Silent Eyes

36, Selene

Monica had been living with her parents, temporarily staying on their couch for the past four months. Her pregnant belly had grown significantly, and she was nearing her due date. Overwhelmed with stress, she feared that Andreas wouldn't be present for the birth of their baby, as she hadn't heard from him in a while. Despite sending him ultrasound pictures and medical updates, he had yet to respond. Sitting on the couch, Monica anxiously pulled at her hair.

Her dad entered the room and immediately noticed his daughter's distress. Coming to a halt, he let out a sigh. "Why don't you try to relax?" he suggested. "We're here for you, and you don't need him." He sat down beside her, and Monica dropped her hands, trembling. "But daddy, that doesn't change the fact that he's the baby's father," she croaked. Monica's eyes welled up with tears, and though she tried her best to hold them back, she was finding it increasingly difficult to keep her emotions in check.

As she picked up her phone to send Andreas another lengthy text, her dad reached out and started rubbing her back.

Monica wasn't trying to reconcile with Andreas; she just wanted reassurance that he would be there for their child. Although she had friends and family to support her during the pregnancy, she dreaded the thought of their daughter growing up feeling abandoned by her father. Monica wasn't ready to shoulder that burden alone. She needed Andreas to say something, anything, just so the pounding headache would subside.

Eventually, her phone began to ring. Both Monica and her dad looked down at the screen, their eyes widening at the sight of Andreas' name. She reached out to answer, but her dad caught her wrist and hesitated. "Are you sure about this?" he asked, his eyes searching hers. Monica had confided in her dad about the abusive relationship-the closet incident, the broken fingers, and Andreas' explosive behavior. The only thing she left out were Andreas' ties to the Greek mafia and the incident where innocent civilians were harmed in a hotel shooting. Her dad was understandably worried, and she understood his concerns.

"Dad," she said softly, touching his hand. "Trust me."

With that, she rose from the couch and slipped away to find some privacy. She answered the phone, and to her surprise, it was Andreas on the other end. This time, his voice sounded calm and ready to talk. "I'm sorry," he said. "I know you've been trying to reach out, I just couldn't talk yet." Monica paused, biting her lip. "It's fine," she replied. "But we need to talk... about the baby, Andreas." After their conversation, Monica filled her parents in on what was discussed.

Andreas had agreed to fly out the next day. Upon learning that Monica was working in a call center and saving up for an apartment while staying at her parents' place, he promised to buy her a house. However, Monica trembled as she explained that she only wanted him to support the baby, nothing more. With her due date rapidly approaching, she needed-no, she wanted-Andreas to be there when the momentous day arrived. Though their relationship was currently in shambles, it didn't mean they couldn't share the beautiful experience of welcoming their baby girl into the world together.

And then the important day arrived. Monica was in the hospital, tightly holding Andreas' hand and screaming in pain as she gave birth. Their daughter emerged, crying, and everyone in the room gasped, captivated by the moment. The doctors placed the baby on Monica's chest, and she cradled their daughter close to her heart. Andreas watched with a trembling smile. "Είναι όμορφη," he whispered in Greek. Monica didn't understand the words and looked up at him. "I'm sorry?" Andreas leaned down, gently touching their baby's hair, his eyes welling up with tears. "I said she's beautiful, Monica." He then met her gaze and whispered, "She looks a lot like her beautiful mother."

Everyone present respected their need for privacy and left the new parents alone. However, Monica noticed her father speaking to a guard outside, perhaps giving a warning to keep a watchful eye on Andreas. She sighed, wishing her father would let go of his protectiveness, even if just for a moment.

On that special day, they decided to name their baby girl Selene, which meant "The Moon" in Greek. Monica had been struggling to choose a name, but surprisingly, Andreas was the one who came up with it. Monica playfully teased him, turning on her side, "I thought you wanted a boy." Andreas chuckled, his eyes still fixated on Selene as he played with her curls. "Eh, it doesn't matter anymore. I'm happy with the little princess you've given me." Finally, he turned to face Monica. "Thank you, Monica."

As Monica laid back, feeling drained and exhausted, she desperately needed some rest. She rested her head against the pillow while Andreas cradled little Selene in his strong arms and sang to her. Monica watched, a weak grin forming on her face. Initially, she hadn't expected someone like Andreas, with his intimidating tattoos and fierce demeanor, to be so tender. But seeing him shower Selene's face with kisses and whisper Greek lullabies melted her heart. Soon, Monica closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Against Monica's initial resistance, Andreas provided them with a house. She wanted to confront him about it, but she had to consider their circumstances. She was crashing her parent's house, earning a minimal income, and now a mother to an infant. Their baby needed a roof over her head, and while Monica wished to be independent and work for herself rather than relying on handouts, she reluctantly accepted the house and thanked Andreas.

Andreas was committed to addressing his anger issues. Every time he looked at Monica's fingers, still wrapped in bandages, he couldn't bear the guilt. He sought therapy and was willing to confront his own trauma in order to better himself, which made Monica proud. He apologized for locking her in the closet and began to berate himself mentally for breaking her fingers. He had been unaware of his actions until Monica left the house, and Tobias informed him.

Thankfully, Monica understood. She recognized that, at the time, Andreas had lost control and wasn't truly himself. He didn't hurt her out of malice, but out of fear that she would leave with their child and never return. Lost in a fit of panic, he didn't know how to handle the situation. Of course, that didn't absolve him of responsibility for his actions, but it allowed for a sense of peace between them. They were slowly coming together as parents and finding the best way to raise Selene, even if it meant doing so separately.

Someone rang the doorbell, and the guard invited the visitor inside, revealing it to be Monica. Andreas was still gathering their daughter's belongings when Monica entered the room. Serene, filled with excitement, jumped up and ran into her mother's arms. Monica lifted the girl off the floor and embraced her tightly. Meanwhile, Andreas stood upright, watching the heartwarming reunion unfold. "Oh, baby!" Monica cooed. "I missed you." Serene was now hopping on her feet, eagerly recounting all the fun they had. Monica listened attentively, a smile lighting up her face as she playfully pinched their daughter's cheeks.

That's when Andreas recalled his conversation with Serene the previous night, realizing its significance. As he gently set down the girl's sparkly backpack, a dark resolve took hold of him-he was determined to reclaim his family.