Chapter 2: The Man Who Stayed
Adrian didn't sleep that night.
The bouquet was still in his truck.
He had thrown the ruined flowers onto the passenger seat after leaving the university, but he couldn't bring himself to toss them away.
At 1:17 a.m., he sat in his driveway with the engine off, staring through the windshield.
Fourteen years.
Fourteen years of believing he'd earned his place in that family.
Now one sentence kept repeating in his head.
I only want flowers from my real dad.
His phone buzzed.
Monique.
He watched her name glow on the screen.
He didn't answer.
It buzzed again.
Then again.
Finally, a message appeared.
*Please come home. We need to talk.*
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“Now you need to talk.””
He tossed the phone onto the dashboard.
But ten minutes later, he walked inside.
The kitchen light was on.
Monique sat at the table in her pale-blue dress from graduation, though she'd removed her earrings and kicked off her shoes.
She looked exhausted.
Adrian remained near the doorway.
“What happened before you met me?””
Monique lowered her eyes.
“I knew you'd ask.””
“You knew I'd ask?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
She rubbed her hands together.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“That you'd leave.””
Adrian stared at her.
“I spent fourteen years afraid you'd leave me.””
Monique looked up.
“I know.””
“No, you don't.””
His voice remained low, but the hurt in it was sharper than shouting.
“You let me raise your daughter while keeping something from me.””
“I didn't keep everything from you.””
“You kept enough.””
Monique swallowed.
“Marcus didn't just disappear.””
Adrian went still.
“What does that mean?””
“He was supposed to take Jasmine with him.””
Adrian frowned.
“Take her where?””
“To Tennessee.””
“Why?””
“Because he said he wanted to start over.””
“And you stopped him?””
“No.””
Monique's eyes filled.
“I couldn't.””
Adrian pulled out a chair and sat down.
“Why?””
She looked toward the hallway.
“Because Marcus had debts. Serious ones. People were coming to the house.””
Adrian's expression changed.
“What kind of debts?””
“I don't know everything.””
“Monique.””
“I don't.””
He leaned forward.
“Then tell me what you do know.””
She took a trembling breath.
“Marcus borrowed money. He lost his job. He kept telling me it would get better.””
“And then?””
“One night, he came home drunk.””
Adrian said nothing.
“Jasmine was eight,” Monique continued.
“She was asleep upstairs. Marcus told me he was taking her because he thought I would follow.””
“What happened?””
“I told him no.””
“And he left?””
Monique nodded.
“He said if I wouldn't go with him, he'd leave alone.””
Adrian stared at the table.
“So Jasmine's version is that her father abandoned her.””
“That is what she believes.””
“And what do you believe?””
Monique hesitated.
“I believe he abandoned us.””
Adrian leaned back.
“Then why does Jasmine suddenly want him?””
“Because Marcus found her.””
The room seemed to shrink.
“When?””
“Three months ago.””
Adrian's eyes hardened.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“You knew Marcus had contacted her?””
“Yes.””
“And you didn't tell me?””
“I was going to.””
“When?””
Monique began crying.
“I didn't know how.””
Adrian stood.
“You had three months.””
“I was scared of losing both of you.””
“You already made that choice.””
Monique grabbed his wrist.
“Please.””
He pulled away gently.
“Did he contact her before that?””
Monique didn't answer.
“Monique.””
“Yes.””
“How long?””
“A year.””
Adrian stared at her.
“A year?””
She nodded.
“He sent her messages.””
“And you let him?””
“She was an adult. I couldn't control who she talked to.””
“But you could've told me.””
“I thought she'd stop.””
“Did she?””
“No.””
Adrian walked toward the sink.
He stared through the dark window.
“What does Marcus want?””
“I don't know.””
“You're lying.””
“I swear I'm not.””
Adrian turned around.
“Then why did Jasmine crush those flowers today?””
Monique wiped her face.
“Because Marcus told her you weren't her father.””
Adrian's expression froze.
“What?””
“He told her that everything you did was because you wanted to replace him.””
Adrian let out a hollow laugh.
“Replace him?””
He looked down at his hands.
“I spent fourteen years trying to protect a place he abandoned.””
Monique whispered, “Adrian…”
He looked at her.
“Does Jasmine know I paid her tuition?””
“Yes.””
“Does she know I took a second job when her scholarship didn't cover everything?””
“Yes.””
“Does she know I refinanced the house for her first year?””
Monique nodded.
“She knows.””
“Then why?””
Monique's voice cracked.
“Because Marcus gave her something you couldn't.””
Adrian waited.
“What?””
“An explanation.””
Silence.
“He told her why he left.””
Adrian's face tightened.
“What explanation?””
Monique looked toward the hallway.
“I don't know if I should tell you.””
Adrian's phone rang.
Both of them looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
Adrian answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through.
Older.
Rougher.
But unmistakably confident.
“Adrian.””
He stood perfectly still.
“Who is this?””
The voice laughed softly.
“You've spent fourteen years raising my daughter.””
Adrian's fingers tightened around the phone.
“Marcus?””
“It's been a long time.””
Adrian looked at Monique.
Marcus continued.
“And I think it's time you stopped pretending you know why I left.””
Then the call ended.
Adrian stared at the screen.
A second later, a message appeared.
It contained only one sentence.
*Ask Monique what she promised me the night I disappeared.*
May you like
Adrian slowly raised his eyes.
Monique had gone completely pale.