Build And Break novel Chapter 68

Steven took a step closer to Angela. "I don't care if Daniel becomes a man who wears a soccer gear or a business suit. Whatever he decides, we'll help him become that man. Right?"

"Right."

"We'll help him together."

Together. Dread filled Angela. But this was about her son. She had to do this for Daniel. So she nodded affirmatively. "Yea. Together."

"Good. Because I intend to be pretty close to my son. In fact, this land is going to be my new home."

Angela was awed. The stack of stones laid high before her that will transform into a prominent mansion in the not so rich area was to be Steven's pride and home. It was far more different that the place he currently lived in. And far more bigger than the house they had lived in together years before.

"I employed twice the usual number of workers and allowed those willing to work over hours just to have this finished as soon as possible and ready to move in."

"Wow." Daniel had overheard and walked over back to them. "Can I come live with you then?"

Angela's heart skipped a beat or two as she waited for Steven's answer.

Steven picked Daniel up into his arms. "No, son. You'll stay with Mommy. But you can come visit me anytime you want. I'm only going to be just a few minutes away from you."

"So I can come play soccer here anytime I want?"

"Anytime. But only if your mommy agrees."

Angela only grinned at Steven. The fleeting negative thought that had passed through her mind second before were instantly gone when Steven spoke his last words. He was doing all that for his son. He did really loved Daniel.

"Can I go see how big the soccer pitch is?" Daniel squirmed in Steven's arms.

"Of course you can." Steven called over a young worker and instructed him to give Daniel a tour of the land and with high warning in his voice, ordered the man to keep a close eye on Daniel.

As soon as Daniel was feet away from them, Angela's arms suddenly went around Steven's neck. "Thank you, Steve. I've never seen my son so happy. You have no idea how much this means to me and to Daniel." She pulled back enough to look straight into his eyes. "You're going to be a great father to him."

"I hope. I hope I can be a good father enough to get his mother back and truly make us a family."

"Steve."

He didn't say goodbye. And he didn't move either.

Then he took the steps forward to reach Angela and his lips grazed over her cheek in the lightest, tender peck. And then, he left.

He still didn't say goodbye.

And that definitely wasn't goodbye.

Breathlessly, Angela ran down the hospital corridors of the emergency area. Her lungs felt like she was running a marathon and when she reached the nurse at the front desk, she had to pause for air before she spoke.

"I'm looking for Jack Marshall. He was brought in earlier today."

When Steven had called her an hour ago and broke the news that her father had been rushed to the hospital from his office, surprisingly, Angela's first thought was that she wanted to see him and be by her father's side. And all the run to reach the room where Jack was admitted, Angela hoped that she was in time to see her father again.

And when she did reach the room, Angela's feet stopped at the door, her hand on the door knob froze. Suddenly, like she was just realizing where she was and who she was there for, she wasn't sure she was ready to face the man she had hated nearly all her life.