Divorced Heiress
Chapter 76

I closed the box with the necklace, as I didn't want to see that ring for another second, which had a gr I looked expressionless at Alexander, trying to guess what was going through his mind at this precise belonged to me. All he had achieved was stirring up memories that were painful at the time and that kept the pair of rings with him until now.

I opened my mouth to tell him that I didn't want the engagement ring back, let alone the wedding ring -Sarah, there you are... She fell silent upon seeing Alexander standing in front of me with Tristan in h said, her gaze repeatedly shifting between Alexander and me, unable to hide her curiosity. -The guest I nervously ran my fingers through my forehead and made my best effort to keep my mother from see -Yes, you're right. I'll go with Tristan right away.- I said, approaching Alexander so he could put my son Um... Alexander, can you put Tristan down? I want to go with him.- I calmly requested, although inexpl When Alexander finally understood, he put Tristan down as I asked, and I immediately took his little h -By the way, the three of you look very handsome. The color scheme is nicely coordinated, I like it.- My coincidence in the colors of the three outfits was just a plot from my mother. She insisted on being pr Taking advantage of my mother not looking, I left the gift bag on Tristan's nightstand. If I didn't want a -At least he didn't throw it at my face.- Alexander spoke to himself quietly behind me, but I heard him Finally, I was able to breathe normally once I was away from Alexander and whatever his intention was trouser pockets.

If there was someone who knew how to test my patience, it was Alexander Lancaster. Tristan was excit uncomfortably, unable to prevent Tristan from having that contact with Alexander. After all, he was his father and son relationship they were rebuilding.

nificance for me in the past.

t. His face didn't lose a sweet smile that made my nerves stand on end. I didn't understand what he intended by returning something that no longer anaged to overcome with time. However, I couldn't deny to myself that he had touched a sensitive chord within me, as I couldn't stop thinking that he had

hy mother's voice filled the room, conveniently interrupting this tense moment for me.

, and quickly corrected herself. Meanwhile, I took the opportunity to put the box back in the gift bag. -I mean, here you are. Sorry if I interrupted you.- She arrived and they're asking for the birthday girl. You should come down to greet them. The celebration will start in a few minutes.-

gift Alexander had just given me. In fact, I didn't want anyone to see it, because I had no intention of keeping it.

But his gaze didn't leave my face, even with my mother just a few meters away. However, apparently, he didn't understand that I wanted my son with me. - inside I was a chaos because of him.

follow my mother to the exit.

er said. I looked up at the ceiling, asking the sky not to test my patience after what my mother had just said. It didn't take long for me to realize that the during the selection of my dress.

to see Alexander's gift, it would be a bad idea to carry it with me all night. uldn't help but silently laugh, unseen by anyone.

me, but it didn't last long, as I heard his steps behind me. And when I realized it, he was silently walking on the other side of Tristan, with his hands in his

ause he loved parties and celebrations. He jumped with each step and before going down the stairs, he held onto his father's hand. I looked away I had prevented them from knowing about each other in the past, but this time, I wouldn't let myself be carried away by my impulses or interfere in the

Arriving at the garden, decorated for my birthday, I found more people than I imagined. I thought only eople who surround me every day would be present, but no, my cousins, Bastian and Hugo, as well as my uncles, had returned from their trip abroad to give me a big surprise.

And speaking of surprises, the Dubois family was also present as if they hadn't committed so many atrocities. I was impressed by the cynicism of Paul and his parents, but it was obvious that they had to pretend to achieve their goal.I greeted all the guests with a kiss and a hug, when I arrived at the Dubois', I pretended in the same way as they did and greeted them as if I was unaware of their plans. Who would have imagined that they were wolves disguised as sheep.

I wasn't surprised that Jack took care of receiving the gifts they had for me and left them on a table for when I decided to open them, although after that first birthday gift, I didn't feel like checking, at least not for today.

Upon reaching Bastian and Hugo, I greeted them with a huge smile on my face and praised them for how good they looked tonight, both had made changes to their appearance, but for the better.

My mother wanted to start with a toast, but my father interrupted her when he asked me to accompany him to his office for a few minutes.

I left Tristan with my mother, although he soon escaped from her arms to run off with Alexander, who was distractedly talking to his assistant while still looking for my gaze, but I did a good job of avoiding him since we arrived at the garden. My father closed the door to his office and looked at me with a nostalgic smile on his face before enveloping me in his arms.

-Happy birthday again.- He said over my head and I couldn't help but smile, feeling relieved in his arms. -It's your first birthday after many years hiding behind a false identity for your safety, without knowing that the danger was closer than I thought. You have no idea how much I regret putting you in this situation, I feel like because of me you have suffered many disappointments, you haven't been physically hurt, but the damage they have caused you is worse than that.- My father's voice sounded shaky, I couldn't see him, but I knew he was about to shed some tears because of his mixed feelings.

I clung to his waist, closing my eyes tightly, preventing the tears that stung in my eyes from escaping.

I understood his anguish and his feeling of guilt, but he was not to blame for anything. Nobody was to blame for Mrs. Dubois being obsessed and committing criminal acts because of unrequited love. We were not guilty of being victims of people who were mentally ill. My father simply rejected her because his heart belonged to another woman, he just wanted to be happy with the woman he loved, like everyone else in this world.

-Father, it's not your fault, only the Dubois are to blame, who would have imagined that they would be behind all this? Besides, I'm fine, I have parents that I adore and a son who means everything to me. They will pay soon for everything they have done.- I responded with a lump in my throat, trying to take the blame off my father, but it didn't work completely.

My father laughed dryly and broke our embrace, but without letting go of my arms. I felt a pain in my chest as I saw his saddened face and his tear-filled eyes.

I hated seeing my parents like that.

-Daughter, I know how much you adore your family, and I know you're fine after all, but answer me something, are you happy?- His question echoed in my head and the word became stuck in my throat when I wanted to say yes.

I repeated the word happiness in my head over and over again, asking myself if I truly was, I thought about how happy I feel with my son and smiled before nodding in response.

-I am very happy with my son, with you, my family.- I responded without hesitation and my father looked at me as if that wasn't the answer he expected.

-I'm not talking about how happy you are with your family.- He looked at me confused and soon continued speaking. -I'm talking about your heart, the person who upsets your nerves, who makes your heart beat strongly, even if it's out of anger, who unsettles you with unexpected actions or even the smallest things.- My father spoke openly and with his description, I could only think of one person, but it wasn't similar to what he was saying. If this person made me feel that way, it was because I couldn't stand him and because his actions or words were unexpected and made me angry.

A clear example was the gift he gave me.

-Dad, if there's something I've learned over time, it's that happiness doesn't depend on one person, on a partner like you're trying to make me see. I don't need a man in my life, with my son, it's more than enough to be happy. I'm a divorced woman, remember?- I responded with confidence, but from his face, he wasn't completely sure of what I was saying.

-I remember very well, and I understand what you're saying, but there's something that leaves me doubtful, and it's that ever since you came back home, I haven't seen you smile like in the photos you had with Alexander since you met him. You've changed, you've become a cold woman and you've locked your heart away.- My father said, and I let out a tired sigh upon hearing that name that exasperated me and completely let go of my father when I realized what he was trying to do.

- Alexander is a closed chapter in my life. Before you hated him, why are you now trying to help him? If he has asked you to talk to me to try to convince me to marry him again, then you are wasting your time. - I said, somewhat agitated, walking towards the desk and turning my back, and my father chuckled softly as he approached me.

- I wouldn't convince you of something you don't want. I hated him because you came back shattered because of him, but what he did was to protect you, it's not so different from what I did to you in the past, I left you almost adrift, without my last name, I made you choose between your family and your happiness, he was your happiness despite everything. - I turned to look at him in disbelief and his hand took mine. - Sari, I'm not justifying him at all, but I understand what he felt when the person he loved the most was in danger, in that situation you don't think with a clear head, you would do anything to keep the person you love safe, you find the first solution, even if it's the worst decision of your life, and you decide to risk everything to keep yourselves safe.-

I looked away from my father with a bitter smile on my face, reluctant to share his opinion on the matter, but a part of me made me see everything from another perspective.

My father wanted to protect me when they tried to kidnap me and he hid me by taking away his last name. Alexander wanted to protect me from the death threat and he decided to give in to Rachel and her blackmail.

The smile vanished from my face when I realized that in my mind I was trying to justify Alexander.

- What are you trying to get at with all this? Do you want me to forget what I saw in Alexander's office and pretend like nothing happened? Do you want me to go back to him? - I asked irritated with myself for almost giving in to my father's persuasion.

- No, I know you and I know you're very proud, you can love someone in your heart, but if they hurt you, you would never go back and risk getting hurt again. - I looked with feigned amusement at my father for what he just said.

Love in my heart?

I didn't love Alexander.

- I don't love him and it's called dignity. - I replied without enthusiasm, tired of this subject.

Did he bring me here for that?

- I would say it's fear. But, anyway, -you don't love him-. Even though he's madly in love with you, he's not the only man in this world capable of making you happy. - I let out a dry laugh when my father made quotation marks with his fingers and I heard the words "madly in love with you".

What had that man put in my father's head?

- Alright, I've got it. Everything in due time, I don't want to make a mistake again. - I said firmly, intending to reach the end of this subject that would only give me a headache.

My father understood and smiled at me, although he didn't seem very satisfied.

- Daughter, I just want you to be happy, I want to see you smile again, no matter how many times you try, no matter how many mistakes you make, mistakes are meant to be made, no one is perfect in this world, but only we ourselves decide to take the risk of being happy as many times as necessary. - I nodded my head, understanding his message perfectly, he only wanted the best for me and would always be there to mend my wings. - Leaving this topic aside, I want to give you my birthday gift.-

My father let go of me and walked to his desk to search through some folders for a sealed white envelope, he handed it to me and I read what was written on the note without seeing its contents.

"Happy 30th Birthday to the Doinel heiress. With love, your father."

I smiled when I saw the short message, my father was a man of few words when it came to notes, and this time was no exception.

- Thank you very much, the note alone is enough. - I said before hugging him tightly around the neck, and a smile returned to my face, after the bad taste that our conversation left me.

- If it's enough, then there's no need to open it now, you can open it when you feel like things aren't going the way you want, I had it prepared for you for a while and this is the perfect moment to give it to you. - I nodded my head, agreeing with him. After all, I had decided not to open any gifts after seeing Alexander's.

And again Alexander.

I must stop associating him with everything that happens around me, this was not being healthy for me. Happy birthday.