The door swung open, and a woman in her late fifties, with silver-streaked hair and a warm but wary expression, greeted them. She cast a quick glance at George, sizing him up, before turning her focus back to her Ariel.
"And who might this be?" she asked with a sharp edge to her tone.
This was the first ti Ariel was bringing a man ho in years after finishing grad school.
Ariel shifted uncomfortably, but still had to say sothing. "This is George, Mom. He’s... the one I told you about."
"Hello, Mrs Stanford," George greeted politely, but this ti around his charming smile was missing as he didn’t know what font to present to the older woman, who might end up becoming his mother-in-law in the nearest future.
A flash of surprise crossed the older woman’s face, but she quickly masked it with a skeptical frown. She looked back at George, studying him more intently this ti.
She took in the shape of his eyes, the curve of his jaw. These were features that echoed her granddaughter’s in subtle ways. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she seed to reach her own conclusions.
"Well, I see the resemblance," she muttered, folding her arms. "But you have a lot to answer for, young man, if you think you can just waltz in here after all these years."
George swallowed hard, trying to find the right words, but Ariel cut in before he could respond. "Mom, not now. We’ll talk about it later. Please?"
Marie Stanford gave a reluctant nod, stepping aside to let them into the cozy, sunlit apartnt which slled faintly of vanilla, with sunlight streaming in through lace curtains.
George cast a glance around, taking in the soft furnishings, the family photos on the walls and the stack of books on a side table. It was a place that spoke of warmth and care, but he barely registered it as his mind was fixed on the thought of eting his daughter.
Ariel led him down the hallway toward a partially open door. She paused, giving him a look that was equal parts reassurance and warning. Then she took a deep breath and pushed the door open wider, stepping inside.
"Sweetheart," Ariel called softly, and George’s breath caught at the affection in her voice. "There’s soone I want you to et."
A little girl’s voice, clear but with a mature tone that took George by surprise, answered from inside. "Is it that man who’s been looking at all the pictures in the hall?"
Ariel smiled tightly, exchanging a quick, wary glance with George before gesturing him forward.
He moved slowly, almost as if afraid he might do sothing to annoy the girl inside.
When he finally entered the room, he saw her... sitting cross-legged on the rug, surrounded by stacks of Chapter books and a half-finished puzzle.
She was bigger than he’d imagined, but she had the sa dark, wavy hair as him, falling in loose curls around her shoulders, and eyes that mirrored Ariel’s bright blue eyes.
But the ones that t his squarely had a critical expression in them and her little chin was tilted up as if sizing him up.
Ariel quickly moved to knell beside Georgia, and smoothed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Georgia, this ... this is..."
"Don’t bother introducing him, mommy," Georgia cut in smoothly. "Isn’t he supposed to be dead?"
George was stunned speechless as he heard the cynicism in the little girl’s voice. But what was most appalling was the words that ca out of her mouth. Dead?! Was that the reason Ariel gave to pacify her for her father’s long absence all these years?
’Damn! Of all the reasons in the world, Ariel. You’ll never cease to amaze . So now, was he a resurrected corpse or what? And why isn’t Georgia frightened in the least?
He turned to Ariel but she only gave him an unapologetic shrug which seed to say, ’Sorry, you left
no choice, so deal with it!’
Besides, she was still wondering how Georgia got to know the identity of George even before she introduced them.
anwhile Georgia’s eyes had narrowed inexplicably as she continued to study the man who by all indications was her supposedly dead father.
If not for the fact that she had overheard the conversation between her grandmother over the phone with her mother two days ago, she would still think her father was dead... Not knowing that he’d probably been having the ti of his life with so unknown hobreaker sowhere in the world all these years, denying her of the much needed affection that only a father could have provided.
As he saw his daughter’s gaze on him like she was analyzing a puzzle piece that didn’t quite fit, George felt a lump rise in his throat and for the first ti in his life felt so insignificant and unaccepted.
But he had to be the man he knew he was, he said to himself and shook himself out of his pitiful state, crouched down and tried to et Georgia’s gaze at eye level.
"Hi, Gia," he said, attempting a smile. "It’s... it’s really nice to finally et you. I brought you sothing." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small stuffed bear with a bow around its neck.
Georgia stared at the bear, her expression unchanged. "I’m seven, not four," she said flatly, crossing her arms. "I don’t like teddy bears anymore. And my na is Georgia... not that weird one you just said," she added with a disdainful snort.
It was bad enough that his mother insisted on calling her Gigi, now she had to deal with another nickna... although the sound of Gia wasn’t too bad. Maybe she might have preferred it under normal circumstances. But unfortunately, there was nothing normal with one’s father suddenly popping out from the grave, probably because he was getting too tall for his coffin.
The rejection stung, but George forced himself to keep his smile. "Right, of course. I’m... sorry about that." He set the bear aside, feeling awkward.
From the mont he stepped into Georgia’s room, he knew he’d made a mistake in the choice of a gift but he had hoped... as for the nickna, he’ll ensure she accepts it.
It was such a sweet one that suited a sweet little girl like her, besides, it gave him the sa vibe as when he called Ria, so she’ll have no choice but to embrace the na in the long run.
He will have to take it one step at a ti, but for now, he felt he’d already failed so crucial test. He glanced up at Ariel, who bit her lip but gave him a slight nod, encouraging him to keep trying.
For a long mont, Georgia said but just , studied him with that sa unyielding look. When she finally spoke again, her voice was tinged with sothing sharper. "Where were you all these while? Why haven’t you been here with us?"
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