Passion's Crossfire

Chapter 99

Adam

The room hangs heavy with tension as my father's gaze meets mine. His eyes, usually filled with a familiar warmth, now reflect a struggle that runs deep. I wait in silence, a sense of foreboding settling over me as he takes a deep breath, burying his face in his hands.

"I can't just divorce your mother, Adam," he admits, his voice a low murmur. The weight of his words lingers in the air, and I feel a knot tighten in my stomach

"Dad, I know that you loved her once, but she is not who she used to be. Hell, I never even met that version of Mom you speak of," I respond, my frustration bubbling to the surface.

My father looks at me, and I'm struck by the depth of worry in his eyes. It's a look that sends a shiver down my spine. "Dad, what's going on?" I press, the urgency in my voice cutting through the heavy atmosphere.

He sighs, leaning back on the couch as if the weight of his confession is too much to bear. "It's my fault... It's all my fault. I made a mistake when we were young, son. I'm so ashamed," he admits, the vulnerability in his tone revealing a side of him I never anticipated.

"I don't understand, Dad. What did you do?" I ask, my mind racing to make sense of his cryptic words.

"I was seeing Ava for some time when I met... another woman. And I slept with her," he confesses, the admission hanging in the air like a heavy cloud. The room seems to close in around me, and I find myself unable to process the enormity of his revelation.

My eyes widen in shock, the truth of his words echoing in my ears. I struggle to find words, my mind grappling with the enormity of the secret my father has kept hidden for so long.

"How long ago was this?" I manage to ask, my voice a hoarse whisper. The timeline of his confession holds a significance that eludes me in the moment.

My father takes a moment before responding, his gaze fixed on a point in the distance. "It was before you were born, Adam. Before we got married," he admits, the weight of his words landing like a heavy blow.

"Why are you telling me this now?" I finally muster the words, the confusion in my voice mirrored in my eyes.

My father meets my gaze, a mix of regret and sorrow etched on his face. "Ava found out about it. She left me. I knew I had made a mistake; it meant nothing to me. After a while, she took me back, and I swore to myself that I would never make that mistake again. And I never did," my father admits, his voice laden with regret.

My mind swirls with thoughts, unable to comprehend what all this has to do with our current situation. As my father looks up, a weariness etched on his face, I'm left grappling with the pieces of a puzzle that seem too impossible to solve.

"When I asked your mother to marry me, she wanted a prenup. The terms of the prenup are that she walks away with everything if I cheat on her... or if I ask for a divorce," he reveals, dropping another bombshell. The realization hits me like a ton of bricks – he can't divorce her, or he'll lose everything he ever worked for.

"Fuck... Dad, why would you sign that?" I burst out, my frustration and disbelief surfacing in my words.

"She... She was already pregnant with you, son. I was over the moon, so excited to be a father. She threatened that if I didn't sign it, she would disappear. I couldn't bear the thought of losing both of you," my father reveals, his voice breaking. The pieces of the puzzle click into place, and I find myself caught in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

"Fuck," I mutter, the word escaping my lips in a low, raw tone. The reality of the situation hits me like a tidal wave. I run a hand through my hair, frustration and anger building within me. The choices made in the past now dictate the course of our lives, and the realization is both infuriating and heartbreaking.

"And there is no way out of this?" I ask, my voice a desperate plea.

My father lets out a deep breath, his shoulders slumping with the weight of the truth. "Well, the same conditions apply to your mother; but she never cheated on me, and she would never ask for a divorce," he explains.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, a gesture of frustration as I grapple with the situation. "No, she would never do that," I respond. Taking a deep breath, I lock eyes with my father, "And you are sure she never cheated?"

My father nods, a certainty in his gaze. "Definitely."

"Great," I mutter with an exasperated sigh, the word dripping with a bitter irony. A few moments of heavy silence pass between us, the weight of our predicament settling over the room. My father, defeated, looks at me with a weariness that transcends the physical.

"Hey, Dad..." I say, breaking the silence, and his gaze meets mine with a sadness that tugs at my heart. "You were a great husband and father. One mistake doesn't define you."

My father manages a small smile, gratitude flickering in his eyes. "Thank you, son. It means a lot."

My mind races like a tumultuous storm, thoughts crashing against each other as the weight of newfound knowledge settles in. I look across the room at my father, worn and weary, and a surge of empathy courses through me.

"Dad, you know you can just give her everything and leave? I know she doesn't deserve it, but you also don't deserve being miserable," I suggest, my voice laced with concern.

My father shakes his head, a resolute determination in his gaze. "No," he responds firmly. "I worked so hard, and everything will pass on to you, son. This is the way it should be," he asserts.

He pinches the bridge of his nose. "Adam, your mother is causing all this trouble with me trying to stop her. If I had left her, I would be powerless right now to help you, Mallory, and her family."

Damn it. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut. He is right. The implications of his words settle over me like a heavy shroud. If he were to sever ties, my mother would be unleashed, a force of chaos that could jeopardize everything.

A shiver goes down my spine at the thought of Mallory at my mother's mercy, my father unable to step in and help. This can't go on any longer.

"Dad," I ask cautiously. "What would happen regarding your prenup, if I stepped up and took charge of your operations?"