Don’t Wait Up

Steven’s heart ached seeing her so upset. He cupped her face in his hands, trying to convey how much he loved her. “I promise I’ll explain everything later. Right now, I need to find someone.”

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“Find someone? Who?” Trisha asked, confused. But Steven couldn’t answer. He just shook his head and kissed her forehead. “Please, just trust me.” Trisha let go of his arm, her face a mix of hurt and confusion. “Why dad?” Steven turned and walked away, the sound of her party fading into the background as he made his way to his car. He had to find Michelle. He had to know the truth.

Trust Me On This

Steven’s heart sank. It was true. Alicia was his daughter. He had another daughter, one he had never known, one who had been growing up all these years without him. The weight of the revelation was almost too much to bear, but he couldn’t let Trisha see how deeply it affected him. “No reason,” Steven said, forcing himself to sound casual. “Just curious.”

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Trisha frowned. “Are you sure you’re, okay?” “I’m fine,” Steven lied, his voice barely above a whisper. “I just remembered something I have to take care of. I’ll be back in a bit.”

Searching For Truth

Without waiting for a response, Steven turned and walked down the driveway, his thoughts in turmoil. What was he going to do? How could he keep this a secret? And what did Michelle want? Was she trying to get back into his life? Or was this just a coincidence?

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Steven walked aimlessly, his mind racing through a thousand possibilities. He needed to talk to Michelle, to find out what she knew, what Alicia knew. But how could he do that without alerting Trisha? He couldn’t risk her finding out this way. She deserved better than that.

A Long Time Ago

As he walked, memories of his time with Michelle flooded back. He remembered how in love they had been, how devastated she had been when he walked away. Had she ever forgiven him? Had she ever moved on? And what about Alicia? Had she grown up without a father because of him?

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The guilt gnawed at him, and he clenched his fists, trying to push the thoughts away. He needed to stay calm, to think this through rationally. But every time he thought of Alicia, his heart ached. She was his daughter, and he had missed so much of her life. How could he ever make that right?

Around Town

Steven found himself at a park, the playground equipment silhouetted against the darkening sky. He sat down on a bench, burying his face in his hands. What was he going to do? How could he face Michelle after all these years? How could he face Alicia? And how could he ever explain this to Trisha?

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The questions swirled in his mind, each one more overwhelming than the last. He didn’t have the answers. All he knew was that his life had just been turned upside down, and there was no going back.

A Sneaky Way

Steven knew he had to make a choice. He could confront Michelle, try to make amends, and figure out what role he could play in Alicia’s life. Or he could walk away again, pretend he never saw her, and let Trisha’s party continue without any more drama.

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But as he sat there in the quiet of the park, he knew deep down that he couldn’t walk away this time. He couldn’t make the same mistake twice. He had to face his past, no matter how painful it might be.