Check Mate (Unedited)

Chapter 18

》》Jason《《

I walked into one of many hospital rooms with Adrian by my side. This specific one contained the death bed of my father. He called me here for some reason.

We walked inside to see him coughing madly into his elbow with Roxy by his side holding a glass of water.

"Jason," he coughed, "You made it!"

"Here dad, drink some," she encouraged handing Daniel the glass of water.

"I guess," I stated in response. "What am I doing here?"

Daniel sat up before tugging the sheets tucking him in with almost all his strength. He got off the bed and took a few steps up to me witht the help of Roxy. When he was only a few about 3 feet away he told Roxy to let him go.

The view confused me. I didn't quite know what he was trying to do. Why?

He went down on his knees before me. Adrian looked at me but my gaze was fixed on the man on his knees before me.

"Forgive me Jason. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for abandoning you, for trying to use you, for being the reason behind your mother's death. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being the absent father in your life.

"I didn't have a father present in my life but I was so selfish I let you suffer the same fate. I forced you to do something you didn't enjoy, I didn't understand, I didn't support you, I wasn't there to teach you how to be a man but instead you had to learn the hard way.

"I'm sorry, here I am, on my knees begging you, to please forgive me... I'm sorry Jason Wilbert Dutton. I'm sorry," Daniel apologised.

I sighed and looked away avoiding eye contact. I walked up to Daniel and tried pulling him onto his feet, "Come on Daniel get up. You are not well."

"First tell me Jason. Do you forgive me?" he asked.

"Daniel, just get up," I instructed avoiding the question.

"No! Answer me Jason!" he demanded getting me to let go of him.

"Daniel just get up!" I ordered sternly.

"Jason, tell me the truth."

"I don't know!! Ok? I don't know," I burst out. "I need to think. I need to process this. Is it a crime to think? No. Now can I think about this?"

Daniel got up with the help of Roxy. He looked into my eyes with tears in his. My heart softened at the view. I had never seen him cry before. All my life, I thought his ability to cry was turned off somehow.

"Do you forgive me?" he asked with his voice cracking.

"I. Don't. Know."

A tear drop instantly ran down his cheek. He took deep breaths as more tears raced down his cheeks.

The moment saddened me but at the same time it angered me.

"Daniel, she was innocent. She did nothing wrong. She needed you. We needed you. Why do you only decide to change when you're about to die?! Huh? If you didn't have lung cancer you would still be the monster that you are!!" I yelled.

"Jason!" Roxy reprimanded.

"No Roxanne! Our mother suffered for us! Where were you then?! She was dying!! When we don't need you anymore, you decide to show up because you need us!! You only came back because you were left with nothing!!"

Daniel looked at me, face drenched in tears, eyes displaying so much pain.

"We lost our mother because of you!! And you expect me to forgive?!"