Bound By Our Past

Chapter 5

"Oh my God you should've seen him grandma, trust me he won't bother and another girl ever again" Tessa solved all have her problems with violence just like a mother. Like today she apparently kicked a boy's balls but instead of feeling somewhat regretful or maybe sorry for him she finds it funny.

Back then l resented violence but now l understand. In this world you either kill or be kill. l am proud that people don't know her just for being my daughter but because she can stand up for her own.

"Daddy are you sure okay, you've been quiet."she asked looking at me worriedly but l gave her a small smile to reassure her.

"Just a bit tired "

"That's because you're a workaholic "mom said touching my cheek.

"Yes, dad you should live a little "Tessa agreed.

"Have you tried online dating "mom suggested and l shook my head. These two were always trying to get me to date but l could never bring myself to trust anyone else after being betrayed ,and l didn't want a step mother for my daughter.

"Stop it y-----" before l could finish, l was struck by the sight of the woman who had just entered the restaurant. Not just any woman but Aria. My daughter's mother.

"Oh God" my mother gasped looking mortified. Ever since she found out that Aria was a Lucchese,she just started fearing for my life. l had to drag her here by force for us to move back to New York and l hadn't told her about Tessa's request.

"Grandma" Tessa said looking towards the direction mom was looking towards and her face went ashen.

"Is that my---" she pointed and l was just frozen to even reply to her. Tessa had seen Aria's pictures so she recognized her just by looking at her.

l hadn't see Aria since the night she left me but she didn't look good at all. She hadn't aged much but she looked tired and it was almost like she was carrying the world on her shoulders. But I guess that's what a woman feels like if she's just lost her husband.

l resented the fact that l wasn't that husband ,l was jealous of a dead man.

I haven't had the time to check the file Adams gave me but I clearly remember him telling me that her husband just passed away.

Her children looked exactly like her and l am thankful that Tessa looks like me because it would have been difficult remainder seeing her everyday.

All those unresolved feelings burned in me but l refused to acknowledge that even seeing her made me feel a certain way.

Her kids looked just a few years below Tessa and as they all sat at the table a few feet from us l couldn't help but notice how much she loved and cared about them. She just kept fussing over them and when l looked at Tessa l noticed that she looked betrayed.

"Hey it's---"

"Don't "she said holding her hand out before l could say anything.

Great, just great. l didn't want her to find out the truth today but turns out fate had other plans.

"Let's just go"mom said standing up to leave but Tessa kept looking at the family with longing and hurt.

"Baby come on let's go" l said shaking her shoulders to get her attention.

l held her as we left the restaurant and entered my car. She kept quiet the whole journey and when we entered our apartment she fell apart in my arms.

We didn't speak and I just held her. l held her until she fell asleep in my arms.

l tucked her in and kissed her forehead.

My daughter meant the world to me and I wouldn't let anyone hurt her, l would protect her ,even if it meant protecting her from her own mother.

A few months ago Tessa's therapist told me that she has abandonment issues. Apparently she thought that there must've been something that she did that made her mother go away or not love her but I think seeing Aria and her children kind of solidified what she thought. You could tell even from a distance how much she loved her children.

Why the hell did we have to bump into her, and why today of all days. Tessa wasn't ready and l wasn't either.

I went straight to my office and opened the file that had every detail about Aria and my breath hitched when l saw a picture of her and Milo on their wedding day.

She married Milo a year after she gave away our daughter. l get that she didn't love me and that she didn't want anything to do with me but she didn't even call to find out how she was doing.

It's so strange that a day has never going by when l didn't think about her or wonder if she was maybe forced into doing what she did but these photos proved me wrong.

She looked like a doting mother to her children and l could see the way she looked at them even in the pictures l received.

There was a crazed look on Milo's face though. He looked meaner, he was mean in high school as well but that was only because he thought l was interested in Aria.

His autopsy results stated that he died of a heart attack but he did have a history of heart failure or anything as such which could point out any possible heart condition. There was something fishy about his death but good riddance, l never liked the asshole anyway.

The only thing l was worried about was how my daughter would react after the shock passed.

One thing is for sure though.

Our lives are about to change.