Twice in a Lifetime (Zayn Malik)

Chapter 44. Father.

Chapter 44

Mia's POV

"You." I said, astonished to see his familiar face. His black hair was pushed back with huge amounts of gel, and the wrinkles on his forehead were very apparent. Must be from the stress of working so hard. He probably never had a single moment to rest.

How do I recognize him, you ask? Because of all the pictures I used to see around our house. On the walls hung photos of them both - mother and father - with stern expressions on their faces as mum sat on the chair and the businessman stood behind her.

"Mia. How've you been?" My father asked with a warm smile on his face. I was kind off thrown off at it - at his sudden reappearance in my life. It's been at least twenty years since I last saw him and he had the nerve to ask me how I was doing. He asked me how I was doing! There's no doubt that we didn't have the closest father-daughter relationship. Even a

stranger could tell.

"I've been well, thank you." I swallowed back my true emotions. I was and never will be good at confrontations, especially with my parents.

"Good." He replied.

I remained quiet and looked towards Nanny who gave me a reassuring smile. There's something odd about this moment. I pictured meeting my parents, well never, actually. Seeing my father face to face was something I intended to do, just not now. It was too soon. Way too soon.

My father moved to the opposite seat from me and poured himself a glass of wine. There was a suspicious tension, as I exchanged confused looks from my father to Nanny.

"What's going on?" I asked, breaking the silence. They immediately looked at each other before answering me.

"Your mother. She's sick." My father said turning to look at me.

"Sick?" I could tell from the sound of his deep voice it wasn't the common cold kind of sick.

"It's not a temporary illness. It's," he hesitated a moment and I was beginning to lose my patience. "She's dying."

"She's what? Please tell me this is some sick joke."

"It's true." My Nana spoke.

I stared at the ground in disbelief. My mother? Dying? Even though I've never met her in two decades, I almost feel bad.

"From what?"

"The doctor says it's genetic and there is no cure." My father explained. Nanny started to sob and she got up from her seat, and excused herself from the conversation. She was always very sensitive and her and my mother were close. I just didn't know how close.

"Is there a name for her sickness? How long has she been sick?" I asked, suddenly curious of my mother's well being.

"It's very rare."

He wasn't giving me enough information. I felt as if I was being left in the dark on purpose and I wanted to yell. Shout at why my own father would keep his words so short and cryptic.

"Rare? I am completely and utterly confused in the most possible way. I need explanations. I need details." Then it hit me. "You planned my abduction, didn't you?"

"Very good, Mia. I'm glad you've still got Father's cleverness in you." He paused for a moment, gazing at me intently. "You've got your mother's eyes. Dark yet enchanting. One of the many reasons why I fell for your mother." He said before taking another sip of the red wine.

"You didn't have to kidnap me in order to talk to me. Normal people just call each other or meet at a cafe or something. Resorting to kidnap is illegal. How did you even manage to do that at an airport?" I already mentally answered that question in my head. My father was a powerful man. Of course he had connections, probably even with the airport to do it.