“Sophia, you are the most precious thing to me,” he sobbed. “The only one I wanted to give everything in this world. I keptthinking—what if something happens to me too? What if you’re left alone? What would you do? Who would protect you?”
His tears fell freely now.
“I was terrified. You were so little. What if something happened to me too? What if you were left alone in this world? What would happen to you?” His voice broke again, his chest aching. “I was dying from the inside.”
He squeezed his eyes shut.
“I couldn’t imagine a world where you had to survive on your own without safety. Your grandma was already growing old. She couldn’t take care of the business anymore. Everything fell on me.”
Arthur swallowed hard, his voice thick with guilt.
“And I didn’t even understand half of the business. Your mom used to take care of it. I was so goddamn scared.”
“Dad…” Sophia whispered.
Her fingers tightened around Arthur’s hands.
“All I ever wanted,” she continued softly, pain seeping into every word, “was for you to celebrate my birthdays… my New Year’s… Mom’s death anniversary… Grandma’s birthday… your birthday—with me.”
Her throat tightened.
“I only needed you. Even if it was just once a week. But you were always busy with work.”
Her lips quivered.
“Was our future really that important to you,” she asked, voice breaking, “that you forgot about your own daughter?”
Arthur completely collapsed.
“It was my fault,” he sobbed uncontrollably, his shoulders shaking violently as his head bowed. His chest rose and fell unevenly, breaths coming out broken. “It was all my fault, Sophia.”
Tears poured freely as he clutched her hands tighter.
“I will never let anyone come between you and me again. Never again.” His voice cracked again and again. “I will take care of you for the rest of my life. Please forgive me. I cannot live without you.”
Sophia’s body remained tense, but her eyes filled completely with tears, vision blurring.
She had never seen Arthur break down like this.
Not once.
Except the day her mother died.
At the funeral, he had cried beside the coffin like a man who had lost his entire world. After that day, he buried himself in work. He never cried again.
Until now.
This was the second time.
Looking at him, shattered in front of her, Sophia felt her heart twist painfully. Worry, love, sadness — all of it tangled together until she could barely breathe.
She couldn’t hold back anymore.
Moving forward on both knees, she wrapped her arms tightly around Arthur, pressing her face against his shoulder.
Arthur froze for a split second, then his arms came around her instantly. One hand cradled the back of her head, fingers sinking gently into her hair, while the other wrapped firmly around her back.
He patted her back lightly, again and again, his sobs slowly muffling against her shoulder.
