Fleeing the Nightmarish Father novel Chapter 72

I kept looking down in dejection when we were coming back. Silent tears at the edge of my gaze, sobbing silently at the scene they had created to ruin my relationship with him.

“Dariel-”

I opened my mouth to call him hopelessly but his one glare sealed my voice.

Forming my lips in a thin line, I wiped my tears but his stern gaze was frightening me. Unable to relax, I was afraid to confront his wrath.

‘Did I hurt him? Is he going to be furious? Is he going to believe in me? Would he listen to me?’ I thought worriedly.

He might have supported me before everyone but his glare and grimace displayed his discontent.

“Dariel, I am sorry.” I whispered anxiously but not listening, he held my arm, leading me to the hall. My body was numbed in his dominant presence.

“Enough, Saafia.”

I was worried about what he might do. Stopping before me, he folded his arms at his chest, narrowing his eyes in ire.

“I…” He paused angrily, curling his hand in a fist.

I trembled, perturbed as I opened my mouth to make him listen but he started first, dismay coating his tone.

“I told you… constantly that this world is cruel, it is selfish, they will hurt you. That you are weak but no…” He started speaking.

Letting out a muffled cry, I looked down in woe. I didn’t want to disappoint him but apparently I did.

“You have to become a saint and forgive everyone.” He frowned, growling at me for being so mindless.

I flinched and was about to move back but in a sudden course of action, he grabbed my arms and yanked my body forward roughly.

“ARE YOU SATISFIED NOW!?”

A few tears spilled from my eyes when he yelled outrageously, frightening me more at his rage. Shivering, the feelings I suppressed so far began to spill and I ended up crying.

“I didn’t lie, Dariel, he- he called me. He said Jacey would be there too. I thought I could clear any misunderstanding…” I cried sorrowfully, clutching his shirt between my fingers, shaking my head in denial.

“And now you have seen how they have taken advantage of you.” He growled, not leaving my arms, keeping me closer to him.

His breaths began heavy, the disquiet expression. That fury was not directed to me but others. He was only saddened at my gloom.

“Is that why you wanted me to forgive them? Look what they did to you. Are you realizing now that no one cares about you or feelings?” He whispered after shattering my heart by telling me about this world.

Looking down, I sniffled, wiping my tears, “I didn’t know he would do this…”

His eyes softened at the resonance of my sob, shifting those hands to my shoulder and moving his thumb over them to soothe me.

“That is why I wanted you to be strong, to hold a heart with hatred. Look what they did, they created a mockery out of your love.”

A tear rolled down my cheek and impotent to bear it, he cupped my face in his large hands, wiping my tears as he murmured.

“They defiled your pure love for me.”

And I ended up crying more. He was right, it was my fault for listening to him, I gave them a chance to create a mockery out of my feelings and purloin my Dariel from me.

I feel horrible. I shouldn’t have listened in the first place.

“I am sorry, I am so sorry. I shouldn't have gone in the first place. You were right, no one cares about anyone. Don't be angry with me, Dariel.”

When my wails grew, he sighed. Becoming anxious and embraced me hastily, wrapping his arms around me protectively.

“Shh, don’t cry. I am here. I trust you. Let them say whatever they want. They cannot change my perspective or my trust. I am not that easy to manipulate.” He whispered, kissing the top of my head while running those fingers down my locks to reassure me.

Sniffling, I looked up at him expectantly, his one statement of holding faith in me tranquilized me.

“You do? W-Won’t you doubt me? You are not going to be angry with me, are you? Do you really trust me?” I asked hastily, clinging onto him with all my might.

I needed him the most at this point. He mattered, nothing else.

He wiped my tears. His one hand secured around the side of my neck while he brushed those knuckles on the side of my face. My body shivered pleasingly at his gentle action.

“I am sorry, you are so oblivious.” He laughed, waving his hand.

All my grief vanished as the sound of his laugh intoxicated me. Mystifying me as what I did to make him laugh.

“I saw devotion in your eyes and as much of a suspicious person I am, I would never disgrace your feelings by considering them a lie.”

“Why, Dariel? I don’t recall doing anything special before.. Gain that much attention or your feelings.” I questioned hastily, mind not functioning properly anymore.

I couldn’t believe what I did to attain that level of faith.

“You did the second I laid my eyes upon you.” He enunciated, staggering me.

“At Jared’s wedding?” I asked innocently as he mentioned before too that he got worried about me.

But I was wrong. To my naive question, he laughed again, holding his sides while shaking his head in denial.

“Saafia, Saafia, my innocent wife…”

My body froze in anticipation, my mind turned blank in utter bewilderment. This beautiful laugh, the mischievous smirk lingering on those thick lips.

I stood motionless as he lowered his laugh and raised an eyebrow seductively, taking a strand of my hair in his fingers.

“I was always there. ‘Always’.” He whispered.

When he emphasized on ‘always’ my body convulsed because I had never noticed him before ‘if’ he was there.

“W-What?”

I was about to question but he became sorrowful and began to tell me about the perception he always held about me.

The fact he was always there which I never noticed…

“Sadly your beautiful eyes never noticed me.”