Chapter 399

Bella arrived at the office of the chief operating officer on the eighth floor.

As the COO, her father had an essential role in the company, overseeing its day-to-day administrative and operational functions in the Donovan Group.

Bella saw that the staff on this floor continued to work diligently despite the company’s difficult situation. She felt positive and believed a change from incompetent to competent leaders would stop the company’s downward track and return to its potential growth.

From afar, Bella spotted Sam sitting in front of the room, looking tense, with a few staff members busy with their tasks nearby. She quickened her pace and approached Sam.

“Boss—” Sam immediately stood to greet her.

“Sam, is he trying to get out?” Bella asked curiously, worried that her father would make things difficult for Sam.

Besides, Bella didn’t want to attract suspicion from the staff about what had happened; she had taken over the company from her uncles and father.

Sam smiled before answering, “Yes. But when I explained nicely that you asked him to wait, he said nothing else and returned inside p>

“Alright, good. Thank you, Sam.” Bella smiled at him before looking at Daniel beside her. “Daniel, can you wait here with Sam? I need to talk to him alone first p>

“Sure, ma’am,” Daniel nodded politely.

Standing before her father’s office, Bella tried to adjust her expression to show no emotion and calm her mind. After a few more seconds, feeling much better, she finally knocked on the door.

“Come in p>

Bella felt tense when she heard her father’s voice letting her in. She tightly clenched her hand when she saw her father sitting on the sofa, looking towards her.

The urge to immediately slap her father several times for what he did to her mother was so strong. But, with great effort, she managed to hold it and hide any rage that came with it.

’Calm down, Bella! Calm down! Finish your business with him immediately, and leave this place.’ She kept reminding herself while walking towards the sitting area.

“Bella,” Lucas said softly with his trembling voice, standing from his seat. He gestured for her to sit on the empty sofa across from him. “Please sit, my daughter. Here, here. Come sit over here. Uhm, do you want anything to drink?

Tea or coffee, maybe p>

For a few seconds, Bella was stunned to hear how polite he was, offering her a drink the moment they met. She shook her head and refused his offer.

After settling into her seat, Bella was even more stunned when she saw her father’s expression more clearly. He looked much older than his actual age, with sad and frailness framing his face.

Bella couldn’t help but frown as she witnessed her father’s unusual attitude.

This was her first time seeing her father show his vulnerability. As far as she could remember, her father always displayed cruelty. He made threats whenever he appeared before her or spoke to her.

’Is he trying to trick me with this pitiful look?’ Bella wondered. She tried not to waver about what her father would do or ask later.

“You must know why I’m he Bella paused when she saw her father stop her. Although displeased, she decided to hear what he wanted to say.

“Bella, I hope you would hear me out before you say something,” Lucas Donovan said softly, his eyes staring deeply into Bella’s confused-looking eyes.

Lucas took a deep breath before continuing, “I know. I understand that my past actions do not deserve your or your mother’s forgiveness. Still, I really want to apologize to you and your mother His trembling voice couldn’t hide how sad he was now.

Bella was stunned; she didn’t expect to hear this line from her abusive and cruel father.

’What on earth happened to him? Why? Why did he suddenly turn into a nice man p>

It’s hard for Bella to believe the man sitting before her is her father. All this time, her father has never shown affection and has always been rude to her and her mother.

Bella didn’t rush to respond to his apology. She only stared at him in disbelief.

At this moment, her mind was still busy figuring out whether her father sincerely apologized to her or if all that was a mask and a ruse to keep his position in this company.

For a while, neither of them said anything. They just sat, lost in their own thoughts.

After several seconds, Bella finally broke the silence.

“Why did you suddenly change like this? This is too unbelievable to be real,” she asked, curious to know.

Lucas was surprised to hear Bella’s question. He could feel that he had changed but didn’t know why. He just felt like his mind was empty.

“No, no. Please, Bella. Hear me out, and I beg for your trust, at least for one last time. This is real, and I don’t have any more energy to live, let alone trick or do something bad to you or your mother. But I don’t know why I do and feel like this p>

Lucas continued, “Maybe after your mother decided to stay away from me and get rid of me from her life, and maybe knowing that she was fighting death, all of that made me realize something about me. How I’m frail and broken without her…but, but, I treated her so badly. Treated you so badly. That’s how lost I have been all along p>

After his lengthy words, Lucas lowered his head and shoulders, too weak and embarrassed to meet his daughter’s gaze. His eyes were open but looked empty and nearly lifeless now.

Bella gasped in surprise upon hearing his words. However, a second later, she hurriedly maintained her calm expression, trying not to believe what he said, afraid her heart would waver.

“My daughter Bella, I’m sorry. I failed to become a good father to you and a good husband to your mother,” Lucas continued with a grief-stricken tone. “I will not ask you and your mother for anything but forgiveness. And after that, whatever punishment that you and your mother would do on me, I shall take it. Even if it’s death p>

Bella was rendered speechless.