Bobby had always been a protective father to Mia, ensuring she was safe and happy. However, over the last three months, he sensed a change in her behavior.
The mysterious late-night calls, secretive chats behind closed doors, and the unmistakable scent of cigarettes in her room raised Bobby’s concerns about his 14-year-old daughter.
One day, driven by his worries, Bobby decided to inspect Mia’s room for any signs of smoking. To his surprise, he discovered a concealed gift box beneath a stack of clothes in her wardrobe…
The box contained a collection of lavish gifts — high-end fragrances, the smartwatch Mia had always desired, and a sparkling diamond bracelet. But what caught his attention the most was a photo of a much older man, probably in his 50s, and a note suggesting a rendezvous at a nearby café that very day.
“My sweet Mia,
The thought of finally seeing you fills me with joy. I can already imagine our conversations, our laughter, and the moments we’ll share. I genuinely hope the café we’ve chosen has vegan options. But then again, the food is secondary when I get to spend time with you. Eagerly waiting for this Saturday!
Till then, with love, V.”
Bobby reread the letter, struggling to comprehend that his young daughter was associating with a man nearly his age.
He picked up the unfamiliar face’s photo, scrutinizing it, trying to recall if he had ever come across this man. But the face was a stranger to him. Anger surged within Bobby. He hastily exited Mia’s room and called her.
“Dad, I’m in the middle of music class! Why are you calling? Bye!” Mia’s voice was curt, and she ended the call before he could respond.
Undeterred, Bobby tried calling Mia repeatedly, but she either declined or let it ring. After several unsuccessful attempts, he decided to return the items to their original place in her room, aware that Mia would be furious if she discovered his intrusion.
Later, Bobby pulled out his phone and began searching for vegan cafés nearby.
“Café Bean… is this the only vegan place around? Is this where they planned to meet?” he pondered.
Determined to find out, Bobby donned a cap and hoodie as a disguise and headed to the café. Once there, he surveyed the place, looking for Mia or the mysterious man. To his relief, he saw Mia sitting alone by a window.
Every time her phone vibrated with a new message, Mia’s face lit up with a smile. A twinge of envy hit Bobby, reminiscing about the times when Mia’s laughter was reserved for their shared moments.
It felt like Mia had transformed into a different person ever since their visit to the doctor three months prior.
Bobby and his family sat in the doctor’s office, awaiting their test results. He was momentarily called to the reception to complete some paperwork. As he left the room, a new doctor entered, holding some documents.
“Mrs. Davis, may I speak with you privately?” the doctor inquired. However, Mrs. Davis wanted Mia to be present.
“Is there a history of any genetic conditions in your family?” the doctor began. “Have all three of you ever undergone a joint blood test? Particularly Mia and Mr. Davis?”
A wave of anxiety washed over Mrs. Davis. “No, we haven’t,” she replied hesitantly.
The doctor raised an eyebrow. “It appears Mia’s blood type doesn’t align with your husband’s. Were you aware of this discrepancy? Is Mr. Davis not Mia’s biological—”
Mrs. Davis felt her heart constrict, struggling to find words. Her face turned pale as her gaze shifted between the doctor and a bewildered Mia.
“Wha—What do you mean my blood type doesn’t align with my Dad’s?” Mia’s voice quivered.
“It suggests that your father might not be your biological parent,” the doctor clarified.
Mia’s eyes widened in disbelief, her gaze locking onto her mother’s.
“We’ll discuss this at home,” Mrs. Davis whispered to Mia, signaling her to remain quiet. When Bobby reentered the room, he sensed the tension but was reassured by Mrs. Davis that all was well.
“What was that about, Mom? Is Dad… not my biological father? Why doesn’t my blood type align with his?” Mia’s grip tightened on Mrs. Davis’s arm as Bobby made his way to the car.
“We’ll talk about it at home, Mia. Just don’t bring it up in front of your father. It’s a conversation best had in private.”
Once home, Mia pulled Mrs. Davis into her room. “I need answers,” she demanded, her eyes searching her mother’s.
Tears brimmed in Mrs. Davis’s eyes as she took a seat beside Mia. “The doctor wasn’t mistaken,” she began, her voice trembling. “Bobby isn’t your biological father. During one of his business trips to Cape Town, I had an encounter with someone while on a cruise in Virginia. It was brief… and soon after, I discovered I was expecting you. I was certain Bobby would embrace you as his own, and I couldn’t bear the thought of causing pain by revealing the truth.”
Mia’s eyes widened in shock, processing her mother’s revelation. “Who is he? My real father?” she whispered, tears streaming down her face.
Mrs. Davis hesitated, but Mia’s determination was evident. “His name is Victor,” she finally admitted. “But you must promise not to share this with anyone, especially Bobby.”
“Where’s he from? I need to know more about him,” Mia persisted.
Mrs. Davis sighed deeply, her face a mask of regret. “After that cruise, our paths never crossed again. Please, Mia, don’t ask any more about him.”
That evening, Mia scoured numerous social media accounts, hoping to find a trace of her biological father. Her pulse quickened when she landed on a profile that seemed to align with her mother’s account—the name, age, and location all matched.
With shaky hands, Mia began typing. “Hi, I’m Mia. This might sound strange, but I believe you’re my father. My mom mentioned meeting someone named Victor on a cruise called Island Temptations in Virginia about 15 years ago. Could we possibly chat?”
The response was almost immediate. “I’m sorry, but I think you have the wrong person.”
Mia’s heart raced as she composed herself and replied, “My mother, Esther, shared that you might be my biological dad. I understand this is unexpected. However, I’m aware of a detail that only the two of you would know.”
A tense silence followed, broken only by the ping of a new message. Mia’s eyes welled up as she read, “I’m at a loss for words. Yes, I remember Esther from that cruise. We lost touch after that trip. I’m currently in a committed relationship with my husband. We never had kids, so learning I have a daughter is overwhelming. I appreciate you reaching out, Mia. Perhaps we could meet in person?”
Over the next few days, Mia and Victor connected deeply, sharing stories and memories over video calls. Mia’s heart swelled with joy when Victor mentioned he’d be traveling through her city soon and was eager to see her.
A week before their scheduled meetup, Mia was surprised by a package delivery. Inside was a luxurious watch, her preferred fragrances, a shimmering diamond bracelet, and a heartfelt note accompanied by a photo of Victor. The anticipation of their face-to-face meeting that coming weekend was palpable.
As Mia was lost in her thoughts, her phone vibrated with a new message. “Share the café’s address with me, dear,” Victor’s text read.
From a discreet spot in the café, Bobby observed intently, his emotions boiling over as he saw a man approach Mia and embrace her warmly.
“WHAT IS THIS?” Bobby’s voice, filled with fury, echoed through the café, causing Mia and Victor to break their embrace in shock.
“I want answers!” Bobby’s voice trembled with anger as he advanced towards them.
“Dad? Why are you here? Were you spying on me?” Mia’s voice was a mix of confusion and anger.
However, before Mia could fully grasp the situation, Bobby, blinded by rage, swung his fist, connecting with Victor’s face, knocking out a tooth.
Victor stumbled, crashing into a table. The café was filled with the sounds of breaking glass, alarmed shouts, and chaos as Bobby lunged at Victor again.
“ENOUGH!” Mia’s voice was desperate, but Bobby seemed beyond reason.
“You predator! Stay away from my child!” Bobby roared, his grip tightening on Victor’s shirt. “How dare you prey on her?”
“Dad, please! You’ve got it all wrong!” Mia’s pleas were frantic.
But Bobby’s fury was unrelenting. He delivered another forceful punch, causing Victor to lose consciousness.
Patrons of the café scrambled to restrain Bobby, pulling him away from the injured Victor.
“God, no… Dad, please wake up! Dad!” Mia’s voice was filled with panic. Bobby looked on in shock as Mia held Victor’s head, addressing him as ‘Dad.’
“Mia, what’s happening? Why did you call him Dad?” Bobby’s voice was filled with confusion as paramedics rushed in, whisking Victor away.
“Sir, you need to come with us,” a police officer said, approaching Bobby with handcuffs.
A few tense hours later, a doctor entered Victor’s room. “He’s going to be okay,” he assured Mrs. Davis and Mia, who were seated by Victor’s side.
Bobby entered the room, his face a mix of remorse and confusion. After his arrest, he was brought to the hospital to treat his injured hands. Discovering Victor was also there, he pleaded with the officers to let him speak to him.
“I’m so sorry, Victor. I misunderstood the situation. My only intention was to protect Mia. I wasn’t thinking straight,” Bobby’s voice was heavy with regret.
Mrs. Davis sighed, “I never imagined you’d react this way, Bobby.”
Bobby’s eyes welled up, “And I never imagined you’d… Esther, you won’t see me again.”
As he left the room, he paused, turning to Mia. “Regardless of everything, I’ll always love you. My door will always be open for you,” he whispered, his voice breaking, before being escorted away by the officers.
Mia and Mrs. Davis were left in the room, their eyes filled with sorrow, realizing the depth of the rift they had inadvertently caused in their family.
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