Zenon's Game Chapter 276

Mr Albert tried to focus on the story, "But looking back, I think it was too late. Your dad worried he was taking your mom down with him, but he already had."

I clutched my hands together, holding onto myself tight. "That's why you called social services?"

"Kids are innocent, and they deserve a chance," Mr Albert confirmed it.

"Oh honey," Mrs Albert shook her head, hiding her face behind her hands.

Mt Albert sat back and finally let the past slip away. He realized what 'his truth' had done to everyone in the room. We were two families, living a broken life on the same street.

His family hid it better than mine, but the wounds were still there. Time doesn't heal all wounds.

How did we even get here? It's crazy to think that if Zenon and I hadn't gotten together, we wouldn't have unlocked this story about my past. What do I do from here?

Mr Albert exhaled like his own soul was coming out. For a man who showed little emotion, this was not a usual display for him. I wonder if he felt lighter with that confession.

His wife and daughter were in tears and Jake was silently mourning beside me.

Mr Albert stood up and closed the subject, "That's enough for now."

He walked towards the door, but his son stopped him.

Zenon was the only one who wasn't breaking down right now. Why not? Shouldn't he?

"One more question," Zenon said in a tone of voice I couldn't recognize. There was no warmth in it. "Why did you call him now?"

Mr Albert looked down. He stayed at the door and put his hand on the brass knob. Zenon stood in front of him and didn't move.

"You're not a little boy anymore, are you?" Mr Albert commented, looking up at Zenon.

It wasn't an innocent question. He said it because he couldn't walk out now that his son was physically able to stop him.

Zenon was bigger than his father and, just by blocking the door, there was a subtle threat in Zenon's body language.

I was envious of him. He had a physical strength that I, as a girl, didn't have. Why do I feel envy in this moment? My emotions were all muddled and confused.

Envy of Zenon. Envy of his sister. After all, she was the one who got her father talking in the first place – and not by brute force.

Envy of a life that wasn't mine.

"I made the call because of you," Mr Albert said, and jabbed his finger into his son's chest, "I haven't thought much about the Ripleys in years until you went ahead and started dating their daughter."

"You've changed because of her," Mr Albert told his son, "you yell at me and judge me for my behavior. Before you went off to Dubai, you dug up the past and threw it in my face-"

"Because I found out you called social services?" Zenon replied angrily, "Own up to it, dad. Your mistakes."

"You don't know my life. You were born when I was already-"

Zenon pulled his father's hand down from waving it aggressively in the air, "What does this have to do with it? Why did you call Candace's dad?"

"I wanted to speak to him, that's all," Mr Albert finally revealed it, "I just wanted to pick the phone and call an old acquaintance."

Zenon had finally gotten it out of him.

I stared up at that, "So my dad knows how I'm doing?"

I could hear the hope in my voice. Maybe my dad was in a better headspace right now and maybe he cared about how I was doing.

Mr Albert let out a sound that sounded like a sad chuckle, "He cursed like a horse when he found out who you were dating."

Zenon stepped away from the door to let him go. And I think Mr Albert was torn by that action. Zenon was angry and disappointed.

"Zenon," his father tried to apologize, "I didn't think the call would lead to anything. I just wanted to speak to the guy. Someone who wouldn't judge. Someone who'd understand. Heck, you're my son and she's his daughter."

"That's the problem," I said.

Zenon looked at me. And slowly, begrudgingly, Mr Albert acknowledged me too.

"That's the problem with you and my dad. It's all about you. Your story. Don't you see how you've affected so many other lives? You shouldn't think of this as your story. You're not the one suffering here," I said and lowered my voice for the weight of my anger, "You make others suffer."

We were a room full of suffering.

A hand rested on my back and I flinched at the contact. It was Jake and he was trying to comfort me.

Jake was the only one in the room who knew exactly how I was feeling – because he feels it too. He and I have been in the same situation and we were not to be alone.

Mr Albert was about to speak but, this time, Zenon interrupted him, "No, dad. This is when you leave."

Mr Albert reacted, "I told you we shouldn't open this can of worms," he clenched the doorknob and twisted it open suddenly, "But I didn't do anything else. I didn't tell the guy to come back. We just talked and our conversation sparked something in him to call your mom."

Mr Albert walked out and left the door wide open behind him.

Another tear rolled down my cheek and dropped onto my hand.

I was relieved to be getting answers. And I didn't want them to stop. I wanted to speak to my mother, to find out why my dad called her, what he said to make her leave. And maybe even speak to my dad – to meet him again.

Would he be proud of what I've become?

How would he react to Zenon?