FLASH MARRIAGE; CHARMED BY THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE CEO - Chapter 158

Chapter 158: Father-Daughter Reunion

Back in the living room, Judith and Van were happily chatting away, enjoying some delicious treats. But Senator Gregory kept to himself brooding over his thoughts. His head was lowered, and his heart was heavy as he waited patiently for Amelia and her husband to join them.

‘What am I going to say to her? Where am I going to start from? I have failed her as a father and I failed my late wife. Will she ever forgive me?’ the senator queried his thoughts in agony.

“Amy!”

Judith’s thrilled voice forced the senator to look up. He slowly rose to his feet, his trembling hands placed behind his back as he watched Judith and Van make their way forward to welcome his daughter.

Amelia’s smile widened as she ran into her aunt’s outstretched arms.

“Hello, Aunt Judith. It’s so good to see you.”

“Me too, my sweet child.” Judith embraced Amelia warmly, tears of joy flowing down her cheeks.

“I’m so sorry for what happened to Sarah and the stress you were made to go through. How are you, now?”

“I’m fine, my sweetheart. You’re the one I should be asking that question after everything you did trying to save Sarah. She told us how bravely you stood up to that evil man from the pit of hell. I’m so glad he didn’t execute his evil plans on either of you. Thank you so much, my darling.”

“You’re welcome, aunty. It’s the least I could do for my sister.”

“How is your head?” Judith said examining Amelia’s bandaged head. “Does it still hurt?”

“Not much. The doctor has already checked it and attended to you.”

“Thank you so much, Amy.” Judith embraced Amelia again. “My family and I, are forever indebted to you and your husband.”

“You’re welcome, aunt.”

“Enough with all the emotional drama before you women flood this entire sitting room with your tears.” Van teased from behind.

“I think someone is jealous,” Judith replied, releasing Amelia, who was laughing.

“Me, jealous? Maybe a little.” Van gestured playfully, causing another ripple of laughter from the women.

“Hello, sweetheart.” Van stepped forward, with arms opened wide.

“Hi, Uncle Van,” Amelia said, embracing him. “Welcome to my home.”

They both exchanged warm pleasantries before Amelia turned to her father whose guilty conscience prevented him from coming closer.

“Gregory, what are you doing there? Aren’t you going to say hello to your daughter?” Judith flashed him a displeased look.

Gregory swallowed his anxiety and guilt as he stepped forward while Amelia watched, the smile on her face disappearing.

“My baby…” The senator called her in a trembling voice. “My angel, my beautiful princess…”

Tears welled up in Amelia’s eyes as she continued to stare at her dad saying nothing. He stopped in front of her, hands clasped together, lips trembling and tears of guilt streaming down his face.

“I do not know where to begin to say sorry for everything. I have disappointed you greatly. I have disappointed your late mother too by failing to protect you. I have been blinded by my love for my brothers. Because of my ignorance, you’ve been made to go through a whole lot of pain and trauma alone. I am such a despicable father. Can you ever forgive me?”

The senator was about to go on his knees but Amelia quickly stopped him and wrapped her arms around him, crying like a baby on his chest.

“You really hurt me, daddy. You really hurt me so much. I could take anything but not your rejection. You hurt me when you threatened to cut me off. You hurt me when you failed to trust me. But I love you too much to be mad at you.”

“I love you too my angel.” Senator Gregory kissed her deeply on the forehead and hugged her every tighter. “Please forgive me. I promise to make it all up to you. I promise to listen to you going forward. I promise to protect you even with my dying breath.”

“I forgive you Dad on two conditions…” Amelia pulled away from her dad, holding his distraught gaze.

“Anything, sweetheart.” The senator replied wiping her flowing tears with his thumb.

“Promise you will never doubt me again.”

“I promise.” Senator Gregory swore raising his right hand up as a sign of his resolution.

“Promise you will also accept Blaze Anderson as my husband and let go of your hatred for him.”

“I promise.” The senator nodded his head.

“Then I forgive you.” Amelia hugged her father again, her joy half complete.

“Aww! So beautiful.” Judith dabbed her flowing tears with her handkerchief while Van teased her quietly.

From where Blaze stood, hidden and watching the father-daughter bonding, his heart ached with so much grief.

The man standing down there had been directly or indirectly involved in the death of his father. He was the reason why he almost lost his mother out of heartbreak. He was the reason his family lost everything. The reason why he was forced to make a deal with the devil to rise again. The reason he embarked on this revenge journey. He was the only one left on touched amongst the greedy fold. He may not have known the games his brothers were playing behind his back. But for years, he stood behind them, protecting them and shielding them from the law. He deserves to suffer greatly for his transgression.

“What are you doing, Blaze?” He queried his thoughts angrily, his eyes burning with fury and his fist clenched. “You are losing focus. You are getting soft. That man took everything from you and your mother. He took the chance for you to experience your father’s love. He’s the reason why you have been cold for years. He may not have known but he approved it. He deserves to suffer as much as those responsible. Why are you holding back? What is stopping you from taking the necessary action?”

Blaze’s darkened gaze shifted to Amelia, his ire melting just by the mere sight of her, crying.

“Shit!” He gritted his teeth in agony. “Why do I care so much for her? Why did I have to break my own rules? She was supposed to be my weapon against him. The perfect pawn to destroy him. Why did I let myself get carried away. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with her. What if I went after him for his crime? Will she ever forgive me? Will she you ever look at me the same way. Will she ever love me?”

Blaze jolted out of his thoughts when his mobile phone started buzzing in his pocket. He quickly brought it out and saw that it was a call from Amelia. Staring back downstairs he noticed they were all seated and talking freely.

Taking a deep breath, Blaze pushed all his thoughts to the pit of his stomach and made his way downstairs to join them.

“Oh, there you are…” Judith was the first to spot Blaze approaching. She stood up alongside Van and the senator while Amelia left her father’s side to receive her husband.

Blaze carefully kept the laptop he was holding on a tool beside a double-seater couch before receiving his wife.

“What kept you so long, sweetheart,” Amelia asked, brushing her lips against his, her hazel eyes sparkling with so much affection.

“I didn’t want to interrupt your bonding time with your family.” Blaze forced a smile, trying to keep his formal composure before the senator who was staring at him. He briefly exchanged warm pleasantries with Judith and Van before turning to the senator.

“Senator Shawls!” Blaze gestured to the seat opposite.

“Mr Anderson, I want to thank you for…”

“There is no need for that senator. This is not a courtesy call.” Blaze rudely cut him off, making Amelia’s face dampen a bit. “I will advise you have your seat so that we can get straight to business. We have limited time here.”

“Certainly.” The senator forced a smile as he took his seat, giving Amelia, who was seated close to her husband’s a reassuring smile that he wasn’t offended.

Blaze opened his laptop and keyed in his password to unlock the system, before returning his gaze to the senator who was curious to know what he was doing.

“How well do you know your brother senator?” Blaze asked, .

“Which of my brothers are you referring to?” The senator asked looking puzzled. “I have two of them.”

“Matt Shawl? How well do you know him and he’s business dealings.”

The senator released a sigh. “If you had asked me this question prior to today, I will tell you that Matt is every sourceful and talented young man with multiple experience in oil and gas business, a little bit of gold mining, security and property management. Sadly after listening to Jerry’s confession and some of the things you told me. I guess I do not know my brother very well.”

“Then I guess it’s time to enlighten you.” Blaze opened a selected folder on his laptop and tapped on a saved video. He give the laptop to Amelia to take it to her father.

“I would like you to watch that short video and tell me how best you think I should deal with your brother.”