Isabelle saw that I was agitated, so she came over and said, “That’s enough. I’ll tell you about it later. Mark hates noises, so you should calm down first and sit down. If you keep speaking loudly, he’ll be unhappy.”
“I can’t calm down, Mom. I’ve wanted to ask you since Nathan said I’m not his daughter. It’s been so long, but you keep hiding the truth from me. I’ve been waiting patiently with nothing to show. Can’t you tell me? I’m your daughter. Can’t you comfort me a little when I’m down and helpless?” I retorted.
I burst out with discontentment. Isabelle was never around whenever I needed her. She was my mother, so I wished she would encourage me a little whenever I was down and needed support.
“When Nathan said that I’m not his daughter, I was scared and wanted to see you. However, you did not say anything and hung up on me. Mom, do I not matter to you because we haven’t seen each other for more than a decade? Am I nothing to you? Is that why you abandoned me with the Tanners?”
Isabelle looked at me with a shocked expression. I was usually mild-tempered, so she did not expect me to lash out at her. After a moment of silence, she sighed and said, “It’s not that I don’t want to say anything. Some matters have to be revealed at the right time. Since you have grown up, I don’t want to cause you pressure by restricting you like a child. I’m sorry, Eve.”
I was always reluctant to make Isabelle angry. When she said that to calm me, I began to feel guilty again. I realized that I should not hurt her, as she must have been sad in all those years. Otherwise, she would not be so busy after returning to the country.
“I shouldn’t have lost my temper.” I took a deep breath to calm down. Then, I set aside the newspaper I was holding and asked, “All I want to know is who my father is. Mom, can you tell me?”
Isabelle frowned and seemed conflicted. She looked up quickly. After glancing at my expression, her gaze turned to somewhere behind me, and she chuckled. “It has been reported in the newspaper. Didn’t you read it?”
“I’m Mark’s daughter? This…” I found it hard to believe that Isabelle had an affair with Mark while with Nathan. It turned out that I was Mark’s daughter.
“It’s rude to call your father by his name.” A gentle and warm voice came from behind me.
I turned around immediately and saw Mark dressed in a beige suit. He seemed refined and outstanding. Even though he was past his fifties, he had a mature charm. People were right to say that men age like wine. When he stood beside Isabelle, he did not seem old. Instead, they looked beautiful together.
I wondered if he was really my father, and I still found it quite hard to believe.
“Please have a seat. I know that you love spicy food. The restaurant here has a chef famous for his spicy cuisine, and he makes the best spicy dishes. I’m certain that you will like it.” Mark looked at me kindly. He seemed courteous, and his eyes crinkled with a smile as he passed the menu to me.
I held the menu and looked at his kindly expression without saying a word.
“Is something wrong?” Mark reached out to pat my head, but I dodged his hand. Therefore, he smiled in exasperation, retracted his hand, and said calmly, “I’ve also just known about this. If Wesley did not tell me, I would never have guessed it. It’s all my fault. I left you in another family all these years. You must have suffered.”
I glanced at Isabelle and saw that she did not seem excited. After Mark appeared, she turned quiet and only listened to him speak.
“I know it’s hard for you to accept it now. However, it’s fine. You’re my only daughter, so from now on, I’ll take good care of you.” Mark smiled kindly and poured me a cup of tea. “Yvonne, can you call me Dad?”
