Surprise Marriage to a Billionaire
Chapter 206: Freedom

Chapter 206: Freedom

Rain felt her pulse quicken as she and Alexander stepped into the mansion, knowing her father was waiting. Just as they neared the entrance, Alexander received a call from William, informing him that Tim had arrived with Sylvia and Dina, all asking to speak with her.

Alexander turned to her, his expression thoughtful. "What do you want to do? If you don’t want to see them, we can turn around."

Rain felt a pang of tension but knew she couldn’t avoid this. "I want to see my father," she replied. She wasn’t sure what he wanted this time, but she was determined to face it.

Alexander gently squeezed her hand, and when she turned to him, he offered a soft, reassuring smile. She smiled back. "I’m fine."

As they entered the living area, her father, Sylvia, and Dina were seated, waiting. Rock, noticing their arrival, nodded to Alexander. "Come on, son. Let’s give them some privacy," he said with a firm but kind tone.

"I’ll stay," Aunt Melanie chimed in, settling into her chair.

Rain glanced at Alexander, who looked reluctant to leave her alone. She gave him an encouraging smile and a nod, letting him know she’d be okay. With a sigh, he finally followed his father out, leaving her to face her family.

"Rain, we came here to apologize..." her father began, his voice unusually soft. He turned to Dina, nudging her to step forward. Dina lowered her head, murmuring, "I’m sorry, Rain... for everything. I didn’t mean to let things go so far. I was just... consumed by envy, and I’m really sorry. I hope you can forgive me."

Rain could see right through Dina’s apology. The lack of sincerity was evident; Dina couldn’t even bring herself to meet Rain’s gaze.

She was distracted with how she would take Dina’s apology when her father suddenly moved closer, wrapping her in an embrace. She froze, caught off guard by the unexpected warmth. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to feel the thing she had longed for her entire life... the feeling of truly existing in his eyes.

"I’m sorry," Tim whispered. "I’m truly sorry, Rain. My hatred for your mother blinded me, and I ended up taking it out on you. I was wrong in so many ways, and I know this is all my fault. Things would never have come to this if I had been a better father. I just hope it’s not too late to make things right between us."

Rain’s forehead creased with mixed emotions. She couldn’t help but question whether her father’s apology was genuine or merely prompted by her newfound position in the Lancaster family.

For years, he had never mistreated her like physically hurt her or spoken cruel words like Sylvia and Dina had. But his treatment had been just as painful. He had treated her as if she didn’t exist, and that silent neglect, the feeling of being invisible to her own father, was a wound that had cut the deepest. The emotional toll had been overwhelming, and now, she wasn’t sure if his sudden change of heart was real or yet another selfish move.

She glanced over at Aunt Melanie, her expression hardening as she gathered her resolve. "If you’re really sorry and want to make amends," she replied, "then let Aunt Melanie go. Release her from your full guardianship so she can finally have her freedom. We both know she’s more than capable of taking care of herself. What you’ve done to her is wrong, and it needs to end."

Sylvia’s mask slipped as she barked, "That’s absurd, Tim!" Rain smirked, finally seeing her stepmother’s true colors spill out, a facade crumbling under the weight of her own interest.

Rain raised an eyebrow, watching as her father’s face fell under her firm demand. It was clear she’d struck a nerve, but she didn’t care. If he truly wanted to make amends, he needed to right all the wrongs, not just apologize.

Tim looked taken aback, his mouth opening and closing as he glanced at Sylvia, who was visibly seething. "Rain, I... I hadn’t considered..." he stammered, but Sylvia cut him off sharply.

"Absolutely not!" Sylvia snapped, her eyes blazing. "Tim, don’t even think about it. Melanie needs stability, and that’s our responsibility!"

Rain’s smirk deepened. "Ah, there it is," she murmured, almost to herself. Rain looked back at her father, her voice steady and cold. "See? This is the person you’ve been protecting, the one you let dictate everything, even when it’s against what’s right."

Tim’s face flushed with embarrassment, and he took a shaky breath. "Rain, I know I’ve made mistakes. I just... I want to make things right."

"Then prove it," Rain challenged, her tone unyielding. "If you genuinely want to change, free Aunt Melanie. She deserves her own life, and you know it. She has suffered for too long under this so-called guardianship. If you’re here to make amends, releasing her is the first step."

Tim hesitated, glancing at Sylvia, who looked as if she were about to protest again. Rain’s gaze hardened, her voice resolute. "I’m not interested in empty apologies, Father. If you want forgiveness, show me that you’re willing to act on it."

Aunt Melanie, who had stayed silent, reached out and gently took Rain’s hand. "Rain, it’s okay. I don’t want you fighting my battles," she whispered, though her gaze was filled with gratitude.

Rain squeezed her hand in reassurance, her voice unwavering. "No, Aunt Melanie. You deserve to live freely."

A tense silence settled in the room. Rain waited, holding her father’s gaze, challenging him to prove he was sincere.

Sylvia opened her mouth to speak, but Rain silenced her with a single, sharp glance. "This isn’t about you, Sylvia. Not everything revolves around you."

Turning back to her father, Rain’s voice was steady as she said, "I think our conversation is finished here. You can all leave now."

Her tone left no room for argument, and for the first time, she felt a sense of control over a family that had so often made her feel small.

Tim looked between Rain and Sylvia, visibly torn. Finally, he nodded slowly. "I’ll release Melanie from guardianship, Rain. You’re right... she deserves her freedom."

Rain’s heart skipped a beat, and a mix of surprise and relief crossed Aunt Melanie’s face. For the first time, it felt like a victory for both of them... a hard-won moment of justice.

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