“Where are you going?” Henri asked.
“I’m going to stand on a stage with three men who actually love me and tell the world that I’m not ashamed of who I am or who I love. And you’re going to watch. You’re going to see what you lost.”
“This can’t get out.”
“Why?”
“I told you.”
“Too bad. I’ll tell everyone the truth.” I opened the door. “Tell them you’re the father who abandoned his pregnant wife and then spent twenty-five years running from the consequences. Tell them you tried to destroy your own daughter to protect your reputation. Tell them everything.”
“Tashi, don’t?—”
“You don’t get to call me that.” I looked back at him one last time. “You don’t get to use my name like you have the right. You’re not my dad. You’re just Henri Saltz—deadbeat father and thief.”
I walked out and closed the door behind me.
The hallway was empty. Silent. I made it three steps before my knees gave out, and I had to lean against the wall.
Henri was my father.
The man who’d tried to destroy everything I loved was my father.
And he told me I meant nothing to him.
My phone buzzed. Leo:Where are you?
I texted back:We need to talk. Coming to you now.
The response was immediate:What floor? I’m coming to get you.
Me:Third floor executive offices.
He arrived two minutes later, taking one look at my face and pulling me into his arms without a word.
“I found out,” I said against his chest. “Marta brought the documents. Henri Saltz is my father. He left my mother when she was pregnant. Disappeared. Changed his name. And then when I showed up here, he tried to destroy me rather than admit the truth.”
Leo’s arms tightened around me. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“How do I do this, Leo? How do I go out there tomorrow night and celebrate love when my own father?—”
“He’s not your father,” Leo interrupted. “A father is someone who shows up. Who protects. Who loves unconditionally. Henri Saltz is just the man whose DNA you share. That doesn’t make him your father.”
“But—”
“Your family is the people who choose you,” Leo continued. “Your mother. Marta. Us. That’s family. Henri is just a cautionary tale about trusting the wrong people.”
I wanted to believe him. Wanted to let Henri’s betrayal roll off me like it didn’t matter.
But it did.
Because somewhere deep inside, I’d always hoped that my father—whoever he was—hadn’t known about me. That if he’d known, he would have loved me.
Now I knew the truth.
He’d known. And he’d chosen to leave anyway.
“Tomorrow night,” Leo said gently, “you’re going to stand on that stage with us. You’re going to tell the world that you’re not defined by the people who abandoned you. You’re defined by the people who choose you. And we choose you, Tashi. All three of us. Every day. For the rest of our lives.”
