My Person

Part 7 : The Realization

Daisy? What? Daisy, his daughter. Realization dawns on me as I realize Dee-Dee is short for Daisy. I shouldn't be here. I pick up my bag and start to walk out of the room. "I'm sorry I should leave." He grabs my arm before I can leave, preventing me from leaving.

"Stay," he says as his deep ocean blue eyes stare right at me, hypnotizing me. His hand slides down my arm, leaving me willingly standing in front of him.

"You haven't gotten any less beautiful than the last time I saw you," he tells me. I want to hate him. I want to scream at him, ask him why he left me when I could have gone with him. Why does it have to take an innocent coincidence to finally see him again? I want to tell him how every day I used to wake up and tell myself that I didn't love him, knowing deep down that that was far from the truth.

"You left me, Sebastian, you left," I whisper as tears trail down my face.

His hand caresses my face, "I know."

"You left me for 10 years!" My emotions start to pour out . I am angry. Angry that he left me to fend for myself. Leaving me to smile at my parents after what they did. Forcing me to move out and create a life on my own. Trying to remove every power my father had on me. I push Sebastian away and quickly start to leave the house.

He thinks after everything. Everything! I would just go back to him because he asked. It's been 10 years. I have a life. He has a child. A beautiful, intelligent, kind child. But his child.

"Celine, stop" he rasps. Unbelievable.

"What!" I shout, stopping in front of my car door.

"Can you at least let me explain?"

Anger rises within me. "No, you don't get to explain. You had your chance 10 years ago. 10 years Sebastian!"

"I understand, but I had to finish what I started."

"My father was arrested last year, Sebastian."

"I know."

"Nico, my uncle, Bell Donavan, my twin sister, all of whom I all had to deal with after you left, by the way."

"I know."

"Do you know how hard it was realizing I had a sister out there this whole time? Not just that, but a sister who blamed me for having this life that I didn't even choose to have. I tried to talk to her, but her hate for me was too strong. She's getting help now. The judge sent her to prison but with a treatment program and a psychologist monitoring her trauma. All I did was ask the judge, and it was granted.

"I know."

"Bell is in prison, and my dad's company was given to me. So, I gave all the money he stole back to the victims. I built an orphanage. Used that money to build an orphanage in Africa, the Middle East, all with a simple command."

"I know."

"It was like they all expected me to say those things like-"

"Celine," he rasps .

"Sebastian." I slowly let go of the car handle and turn around. His eyes meet mine without any trace of shame behind them. Instead, they are filled with love that seems eternal. It is him. He makes every command I ask for true. He gets everything I want and takes care of me without even being there.

He takes a breath and walks towards me, "I had to leave to ensure everything was done right. If I had stood with you, I could have been seen as biased, and I needed to make sure everyone was brought to justice. But I wanted it your way. Don't you see Celine? I will do anything for you. Anything you ask for, I will give to you." My heart is aching, sending warm blood to my freckled face. Why does he do this to me?

I swallow, "Where is Daisy's mom?"

"I was married before I met you. She died of cancer after she gave birth to Daisy. That was two years before I met you. I had Alice, my maid, take care of her while I worked. When I went to that ball and first saw you, it was like finally getting a breath of fresh air; you were funny, courageous, and kind. You were mine."

"You played me," I accuse.

"Yes." He keeps walking toward me. I'm frozen.

"I hate you."

"You don't."

I can't breathe.

"Stop."

"Come inside, Celine," he demands as he stops right in front of me, inches apart. "I love you, Celine. I was planning on seeing you next month, but today is even better."

"Why next month," I ask, heat bursting in my chest sinking into my body. His hands are on my face.

"Let me show you something, love."

"Why?"

"You won't regret it, Celine, allow me." My heart is beating so fast. He's everywhere. Why can't I ever say no to this man? As our eyes lock, our breaths sync till a little girl approaches us.

"Dad," a little girl says behind him. We both snap back to reality as we turn our heads. Daisy is here holding a pink glittery bracelet. "You know my friend?"

"Friend?" Sebastian looks between Daisy and me for some clarification. "You guys are friends?" Daisy attempts to speak till she notices the situation she caught us in.

"I could ask the same of you two," she adds. "We met in a parking lot while I was walking around," she smiles, not forgetting that she did run away.

"Yes, and young lady, we will talk about that later," he replies in a serious tone. Daisy walks toward me and gives me the bracelet. I smile as I kneel down and give her a hug. As I rise back up, Daisy runs and gives her dad a big hug. I never knew how I would react finally seeing him with his daughter, but all I feel is love.

"I missed you, dad," she whispers.

"I missed you more, Dee-Dee," he replies as he kisses her on the forehead. It's funny, really, how quickly something can morph from ugly to beautiful. My guilt eats away at me the same way it always has; how could I hate Sebastian for loving his child, for doing what he thought was best. Even though he hurt me, and I hate him for that, I can't stop loving him. I can't stop because I truly loved him. I want to hate him. I wish he was the worst person I have ever met, but even after making me cry till my eyes were dry, making me question myself, staying up countless nights, I never truly realized that all I had to do was listen.

Sebastian kneels down again and asks Daisy a question.

"Dee-Dee, do you want to come with Celine and I?"

"Yeah, sure, I'll come!" Sebastian and Dee-Dee both turn and look at me, waiting for my answer. As I look between them both, I realize that I don't really have much of a choice.