The Royal Rescue

Chapter 24

Serenity's PoV

"What are you doing here father?" I asked shakily, holding a death grip on Ricardo's hand.

I couldn't believe that he dared to come back after what he did. I mean, he killed my mother and left me for years with very little money for me to survive on. I don't think I could ever forgive him because of the pain that he's put me through.

I've only just got a good place and I feel like he's come back to ruin it once again. I can't let him do it to me a second time. The wounds were just healing and it's like he's reopened them with a scorching blade. It felt even worse than before.

I looked up at him, trying to hold back the tears that threaten to spill down my eyes.

Don't let him get to you, Serenity. You are so much stronger than he is. He ran away from his problems at the moment it gets difficult. You've fought through so much and you are still here with a king no less.

"Serenity, I just want to talk to you. Please give me a chance." I stood up and slammed my hands on the table. Jeez, that hurt but I didn't dare show it. Right now I was just too angry and he knew it too as he flinched ever so slightly but I saw it.

I sensed guilt in his eyes.

I clenched my teeth but knew I needed to calm down otherwise I'd do something rational.

This wasn't like me at all. Who have I become?

After a couple of breaths, I managed to partially calm down.

"Why should I give you a chance? After all these years, you've only now decided to return. You left me homeless at an age that should never have to be alone and the worst of it was that I didn't even know how long I had left to live. If it weren't for the king, I would surely be dead by now." I bluntly stated and he flinched at the mention of death.

It's true though. The king saved me from a life of danger. I was so thankful for him and I owe my life to him.

"Serenity, please. I know that it's near impossible to forgive me but please give me one more chance." He sounded desperate and a small part of me felt remorse for not forgiving him but he ruined my life. It's hard to just get over it.

"Why? What's so urgent that you need my forgiveness after all these years? You killed mum. You murdered her out of anger right in front of me. A child. What kind of father does that to their child?" I wanted to yell but knew it would get us nowhere so I just spoke louder than usual.

"I know. I've always known that what I did was wrong and I've been punished for it. Look I know it's hard but please, I'm trying to make things right in the time I have left here on Earth. I'm not getting any younger and that anger is long gone. Just one more chance is all I ask." I felt emotional. So confused. So conflicted.

My heart and mind aren't in sync anymore. Both want different things but what do I do?

"Why now, of all times?" I asked querying something that was on my mind this whole time. I did kind of question it in my last question but the answer wasn't what I was looking for.

"I didn't know where you were. I found out around three weeks ago that you had been brought here to the castle and I knew immediately that I had to talk to you. However, no matter how hard I tried, they refused to let me speak to you and I didn't know how they would react if I said that I was your father." I let out a breath heavily. I mean, it sounded genuine because I did move around a lot as a child and I don't know how far I am from my birth town. Not that I would even know where that was anymore.

"I don't know if I can. You left me with nothing and because of that, I had years of loneliness ahead of me. I was a child. A child who wanted a family to be there for her and protect her from the cruel things life brings. But I didn't. I had nothing like that and every day was a nightmare. The number of tears I have shed through that time could have filled this palace to the brim. That's how much I suffered. So tell me, give me one good reason that I should give you even one chance?" I looked at him hesitantly.