Waves of Healing (Mikhaiah)

Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Truth and Forgiveness

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Miley’s POV

Nakaupo ako sa sahig ng living room ko habang nilalaro si Neon ng may kumatok sa pintuan ko. Agad akong tumayo at pumunta sa pintuan ko. Wala akong inaasahan na bibisita sakin, sino kaya ito? Dahil sa curiosity ko ay binuksan ko na ang pintuan. As I opened it, I was not prepared for who I saw standing there.

It was my father.

“Dad?” I managed to choke out, my voice raspy from all the emotions. “What are you doing here?”

His face was serious, his eyes filled with an emotion I hadn’t seen from him in years. “Miley,” he started, stepping forward, “we need to talk.”

For a second, I just stared at him. He hadn’t been to my place in years, and now he shows up unannounced? The anger that had been bubbling inside of me since the argument with Ava started to resurface.

I crossed my arms, my voice sharper now. “What do you want, Dad? What’s there left to say?”

He sighed, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation, his eyes scanning the disarray of my house. Pinagmasdan ko siya. Mas tumanda ang itsura niya, ang mga buhok ay nag uumpisa nang maging kulay abo. His gaze softened, but I could still see the tension in his body.

“Miley, I know you’re upset,” he began, his voice softer than I expected, “but there’s something you need to understand.”

Kinuyom ko ang kamao ko, the anger rushing to the surface again. “Upset? You think I’m just upset? Ava thinks you killed her father, Dad! Do you know what kind of position that puts me in? How am I supposed to defend you when I don’t even know the truth?” My voice rose, and I could feel the sting of tears, but I fought them back.

His face fell, and for a moment, he looked... tired. “I didn’t kill Ricardo, Miley. I would never do that to my best friend. Para ko na siyang kapatid.”

“Then why didn’t you show up at his funeral? If you’re so innocent, why weren’t you there? You left his family to grieve alone.” malakas kong turan sa kanya, my voice trembling with rage.

He closed his eyes for a second, as if steadying himself. “I was under investigation at that time,” he said quietly, his tone laced with regret. “The authorities suspected me, and if I had gone to the funeral, it would’ve made things worse—para sakin, para sa pamilya natin at para sayo.”

“Under investigation?” pag ulit ko sa sinabi niy, my disbelief dripping with sarcasm. “Yan yung dahilan mo? You were so worried about how it would look that you couldn’t even pay your respects to a man who was like family to you?”

He ran a hand through his hair, his frustration showing. “It wasn’t just about appearances, Miley. If I showed up, the media would have made it into a spectacle. They would have dragged our family into the mess, dragged *you* into the mess. And I’m sorry. But I was trying to protect you.”

Iniling ko ang ulo ko, pacing back and forth as the emotions overwhelmed me. “Protect me? You didn’t protect me, Dad. You left me in the dark! All this time, I thought you didn’t care. I thought you were too busy with your career to even mourn your best friend.”