Chapter 4. His Daughter
1024 Words
"What are you talking about, Sarah?!" Sarah’s mother's voice echoed throughout the Fontaine living room, filled with anger and disappointment. She stood with her arms crossed in front of her chest, staring at her daughter, who seemed to change from surprise to anger.
Sarah Fontaine, who for the past five years had been holding back all the pain and hatred raging in her heart, now stood tall before her mother. Her eyes flashed with pent-up pain, ready to explode.
"What am I talking about?" retorted Sarah in a high tone, "I'm talking about how you, my family, took my company in Jack's absence. For five years I struggled alone, without your help, and when I succeeded, you took everything without hesitation!"
Sarah's mother flinched at the accusation, but her eyes remained full of determination. "We only did what was best for you, Sarah. Jack left you for dead, with his company in limbo! We took over to make sure that everything stays afloat, to make sure you have a future!"
"For my future?" Sarah smiled wryly. Everything her mother said even sounded like a lie. "As a family, you shouldn't have taken the company that I worked so hard to build. You did it not because of my future, but because of your greed! You even tried to marry me off to another man without discussing it or asking my opinion? Can I still call you family?" disappointment was evident in Sarah's eyes.
"Sarah! Watch your mouth in front of your mother!" snapped Sarah's father.
Sarah fell silent. Her hands were clenched in anger. Even though she tried to shout in defense, she was still considered the perpetrator by them.
Jack Knight, who saw his wife, Sarah Fontaine, treated so badly, felt so guilty. Especially after he found out about Sarah's tough life when he left her, he didn't know that Sarah would have a lot of problems when he left. But, the reason why Jack left was also to reach a higher level. To be able to protect her...
"I'm sorry," Jack looked guiltily at Sarah, "I'm sorry for the five years I went without a word. But believe me, I didn't do it on purpose. I did it because I wanted to build a reputation that you deserve."
Sarah's eyes glazed over, speechless. For the first time in five years, she stood before Jack Knight, the man she married, the man who became her husband and the father of her child.
Sarah didn't know how to behave in front of Jack...
"Bullshit!" shouted Sarah's mother with her eyes glaring at Jack. "You're leaving because you're f*****g a fraud!"
"I'm not a fraud," Jack hissed, his eyes sharpening on his mother-in-law.
"You left after you took the half a million dollars we gave you! All this s**t started with you, you f*****g cheater!" Sarah's mother's voice was shrill.
Jack gasped, clearly remembering that he had returned it. And now he was being falsely accused of being a cheap cheater who married Sarah for money?
"I did receive it, but I returned it immediately after my mother died to Sarah's father. Of course, you know better since you were the one who received the money," Jack said as he glanced at Sarah's father.
"Are you out of your mind?! You're the one who stole the money, and now you're pointing the finger at me and making me the scapegoat?! You shameless bastard!" He cursed while protesting strongly. "We shouldn't have married you off to our daughter in the first place. You're a disaster in our family! A parasite that only harms the Fontaine family!”
"It's disgusting that a sycophant like you is still trying to lie when you're just a poor, loser guy who left just for the money," Vector scolded.
"Shut your mouth, because I'm not that kind of person," Jack warned Vector with a sharp look in his eyes. "And don't interfere with our problems."
Victor was about to reply, but he suddenly shrank as Tyler Colton was about to step up to him.
"Behave yourself in front of the Jenkins family. Because they are far more honorable than a poor loser like you," Sarah's father said contemptuously to Jack, "And you better get out of here because from now on you are no longer the husband of our daughter, Sarah Fontaine!"
"No... don't... Hiks!" Suddenly Hazel burst into hysterical tears at her grandfather's words, "Please don't kick my dad out of here... don't kick daddy out... Please don't go." She sobbed with her tears streaming down her face. While both of her tiny hands clasped Jack's restlessly.
Jack gasped, his eyes widened. His heart seemed to split as he saw the teary-eyed girl calling him daddy. He still clearly remembers their first meeting at the airport. And he realized that calling her Daddy was not a mistake, because Hazel was his child and he regretted not knowing from the beginning that he had a child, and it was Hazel.
Jack locked eyes with Sarah, his eyes filled with emotion, but his lips were silent without being able to say a word.
"Hazel, my darling..." Jack knelt down, grabbed Hazel's petite body, and hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry that I didn't recognize you before. I'm not going anywhere anymore. From now on, I will always be by your side and will never leave you and your mom. So, don't cry..." He rubbed Hazel's back, then released his embrace, but Hazel was still crying and Jack gently wiped her tears away.
"Hazel, enough!!!" Sarah’s mother suddenly pulled Hazel's hand roughly away from Jack. She snapped in a loud voice that made Hazel flinch. "Stop crying or grandma will lock you in a dark room!" she threatened.
Hazel instantly stopped crying, her face deathly pale while her hands clutched at the hem of her clothes with a fear she couldn't hide.
Seeing his daughter being treated so harshly, Jack lost his temper. Just as he was about to step in to attack, Sarah suddenly pulled Hazel up and protected their daughter.
"She is my daughter, Mom. And treat her well!" demanded Sarah firmly.
- Writer
