WORLD'S APART

Chapter 49

Three Years Later

Allen

In the midst of the bustling city, I  glanced at my watch, waiting for Hera and our daughter to arrive at the agreed-upon meeting spot. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the cobblestone streets, Hera finally appeared, her eyes flashing with irritation. My son, a spitting image of myself, tagged along, unaware of the tension brewing.

Hera's gaze flickered from mine to the boy beside me, a mix of hurt and anger clouding her features. "Allen, I thought this was supposed to be a special evening for our daughter and you. Why did you bring him?" she questioned, her voice laced with disappointment.

My eyes sparkled with pride as I  watched my son, the spitting image of myself.

"I thought our daughter would enjoy spending time with her brother too," I  remarked casually, my tone betraying my true feelings.

My nonchalant response only fueled Hera's frustration.

"Why do you always prioritize him over our daughter?" she accused, her voice, trembling with emotion. The clash of our conflicting emotions echoed through the crowded streets, each word a dagger in our fragile relationship.

"I am not patronizing anyone. I just want my two children to get to know each other" I shrug and she glares at me.

As the argument escalated, unresolved tensions and unspoken grievances spilled into the open, the air thick with the weight of our unmet expectations and broken promises.

.

Hera

In the heat of the moment, my voice quivered with emotion as I  confronted him , my eyes ablaze with a mix of hurt and anger.

"You always put him first, Allen. Our daughter deserves better than being constantly overlooked for him," I  exclaimed, my words cutting through the tense air like a sharp blade.

My frustration spilled over, each syllable laden with years of suppressed feelings.

"I can't keep pretending that this is okay. She needs you, Allen. She needs you to be there for her, to show her she matters too," I  continue, my voice cracking with the weight of  emotions.

Allen's response was as cold as steel, his voice devoid of emotion. "She's strong, she'll understand," he remarked dismissively, his words a stark contrast to my raw vulnerability.

The nonchalant tone in his voice only served to deepen the growing chasm between us, his indifference a painful reminder of the distance he has created.

The echoes of our argument reverberated through the city streets, a stark reminder of the rift between us. My impassioned plea laid bare the deep-seated resentment and longing for acknowledgment, my words a poignant reflection of the unspoken struggles that had plagued our relationship for far too long.

"You are never going to love her are you?" I ask taking at step back, looking at him in disbelief.

"Hera... I don't want to argue Infront of my children. Please just leave" he sighs.

"I am not going anywhere Allen! We are doing this now! She is also your child! You can't keep treating her this way! Last month you skipped her recitals just because Olivia asked you to stay at home with her! That is not all, you didn't come to her father and daughter dance, my brother had to fly in from Canada to be there for her! None of your family members came! I am sick and tired of her being cast aside, so sick of seeing her cry because her father  doesn't love her! So tell me Allen do you love your daughter!" I ask looking straight into his eyes.

"You want to the truth! Okay fine! I cannot love her the way I love Grayson! Yes! There I said it! She is my blood and I love her but it can never amount to the love I feel for Grayson! I have tried Hera, believe I have but I can't, I always see her as a reminder of my betrayal to my wife and I love my wife more than my children and if she can't bring herself to look her what would you want me to do! I pleaded with you Hera, I begged you to allow Keith adopt her when she was a baby because he loved her like his own and he was willing to father her but you said no! We wouldn't be in this situation if you allowed Keith father her, she might not even miss anything because Keith and I look alike! My wife is pregnant Hera, I can't let her stress herself much, I don't want to give her another reason to despise my daughter, so please just stop all this. The months to come are going to be harder, Livy is due anytime now and I need to be by her side. I am just one man, don't expect anything from me"he says shattering the rest of the hope I have for a better future for my daughter.

"I can't believe you just spewed this nonsense. Right Infront of me. You are a bad father Allen. I can't believe you, I am even speechless"I pace back and forth.

Allen's indifference clashed with my raw emotions, creating a tumultuous scene that laid bare the cracks in our fragile facade, leaving us both grappling with the harsh reality of our fractured family dynamic.

"Daddy, play with us!" my little girl exclaimed, tugging at Allen's sleeve with wide eyes filled with innocence and excitement.

Allen's response could either bring a smile to her face or leave her feeling unheard and unseen in her young world.

"Okay baby"he says with a force smile and I almost cry for my baby.

My little angel runs to her brother and hugs him tugging on his top, they both start running around and she starts giggling like an angel.

Who wouldn't love this bundle of joy?

Allen gives me one last glance and walks towards his children joining them in their games.

I collapse in the seat and watch them, allowing my tears fall freely.

I really wish things would have been different. I really wish Keith was the father of  my baby.

As the evening unfolded, the tension between us simmered beneath the surface, the unspoken truth hanging heavy in the air. Allen's indifference to my feelings and his clear favoritism towards his son cast a shadow over what was meant to be a joyous occasion, leaving me grappling with a mix of emotions.