Rivals Redemption

chapter 75 : A step towards healing

Rowan Cortez

As I stood outside the restaurant, the excitement from earlier still coursing through my veins. Tina had won the case. She fought like a lioness in that courtroom, and it only made me admire her more. When the verdict was announced, I couldn't hold back any longer. I had pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss right in front of everyone. I didn't care who was watching. She was mine, and she had just achieved something incredible. I had never been prouder.

Now, it was time to celebrate. My parents had extended an invitation to Tina's parents for dinner. It felt like a major step, especially considering how rocky things had been between my dad and Mr. Diaz for years. My mom, Morana, had been excited about it. She genuinely liked Tina and admired her family-well, except for Mr. Victor Diaz, who still wasn't thrilled about me. And from what Tina told me, he'd been even more resistant lately, especially when it came to accepting our relationship. But tonight was about moving past all of that, or at least trying to.

Tina showed up looking like an absolute goddess. She wore an olive green backless dress that hugged her curves in all the right places, her legs looking endless in those Chanel heels. Her hair was up in a messy bun, strands falling loosely around her face, giving her that effortlessly sexy look that drove me wild. Her makeup was flawless, her lips a deep shade of red that I couldn't stop staring at, and the dress-tailored to perfection by her mother-highlighted every inch of her figure, especially her perfect tits. The moment I saw her, I didn't care that we were outside a restaurant. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her deeply, savoring every second of her taste.

"You look amazing," I whispered against her lips, my hands resting on the small of her back, brushing over the exposed skin. "I missed you."

She smiled up at me, her eyes gleaming. "I missed you too. And don't think I didn't notice how good you look in that suit, Mr. Cortez."

I chuckled, feeling the tension in my chest release for the first time all day. As much as I had been looking forward to this dinner, I knew there was still one looming uncertainty-her father. I hadn't expected him to come, honestly. He had been adamant about avoiding any personal interactions outside of business.

Inside the restaurant, my mom and Tina's mom, Sarah, were already in deep conversation, laughing and chatting as if they'd known each other for years. It was the first time I'd seen them together, and it was kind of surreal. Sarah Silvers Diaz was as glamorous in person as her reputation suggested. Watching her and my mom get along so well was refreshing, especially after everything we'd gone through with Tina's dad.

Tina and I made our way to the table, where I pulled out her chair. Before I could take my own seat, I heard the sound of the door opening behind us. I turned to see Mr. Victor Diaz stepping into the restaurant. His presence immediately shifted the atmosphere. He was late, as expected, and carried himself with the kind of authority that came with running a multi-million dollar aerospace company.

For a second, I wasn't sure if he was going to acknowledge me or just walk straight past. But to my surprise, he gave me a nod, tight-lipped but not completely dismissive. It was progress, at least.

"Well, look who decided to join us," Reginald said, his tone casual but laced with years of unspoken tension.

Victor glanced at him, his eyes hard but not as hostile as I had imagined they might be. "Reginald," he said curtly, taking his seat across from my dad. "I see some things never change."

My mom shot my dad a warning look, clearly trying to keep things civil. "Victor, it's been a long time. We're happy you could make it," she said, offering him a polite smile.

Victor barely acknowledged her, his focus shifting to Tina, who sat beside me. "Congratulations on winning your case today, Tina. You've made your mother and I proud."

Tina smiled warmly at him, though I could see the tension in her shoulders. "Thanks, Dad. It means a lot."

We all took our seats, and for a while, the conversation was light. My mom and Sarah continued to talk about fashion, with Sarah complimenting my mom on her medical work and praising Tina's brilliance in the courtroom. But as the evening progressed, it was clear the main event was about to unfold.

Victor cleared his throat, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at my dad. "So, Reginald, after all these years, I have to ask-was it worth it?"

My dad raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. "Worth what, exactly?"

"All of this," Victor gestured vaguely, his tone biting. "The competition, the underhanded tactics, letting Kevin Jonas manipulate the both of us. Was it worth destroying a friendship over?"

The table fell silent. I could feel Tina tense beside me, and I instinctively reached for her hand under the table, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

My dad exhaled slowly. "Victor, if I had known back then what I know now, I would have done things differently. But you have to understand, Kevin played us both. It wasn't just about business; he had his own agenda. And we fell right into his trap."

Victor's jaw clenched, clearly not ready to let go of the grudge he'd been holding for decades. "Maybe you've forgiven yourself, but that doesn't change the fact that I lost years of hard work because of you."

"And I lost just as much," my dad countered, his voice steady but firm. "We were both victims, Victor. It's time to let it go."

Victor didn't respond immediately. He looked down at his plate, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought he was going to explode, but then he surprised all of us.

"I don't know if I can ever let it go completely," he admitted, his voice softer now. "But I can't deny that my daughter is in love with your son. And she seems happy. That's all that matters."

Tina's eyes widened in shock, and I could feel my own heart racing. This was the closest Victor Diaz had come to giving us his blessing.

"Dad..." Tina whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Victor looked at her, his gaze softening. "I still don't think he's good enough for you, Tina. But maybe, just maybe, I've been wrong about a few things."

It wasn't an outright approval, but it was a start. For the first time, I felt like there might be hope that Victor Diaz would stop standing in the way of my relationship with his daughter.

The rest of the dinner passed without any more heated words, though the tension never fully disappeared. Still, it was a step in the right direction. When the evening came to an end, I pulled Tina close as we walked out of the restaurant, feeling more hopeful than I had in a long time.

"I think that went better than expected," Tina whispered, leaning into me.

I chuckled softly. "Yeah, but I'm still not off the hook with your dad."

She smiled, kissing my cheek. "We'll get there."

As we walked toward the car, I couldn't help but glance back at our families-my mom laughing with Sarah, and Victor exchanging a stiff handshake with my dad. Maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something new.