Only a Dream Left in This World

I didn't come to my senses until Diana left the house.

When I first left the orphanage to live with the Grant family, I thought I had finally found a home. But over the years, I realized I would never stand on equal footing with Diana.

I studied relentlessly, worked myself to the bone, and fought tooth and nail to build a career. Yet, in Diana's eyes, I remained a mere freeloader living off her family's wealth.

I sat alone in the dark living room all night until my phone vibrated. It was Diana. Her tone was completely casual, almost playful, as she spoke. "Pierre, I found your father. He's still alive."

A loud, violent ringing exploded in my ears. For a split second, the world went entirely silent.

"Give me the address," I said eagerly, clutching my phone.

I was terrified she was playing a cruel trick. For 25 years, I had never stopped searching for my father. Even knowing the severity of his mental illness, I desperately wanted to see him one more time—to lay eyes on the only blood relative I had left in the world.

The moment the text with the address came through, I didn't hesitate. I didn't stop to question if it was real. I drove blindly, far too fast, and rear-ended the vehicle in front of me.

Before I could react, a semi-truck came barreling forward, causing my car to spin out violently and flip onto the shoulder of the road.

Cuts and bruises lined the entire side of my body. The panicked truck driver rushed over, frantically trying to call an ambulance, but I merely wiped the blood from my face, shook my head, and stepped away.

The crash had occurred just a few blocks from the address Diana sent. Bleeding and dazed, I began to walk, taking one agonizingly slow step after another.

The closer I got to the private lounge, the harder my heart hammered against my ribs. My breath caught as my fingers curled around the brass doorknob.

Forcing myself to hold it together, I pushed the door open. What greeted me was loud whistles and raucous laughter.

"He's here! He fell for it!"

"Diana, that husband you've kept is so obedient. He's practically a trained puppy."

I froze in the doorway, my heart slamming painfully against my chest. I had braced myself for the worst, but the reality hit so hard it stole the breath from my lungs.

I felt entirely hollow, stripped of any remaining power.

"Diana, you won the bet," Tyler chuckled, swirling a glass. "I'll take a drink to pay up. But honestly, isn't it a little messed up to lie to him like that?"

His voice snapped me out of my trance. Only then did I look around and notice the decorations. It wasn't a reunion; it was Tyler's birthday party, filled with Diana's wealthy circle of friends.

Diana took one look at my bloodied, disheveled state and frowned. Rising from her seat, she walked over to me and lowered her voice.

"It's Tyler's birthday. We're just playing a game, Pierre. Don't take it so seriously," she whispered. "I'm still looking for any leads on your father, but there's nothing so far. Let's talk once this party is over."

From across the room, someone shouted over the music, "Pierre, give it up already! Your dad's probably been dead for years. He was a nutjob anyway. What do you expect from him, fatherly love?"

Another round of roaring laughter broke out, but Diana didn't even attempt to stop them.

"Since you're here, just stay and celebrate Tyler's birthday with us," she said, reaching out to grab my arm.

I flinched away before her fingers could make contact. Ignoring the sudden darkness in her expression, I turned on my heel to leave.

Behind me, her voice rose with anger. "If you walk through that door, don't you dare come back!"

I didn't slow down for even a second or look back.