A Father Claimed

The Joyful Reunion

My father slowly reached out as if to touch my face. "You… You're…"

"Dad! I'm right here!" Susan's voice cut through the moment, her feet stomping in frustration behind me.

His eyes widened in surprise, and for the first time, he truly noticed Susan. Glancing between the two of us, he asked, "Which of you is Miranda's child?"

Susan's expression shifted, and she suddenly collapsed to the ground in a flood of tears.

"Mom, you left too soon! How am I supposed to survive on my own? Dad doesn't even want to acknowledge me! Even on your deathbed, you were still thinking about him!"

"What? Miranda is gone?"

The news hit him hard. His face fell, and shadows of sorrow clouded his eyes.

He let out a heavy sigh, lost in thought. "Get up, child. Please, get up. Why didn't you come to me sooner?"

He lifted Susan into his arms, their reunion unfolding with an emotional embrace before the grand mansion.

"I've spent my life struggling with Mom, barely scraping by. We'd have one meal and then go hungry. I always wanted to find you, but she wouldn't let me. Now that she's gone, I have no one left. Only then did she allow me to seek you out."

Gently, my father stroked Susan's hair. "You're here now, and that's what matters. From today on, anything you want, I will give to you."

Susan nestled into his embrace, a smug smile lighting up her face.

As I watched their joyful reunion, a sharp pang of unease twisted inside me.

After their emotional exchange, my father finally turned to me. "And who is this?"

Susan pointed at me. "Oh, this? This is the girl who came to apply for the housekeeper position. I only met her at the entrance."

A jolt ran through me.

Just like that, Susan had rewritten the story, pretending she didn't know me at all.

She began to cry again, her tears flowing like a seasoned actress. It was hard not to feel sympathy for her.

"I thought she was here to reunite with you too, Dad! I thought I wouldn't be your only daughter!" she sobbed, her voice trembling as if she were truly heartbroken.

Thomas couldn't bear to see his daughter in tears. He quickly stepped forward to comfort her. "You're my only daughter. I've only ever loved your mother. No one else matters—you're my one and only!"

As he spoke, he gently wiped Susan's tears with his sleeve.

"Don't cry, my precious girl. It breaks my heart to see you like this. I know these years have been tough for you and Miranda.

"Here's what I'll do: I'll buy you ten houses and give you a car. No more hard times for my little girl! Everything will be in your name!"

His words sent a thrill through me, but Susan beamed with uncontained joy.

I opened my mouth to tell my father the truth, but I hesitated. I remembered Susan's promise—she only needed one day to experience this life, and then she would return my father to me.

So, I swallowed my urge to speak.

"Dad, uh… Do you need a housekeeper at home?"

Susan shot me a look, silently pleading with my father not to keep me around.

My fists clenched tightly. I couldn't believe she was going back on her word.

My father turned to me, his gaze softening with an unexpected warmth.

Then, slowly shaking his head, he murmured, "It's… it's uncanny how much you look like her."

He then asked, "Are you married?"

I looked at him and shook my head.

"Then stay," he urged.

The moment he said that, Susan stumbled, her composure cracking for a second.

"Dad!" she protested, stamping her foot in frustration.

Thomas was puzzled, confusion flickering in his eyes. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

I shot a glare at Susan, gritting my teeth in silent anger.