The Heiress' Re Chapter 147: Daniel

Chapter 147: Daniel

Ariana’s POV

I didn’t know what to say; the words were stuck in my throat, and my mouth opened, but nothing ca out. I just stood there staring at him.

At my father, my real father. The man my mother had loved, the one she had given up.

Daniel looked at .

His eyes were wet.

"I know this is a lot," he said. His voice was soft. Gentle. "I know you’re overwheld. I know you have a million questions. I know you don’t know what to think or what to feel or what to say, and that’s okay. Take your ti, but please, let

be there as your father."

I looked at him.

At his face.

His nose was like mine.

His eyes were like mine.

His smile was like mine. I saw myself in him, I saw my children in him.

"How?" I whispered the word, which ca out small. "How did you find ? How did you know?"

Daniel smiled a sad smile. "Your mother’s parents. They didn’t leave her a choice, I know that. I’ve always known that. The woman I fell in love with... she would never have done that to . She would never have left . She would never have kept you from , not unless she was forced and was left with no other option."

I shook my head.

Tears were falling down my cheeks. "She never told

about you. She never said your na, she made

believe Ricardo was my father, she let

call that monster Dad for years."

Daniel’s face hardened just for a second, then it softened again. "I know, I know what he did to you, to your mother, your family... I know about everything, Ariana."

"How?" I asked again. "How do you know so much?"

Daniel looked at the young man behind the desk.

Ares is my supposed stepbrother.

The man who looked like my mirror.

"Ares," Daniel said. "He’s the one who found you in the process of searching for your mother; he hid it from

for not until a few weeks ago. When he told , I was hurt and happy at the sa ti, happy that I had a daughter... I was the happiest man alive and then heartbroken that your mother would hide sothing big from ."

Ares stepped forward. "After I found you, I knew I had to bring you ho, and you ca right to us, without making much effort."

I looked at him. "So you’ve been lurking."

Ares nodded. "I hired a private investigator who tracked you and watched you while reporting back to . I knew about your marriage to Dante, your children, and lissa. I knew about the divorce... basically everything. I wanted to reach out so many tis, but I was scared. Scared you wouldn’t believe

and wouldn’t want us in your life."

I laughed. It was a hollow sound. "ss up my life? My life is already a ss. My husband doesn’t rember , my children have been taken from .... My baby is dead, and my mother lied to

my whole life... so yes! My life is already ssed up."

Daniel stepped closer, reaching out. His hand touched my face; his fingers were warm and gentle. "You have us," he said. "You have a father who has been waiting years to et you. You have a brother who never gave up looking for you. You have a family who loves you, who wants you, and that sa family is going to help you get your family back."

I looked at him, the man who was supposed to be my father. The man who should have raised

The man who should have been there for every birthday, every holiday, and mont.

"Why now?" I asked. "Why did you wait so long? Why didn’t you co for

sooner?"

Daniel’s face crumpled. "We’re here now, and that’s all that matters."

I smiled slightly.

Daniel shook his head. "And please forgive your mother, she wasn’t given a choice... she did the best she could with the choices she had."

He was right, but I deserve to know about sothing like this

"I don’t know what to do," I said. "I don’t know what to think. I don’t know who I am anymore."

Daniel pulled

into his arms.

He hugged

tight; his body was warm, and it felt like ho.

"You’re my daughter," he said. His voice was thick with tears. "My blood runs in your veins, and if there’s one thing the Watsons don’t do, it’s give up."

I broke down completely, and the tears kept coming. They ca hard and fast, and I couldn’t stop them.

I sobbed into his chest as I held onto him like he was the only thing keeping

standing. Like he was the only thing keeping

alive.

Ares ca closer. He put his hand on my back, gentle and reassuring. "You’re ho," he said.

"Athena would be ecstatic," Ares says.

"Athena, she’s your sister, she’s younger. She’s away at school right now, but she’s going to lose her mind when she ets you. She’s always wanted a sister."

I laughed, a real laugh. The first real laugh in weeks. "Athena? Ares? What kind of nas are those?"

Daniel smiled. "Your grandmother was obsessed with Greek mythology. She nad them after gods and heroes, Ares and Athena."

"And my na?"

Daniel sighed. "It was my late sister’s na, I’m surprised your mother nad you after her and grateful too... I would have wanted that."