Rhys
"Why..." I slowly began, swallowing the lump in my throat as I fought to keep my voice steady. I couldn’t let my past ruin today. "Why didn’t you come forward earlier if you knew what you did was wrong, Father? Why didn’t you show your face all this time? Even Linda had a change of heart—she came back and apologized for everything she did. But you... you stayed away. You let me carry the brunt of your sins. If I hadn’t met Kayden, I would still be living in your shadow. I would still be that boy you controlled."
My father inhaled deeply, resting a heavy, warm palm gently on my shoulder.
"You may not believe this, Rhys, but I was so deeply ashamed of myself," he admitted quietly, lowering his eyes. "I was living in my own delusion for a long time until I finally realized that you didn’t deserve a single second of the pain I caused you. I am so sorry, son. For everything." He paused, taking a step back and looking at me with a sorrowful expression.
"Trust me, I didn’t come here today to ruin your wedding with Kayden. I actually went to see him earlier... I apologized to him for everything I did, and he was the one who told me I needed to come talk to you. If my presence here today is going to ruin this moment for you... I will leave right now."
I closed my eyes for a long moment, taking a deep, slow breath.
I looked at myself in the mirror one last time. I was tired. I was so tired of dwelling on past scars and holding onto old bitterness.
It was time to let it go—just like Kayden had done with his own family history before his father passed away.
My father was still standing right here in front of me, alive and reaching out. Even if our relationship would always remain somewhat distant, and even if building true closeness would take time, holding onto anger on the day I was starting a new life felt wrong.
Forgiving him was the ultimate step toward my own peace.
"It’s alright, Father," I said softly, turning around to face him directly for the first time. "I forgave you a long time ago. I came to understand that you were just carrying out the brutal expectations your own father ingrained in your head. I’m just glad... glad I broke the cycle before I passed that down."
A faint, emotional smile broke across my father’s face, and he let out a long, heavy sigh of relief. "Rebecca must really be shaking her head at me from above for everything I put her sweet boy through," he murmured, his eyes glistening. "I will keep proving to you how sorry I am, Rhys. Even if my words can’t fix the past."
"It’s alright, Father. Really."
He looked at me hesitantly, his hands trembling slightly at his sides. "Can I... can I give you a hug, son?"
I looked at him, seeing the genuine, desperate longing of a father just wanting to embrace his child. In all twenty-something years of my life, my father and I had never hugged. Not once.
Our entire dynamic had been strictly professional, centered entirely on drills, ice time, stats, and becoming the star player he never got to be.
An awkward beat passed as I stood there, not even knowing how to position my arms. "I... I don’t really know how I’m supposed to—"
Before I could finish the sentence, my father stepped forward and wrapped his arms tightly around my shoulders, pulling me into a firm embrace. He patted my back with a steady, grounding rhythm.
"I am so exceptionally proud of you, son," he whispered into my shoulder, his voice thick with uncontainable emotion. "I am so proud of the man you’ve become. I know I never said those words to you while you were growing up, but I promise I will try to be a better father to you from now on. I love you so much, Rhys."
I stood there in silence for a moment, wrapping my arms around him in return.
Fatherly warmth. For the very first time in my life, I actually felt it.
After a quiet moment, my father slowly stepped back, wiping a hand across his eyes. "Your grandfather, on the other hand... Rami is still..."
"I know," I cut him off smoothly before he could finish. I knew exactly who Rami Calder was—a stubborn, rigid man who would never change. But I didn’t care about his approval anymore. I had already broken free from his shadow and dismantled the cold, toxic legacy he valued so much.
"So, Father..." I rubbed my hands together, shifting my weight as a sudden, urgent question popped back into my head.
My father looked at me curiously as I trailed off. "What is it, Rhys? Tell me."
"How... how was Kayden when you saw him earlier?" I asked, my voice laced with quiet eagerness. "Is he doing okay? How did he look?"
My father’s face immediately relaxed, a warm, knowing chuckle escaping his lips as his eyes lit up. "Ah, I see," he said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Don’t you worry, son. He is absolutely glowing. He looked so breathtakingly handsome in his suit, and he told me himself that he couldn’t wait to walk down that aisle to you."
Hearing those words hit my chest like a wave of pure relief.
My heart thudded hard again, but this time, it wasn’t out of fear or anxiety—it was pure, overwhelming excitement knowing that he was feeling the exact same anticipation as me.
"You found an incredible man, son," my father added, tapping my back affectionately.
At that exact moment, the dressing room door swung open again, and Miller hurried in holding a pair of polished cufflinks. The moment Miller spotted my father standing beside me, his eyes widened in total shock, his hands freezing mid-air.
"It’s alright, Miller," I said, a faint smile touching my lips. "We made up."
Miller’s jaw dropped for a fraction of a second before a huge, triumphant grin broke across his face. He let out a loud clap, stepping into the room. "Man, I am so damn happy for both of you!" he exclaimed, looking back and forth between us. "Seriously, I’ve been waiting for this moment for years. I’m so glad you guys cleared the air."
Miller checked his watch and straightened his lapel, his face turning bright with excitement. "Now, gentlemen... we have a wedding to get to!"
I let out a deep, cleansing breath, turning back to the mirror one last time. I adjusted my burgundy lapels, smoothed down my suit jacket, and gave my reflection a firm, confident nod.
"I’m ready," I said quietly, looking over at Miller and my father. "Let’s go get my forever."
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