Her Deviant Husband

23. Our Miracle

Athira's pov.

My family was... a lot, to put it mildly. And I felt bad to have suddenly introduced a rock like human Reyansh to them when they all had such unique personalities and Reyansh had no personality what so ever. 

But in all honesty when Reyansh told my family that he loved me and would do anything for me. My heart had stopped for a moment only to beat in full force again for a man who I knew was a monster on the inside and probably didn't have things like emotions. 

Yet, when he said the words I love her. 

I felt like I was also marrying for love and not a business transaction.
Fuck. Don't think about that right now Athira.  

Anyways, after the theatrics of the last hour, I found myself chasing after papa who and stormed out to his study. 

When I reached the door. I found door ajar, and through the gap, I could see Papa sitting by his desk. One that I'd seen him occupy a thousand times before. One where I would sit on and order him around while playing princess as a kid. The desk where I would hide every time I did some mischief and wanted to save myself from maa's wrath. 

I never thought a day would come where I would have to convince my papa for more than two minutes to get something in life.

I saw a glass of whiskey that sat untouched.

Papa was standing by the window, his back to me. His white doctor's coat was draped over the back of a chair, and his shoulders were stiff, a clear sign that his temper hadn't yet settled. The side seatee in front of him was a scattered mess of patient files, diagnostic reports, and surgery plans. 

I pushed the door open gently and stepped inside.

"Papa?"

He didn't look at me.

"What do you want, Athira?" His voice was disappointed, but no longer angry.

I walked over and sat on the small couch across from his desk, curling my legs beneath me like I used to when I was a child sneaking into his office late at night. 

"I wanted to talk to you," I said softly.

He finally lifted his gaze to meet mine, and the weariness in his eyes struck me like a punch to the gut.

"If you're here to convince me about that... boy," he said, his voice tight with barely restrained frustration, "you're wasting your time."

"Papa, I'm not here to argue. I just... I want you to listen to me."

He walked up the chair a took a seat as he leaned back, running a hand through his still naturally brown hair with a few grey stands beneath all the brown.

"Alright," he said after a moment, gesturing vaguely. "Talk."

I hesitated, searching for the right words.
"Papa, I know you're upset. I know you don't trust Reyansh. And I understand why. But I need you to trust me. Trust that I know what I'm doing."

He scoffed, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. 

"Trust you? Athira, you're my baby, My little moon. You think I can just turn off the part of me that wants to protect you from every goddamn thing in this world? Do you have any idea how hard it is to see you standing there, defending someone I don't believe deserves you?"

"Papa..."

He cut me off, his voice rising slightly.

"I'm not against you falling in love, Athira. If I ever came across to you like that then you are mistaken about my intentions. I want you fall in love and experience love of your own, because Love is the most wonderful feeling in this world."