Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 94

Liana POV

"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Alpha and Luna Silvermann!

A loud applause welcomes us as we walk to the dance floor. Axel twirls me once before I am close to his chest, and he steers me across the floor.

"Well, that was easier than I expected," he smirks, and I follow his gaze to where Adele and Luther are entangled in a steamy make-out session. "I thought Adele was going to resist him more."

"Kissing him and accepting him are not the same," I laugh. "You should know that better than most."

"True," he smiles before leaning in for a kiss.

"I'm surprised they came," I say softly as I look at Jack and Mary at their table. Mary looks tired while Jack is an empty shell. It is like his spirit is trapped with Angela's.

"I'm surprised you didn't fight my mother on inviting them," Axel grins.

"They're their oldest friends," I sigh. "It's only fair. But I would've stayed at home if I were them. This must be t*****e. Looking at us instead of you and Angela. Dreading the night instead of enjoying it. Why would they willingly do this to themselves?" "Maybe because it's better than staying at home and staring at your vegetated daughter?" He suggests.

"Neither option is healthy," I sigh. "Staying at home and harboring dark thoughts or coming here and staring at the reason for their dark thoughts."

"Whatever their motivation, it's their problem," he pulls me against his chest and kisses me when the music stops. "Tonight is about us."

"It's kind of weird to have a normal life," I laugh as we walk to our table. "I got used to the drama."

"Liana," Nina comes running to me with big eyes. "Can we talk, please?"

I look at Axel and he smiles sweetly.

"Go," he kisses me again. "I'll be at the bar."

"Thanks, Alpha," Nina says as she takes my hand and drags me outside into the garden.

"Where's the fire?" I laugh astounded and pull her to a halt.

"It's David," her eyes are wide and bewildered. "He's my mate, he just told me that. I don't know if I should believe him."

"Why don't you believe him?" I frown.

"Come on," she rolls her eyes. "We've known each other for months and now he claims to be my mate. On the night that Adele replaces hers. What are the odds? I think he's taking advantage of the situation."

"No, he's not," I say sympathetically as I take her hands. "David told Axel he's your mate that day he saw you in his office. He patiently waited for you to replace yourself after what Wilson did to you. The same way Axel waited for me."

"Really?" Her eyes tear up. "It's sweet and kind but infuriating. I mean, I love him, but I was readying myself to lose him once he meets his mate."

"I know the feeling," I smile empathetically. "But he did the right thing, Nina. Wilson did a number on you."

"So, it's real," she laughs happily. "I found my mate and this time it's real. I'm going to replace him and then ... you know."

"I do," I laugh heartedly as she hurries away.

Smiling, I watch her leave. It warms my heart that my best friend has found her mate and happiness. And the best part - she's mated to the Beta. She and I will now even see more of each other. "Liana."

The familiar voice makes my heart skip a beat and my body freezes over.

"How did you get in?" I swing around and the blood drains from my face when I look at my father. He looks terrible. His eyes are sunken into his face and his skin is covered in wrinkles.

"It's a hotel," he shrugs. "I walked in."

I am too stunned to move or say a word. At one point in my life, I loved this man most in the world. Now I am unsure what I feel. A part of me is happy but I am equally hurt and angry at him. He failed me when I needed him the most. "Why are you here, Father?" I finally found my voice.

"My daughter got married and I wasn't invited," he smiles sadly. "Can you blame me for trying to see you?"

"Yes, I can," I lift my chin. "Because you made it abundantly clear that I'm no longer your daughter."

"I want to apologize," he replies tiredly. "A lot of things were said that day and all of it in anger."

"Let me guess," I cross my arms in front of my chest. "You need money."

"No," he says hastily and takes a step towards me, but I instinctively step backwards. Pain flashes over his face but he does not attempt to come closer.

"I'm sorry," he sighs heavily. "I don't blame you for thinking that."

"That's new," I sneer. "Since I am always to blame for everything."

"I'm sorry," he starts again. "Sorry for always relying on you. For expecting you to provide for us. Most of all, I'm sorry for blaming you for Leon's death and kicking you out."

My heart weeps as I look at him. For nights, I cried myself to sleep and dreamt of this moment, but now ... I do not know if I can believe him. The fact that he found me on my wedding day means he knows I married into money. History taught me that he is here because he wants something from me. That thing is not love. And despite my reasoning, my heart begs to help him.

די

"I accept your apology," I say after a moment of silence. "But it will take time for me to truly forgive you. The things you said that day ... I'm not ready to rekindle our relationship."

"I understand," he bows his head and takes a deep breath before he looks at me again. "But don't take too long, your mother is dying. She has cancer, and it's terminal."

"For fuck's sake, Father," I explode. "Why can't you allow me one day of happiness? Of all the days, you picked my wedding to share the news with me. How can you ask for forgiveness and ruin my day in the same breath?"

"Would you rather I don't tell you?" He looks hurt and broken. "I don't know where you live. This is the only time I could get hold of you."

"Have you tried picking up a phone?" I sneer.

"This is hardly news that you share via a message or a phone call," he protests.

"You could've called and arranged a meeting," I argue as my anger overtakes my sadness. "But my happiness and needs were never a priority for you. I'm the fool to think that it has changed."

"Liana, I know I failed you," his words are soft. "But don't think you're the only one hurting. Your mother has advanced pancreatic cancer and has less than a year. Your brother is dead, and we are estranged. When she dies, I have nothing."

"So what?" I shout. "What did you leave me with when you kicked me out? For fuck's sake, I wasn't even allowed to attend my brother's funeral."

"Forget it," he says angrily. "I came here to apologize and tell you your mother is dying. Nothing else. What you do with that information, is up to you. I've done my part."

"No," I snap when he turns around. "You don't get to play the victim and walk away. For years, I sold myself short for the sake of our family. For Leon. But you and Mom refused to see him for what he was. He was weak and addicted to gambling. And instead of getting him help, you enabled him by making me work harder. When his sins finally caught up with him, you blamed me. What have you and Mom sacrificed? What have you done to help him? So, no Dad, you don't get to be the victim because I'm angry and hurt. Playing the cancer card doesn't undo what you've done."

"I'm sorry, Liana," he sighs. "An apology is all I have. Nobody can undo the past, but we can work on the future. You don't have to forgive me. Just know that I am truly sorry for my mistakes."

"Sorry doesn't heal my heart," I say with a trembling lip as I place my hands protective over my stomach. "I worshipped you, Father, and you tossed me aside like I was nothing. But you're right, we can't undo the past. I appreciate that you came to replace me and that you apologized. However, my future doesn't include you."

"Congratulations on your big day," he says softly. "And you look beautiful. I love you and I'm proud of you."

My heart breaks as he turns around and walks away.

All my life, that is all I ever wanted to hear.

But it will still take me time to believe and forgive him... How could I ever forget?