Lilia raised her eyes to him. There was no anger in them, nor accusation. Only a sad curiosity.
_"Why now?"
He gave her a broken smile.
_"Because time doesn't come back. And I couldn't protect you in the past, nor can I even do so now. I changed your name, thinking that it was all over, and sent you to an orphanage. I thought that once your name had vanished, you would no longer have any connection to me. It never occurred to me that this was something I should never have done as a father."
He took a breath.
"After that, I lived a life I knew nothing about, and I didn't want to know anything about it, because I was afraid people would suspect me. I was selfish, negligent, cowardly, and foolish. No matter what I do, I can never apologize to you enough.
He sighed and then confessed:"
_I'm not asking you to forgive me. I'm not asking you to come back with me, nor even to consider me your father. I only wanted to tell you something... Your mother, Maryam, was obsessed with comic books when she was young. Her favorite story was called Princess of the Star World, and the princess was named Liliana. She was her favorite character. That's why, when you were born, she decided to name you Liliana, because you meant so much to her... to both of us.
He wiped away a tear that had escaped his eye.
"I remember very well when she said, 'I think I'm going to quit journalism and become a comic-book writer. I'll write a story about the most beautiful princess in the world, Princess Liliana Marshall. The most beautiful princess on this planet.' If she were here now, she would be disappointed in my terrible actions. I was never a wise man. I was a foolish, stupid, pathetic idiot.
If I had told her to refuse that assignment, she wouldn't have died. I was the worst partner anyone could have. I don't deserve to live my life like any other human being."
Tears streamed down Ryan's eyes.
Lilia stared at him in silence.
Then she stood before him, gently patted his shoulder, and said:"
_I understand the circumstances you went through. That doesn't mean I'm making excuses for what you did to me, but at least I know that you loved my mother and me and that you wanted to protect us.
My mother's death wasn't your fault, so don't blame yourself for it.
As for me, I didn't even know you existed. Celine's family found me, and I lived here. Although my life with them wasn't perfect, it was still better than the life I would have had if I had lived with you while you were drowning in despair and depression over my mother's death. That's something difficult to get over, and I understand that. I can feel it, too.
Still, I had never once thought that I had another family. A biological family."
_"Even so—" Ryan couldn't hold himself back.
"Liliana... that was my mistake. I don't blame you for not recognizing me, but I wanted you to know who you are, who your family is, and—"
"I know who I am. I'm Lilia Rosmond, and my family is my father, Marcus, my mother, Marlene, my sister, Celine, and my grandmother."
"I don't blame you for saying that. It's just, Liliana, I—"
"Lilia," she interrupted him. "I told you that I'm Lilia Rosmond. As for the name Liliana Marshall, that name vanished a long time ago, and it has no meaning now."
The moment she finished speaking, Lucian moved.
Both of them immediately turned their eyes toward him.
Ryan then looked back at Lilia and finally said:
_I failed to be a good father before, and nothing can atone for my sin. But perhaps... honesty can mend something, even if only a little."
He looked at the sleeping child.
"This little one... I found him alone. With no one. And I couldn't leave him."
He fell silent for a moment before adding,
"I'll take care of him. That's what I can do now, and this time, I'll do everything in my power to raise him properly."
Another silence fell over the room, but it was calmer than the one before.
Marcus cleared his throat softly.
_"Even I wasn't the father I should have been. And the fact that Lilia considers me her father is more than I deserve. I don't believe I've earned it. In fact, I'm no different from Ryan. I was threatened, and I was going to send you to an orphanage just as he did. I even filled out all the necessary paperwork.
You would have been there a long time ago if Celine hadn't overheard my conversation with Marlene and found out about it. She then barged into my office and did everything in her power to stop me, to the point that she took you deep into the forest, to my father's old wooden cabin.
He added:"
_Ryan and I are the same. In fact, he may even be better than me, because he cared for you with so much love when you were with him.
As for me, I loved you, but not as much as I loved my biological daughter, Celine. I always considered you my adopted daughter and nothing more. So... he has more right than I do to be called 'Dad.'"
Lilia smiled and embraced Celine.
She had been a sister worthy of the name, brave and loving. Everything she had done for Lilia meant more to her than words could express.
The little girl murmured:"
_Thank you, my sister. You're the best sister in all the galaxies. I'll never leave you, and wherever you are, I'll stay with you."
Ryan nodded, as though he had expected that answer. He did not look disappointed. Instead, he seemed relieved.
"I understand. Celine was the person who sacrificed the most for Lilia and the person who protected her the most. I'm grateful to you from the bottom of my heart."
Then he approached the child and took him into his arms once more.
_"I'll visit you from time to time, if you'll allow me."
Marlene smiled.
_"This house never closes its doors to someone who comes with good intentions."
Before leaving, Ryan stopped at the door and turned toward Lilia.
_"Goodbye."
He said it simply. Without explanations. Without details.
Lilia nodded.
She said nothing.
The door closed.
To be Continued...