“Why haven’t you gotten dressed?”
“I don’t feel like dressing up anymore. What’s the point? No one will invite me anywhere anyway.”
I sigh, exhausted. Of course receiving an invitation is all that matters in life.
“Why did you come back to Boston? Gave up on marrying your Sheikh?”
“I didn’t come here to discuss Kamal; I came to see how you both are.”
To make a last attempt to try to understand you, Mom.
“We’re surviving. Your father told me we’ll manage to pay the lawyers, and they won’t take this house. That’s something, at least.”
I look at her, surprised. What does she mean they won’t take the house?
Before I can ask, however, she speaks again. “You said you came to see how I am. You’ve seen it, and now, if you don’t mind, I want to be left alone.”
I stand up, and my heart sinks with sadness.
That’s it. After months of not seeing me, and even knowing that I’m pregnant, she gave me only five minutes of her precious time.
“All right, Mom. Have a good day,” I say, faking a composure I’m not feeling. “I’ll call to check on you both.”
“As you wish.”
This time, I don’t wait for the maid to escort me to the exit, but as I reach the hallway, the library door opens.
“Madeline?”
I turn around. “Dad?”
“Can you come in here for a moment?”
I walk over to him and freeze when I see how worn-out he looks. Dad has always been a handsome man, but now, he has lost almost all his hair, and bags of fat have accumulated under his eyes.
The once proud Steven Miller is a shadow of what he once was.
Surprisingly, he hugs me. He rarely did that when I was growing up. Most of the time, I wasn’t even sure he saw me.
“Forgive me,” he pleads.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just grant me your forgiveness. I’ve been a terrible father to you.”
“You’ve been a terrible human being.”
“Yes, and unfortunately, I don’t have enough life left to pay for my sins.” He steps back, and I see a glass of whiskey on the table.
“What will happen to you both?”
“Don’t you know?”
I look at him, confused. “I don’t understand.”
“Your fiancé is paying for my lawyers. He also bought this house and will allow us to live here forever. Or at least your mother will live here. I’m not sure what my fate will be.”
I open my mouth to speak, but he gestures with his hand, indicating he’s not finished.
