“Masashi!”
I look ahead and see Otosan pushing past everyone and rushing toward me.
“Otosan?” I widen my eyes, shocked to see him there.
He yanks me toward him, wrapping his arms around me tightly. “Thank God, you are alive. When I saw Lucas’s location at your house, I was so worried. I thought I was going to lose you.”
I stare back at him, confusion written all over my face. “You had Lucas’s location? But how?”
“Annalise approached me a few weeks ago and asked if I could help track down the person who was blackmailing you. It took me a while to crack the code, but it seems as if Lucas was using some program to send you anonymous texts through his phone. Once I was able to get into his system, I was able to access his location. Detective Takeda works at the San Francisco police department, and he’s a good friend of mine. So I called in a favor.”
A wave of gratitude crashes over me—for Annalise, for Otosan. I told Annalise I didn’t want his help, but if she hadn’t gone to him, I would’ve been leaving here in a body bag while Lucas walked away untouched.
“Arigato, Otosan. You saved my life,” I rasp, my throat tight.
“You are my son. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you,” he whispers, eyes shining with conviction. “I’ve been such a horrible father to you.” His voice fractures, breaking under the weight of his words.
Then, something in him crumbles. His shoulders cave as though the admission has gutted him and he folds in on himself, clutching his sides as if holding himself together. “Gomenasai.Gomenasai.Gomenasai.” His body shudders as raw sobs tear free.
In my twenty-two years, I have never seen Otosan display this much emotion, let alone have I imagined him apologizing to me.
“It’s okay,” I say softly, touching his shoulder.
He shakes his head. “No, it’s not okay. It was wrong of me to dismiss your passion for basketball and push you to take over my company so you can continue my legacy. I promise I will be more supportive of you and will stop putting work first.”
Using the back of his hand, he swipes his tears away and lifts his gaze to meet mine. “You are extraordinary, Masashi. I am so proud of the man you’ve become, and I know you will continue to succeed.”
My eyes brim with tears, and a warmth flows through me as all the negativity I’ve harbored toward Otosan fades away. After going through a near-death experience, I no longer want to hold onto any grudges. I want to let go and move forward.
Otosan pulls me into his arms once more. “I love you so much, Masashi. I’m sorry I ever made you doubt that.”
“I love you too, Otosan.”
A faint, nervous chuckle escapes him. “I’m not looking forward to telling your Okasan about this.”
I can’t help but smirk. “Yeah. She’s probably going to force me to move back in with you guys.”
A deep laughter rumbles in his chest, and soon I’m laughing too. For the first time, the bond I’ve been aching for feels like it’s finally beginning to take root.
The paramedic clears her throat. “I need to do a set of vitals on you.”
I give her a nod and follow her to theambulance.
She shines a penlight in my eyes. My gaze follows as she moves it in every direction. Then she wraps a blood pressure cuff around my bicep and places her stethoscope on my chest, asking me to take deep breaths.
The sharp slam of a car door echoes across the front yard. Annalise rushes out, her face pale with panic. “Maddox!”
I rip the cuff from my arm and bolt toward her. The paramedic mutters a curse behind me as I break free.
Annalise collides into me, arms wrapping tight, her breath ragged against my chest. “Oh, God,” she chokes out, tears shining in her eyes. “When I saw the police cars and ambulance outside, I was so scared. I thought I was too late.”
I kiss the top of her head and caress her soft hair as she sobs into me. “It’s okay, baby. Everything is going to be okay. Lucas is going to go away for a long time. He can’t hurt us anymore.”
She shakes her head, pressing trembling fingers to her lips. “I can’t believe I went on a date with him. That I kissed him. Oh, I feel so sick.”
“Don’t beat yourself up about it, Rosie. There’s no way you could’ve known. Even I didn’t think he was capable of trying to take my life.”
Tears well in her eyes as her voice cracks. “I’m so sorry, Maddox. For the way I treated you.”
