Chapter 190
Spencer marched further into the room, fury darkening his features as he glared at the man standing near his grandfather before pointing angrily at him.
Robert straightened at once, instinctively stepping a little in front of Patrick as if to shield him. “Spencer,” he said sharply, “Mind your tone. That man is your father. Show some respect.”
Spencer laughed bitterly, a scoff laced with years of resentment. “Father?” he echoed, looking at Patrick with a sneer. “You mean the man who was never around? The one who was always away on business trips, too busy to attend birthdays, school plays, anything that mattered? Who almost always sided with an adopted child than his own son? The same man who abandoned and humiliated my mother- his wife- by falling for a lowly nanny?”
Patrick didn’t flinch, but his expression grew tighter, the calm slipping just a little from his face. He said nothing though, knowing that just like he had a lot of complains against his own father, so did Spencer have them against him.
But Robert Collins was not happy with his grandson’s reaction towards his son who had returned after so long.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Spencer!” Sir Roberts said through gritted teeth.
“Oh, don’t I, grandfather?” Spencer barked, his voice rising. “He left! Left me. Left my mother! And now he thinks he can just walk back in here like some hero?”
“Enough, Spencer,” Patrick said softly, though there was a hard edge in his voice now. “You don’t know the full story.”
“I don’t want your story!” Spencer snapped. “You made your choice… You left us. And it was for the better!”
SLAP.
The sound rang across the room like a gunshot. Spencer reeled back, hand flying to his cheek, eyes wide in stunned disbelief as he stared at
Silence fell.
Robert’s hand trembled slightly as he lowered it. His eyes, though, were burning with fury that had been buried for years, rising to the surface.
“For once in your life,” Robert said in a low, seething voice, “use your brain, boy.”
Spencer stood frozen, still reeling from the shock—not just of the slap, but of the raw emotion in his grandfather’s voice. He had hardly ever seen Sir Robert Collins lose control. But now, his voice was thunder.
“Your father stayed away from this house all these years because of your mother-yes, your mother- has always been a venomous, manipulative shrew. He stayed in that toxic marriage for you, Spencer. For your sake. He loved you too much to walk away from you. So don’t you stand there and spit poison at him as if you know what happened between them. By now, at least you are old enough to understand what a brainless shrew she is, fixated on all the wrong things!”
Robert stepped forward, pointing at Spencer’s chest with an accusing finger. “You think it was easy for him? Living with a woman who manipulated every situation, who used you as a pawn to control him? You were too young to see it, but I wasn’t. I watched her twist his love for you into a chain around his neck. She made a battlefield out of their marriage, and every time he tried to breathe, she cut off the air. He only left when you were old enough to stand on your own feet!”
Spencer’s hands clenched. He knew what his mother was like. He’d noticed it after the few times Melanie had complained and then when he had returned to live here. But that did not mean he was willing to forgive this man for his abandonement..
Spencer’s jaw tightened and he took a step back. Ready to leave but then he stopped and narrowed his eyes,” Then why are you here now? What do you want? Let me guess- you ran out of money?”
“Spencer! That is enough! He is my son. This is his home. He doesn’t need a reason to return. He has every right to be here, just like you do!”
Finally, Patrick placed a hand on his father’s hand and spoke quietly,” Spencer, I didn’t come here to make excuses. I know you have every right to hate me. I deserve your anger. I do. But I didn’t come back for money, or sympathy, or anything else. I came back because I heard that your mother had left. And so, I hoped that I would be able to spend some more time with my family now. With you and with my father.”
“I know you have a lot of complaints against me. But I hope you will trust me and give me a chance to make things up to you. Somehow.”
Spencer scoffed at this and with a glare at the two people, walked away from the office, having no intention of discussing this further.
Robert turned to him and then patted his shoulder and said,”Don’t worry, Patrick. Spencer takes after you. He will come around soon. Now that you are back, I hope you will stay…”
Patrick gave his father a small smile and said,” Yes, father. I will stay for now.”
As Patrick walked away from the office, however his smile turned a bit bitter. He was back. That was true. But whether Spencer came around or it was eventually his father who would turn on him, he had no idea.
Once he sat in his car, he could only breathe a sigh of relief when his phone rang. He fished it out and glanced at the screen. A soft smile broke across his face as he saw the name.
“Hey, kid.”
“You promised you’d call back after the meeting, father.” A little voice spoke accusingly and he grinned,” I just stepped out. Are you missing me?”
The little kid humphed and answered,” Yes! What kind of a vacation is this where you have to go? This is so boring.”
“Adir! You’re such a good boy! Don’t worry! Father will be back soon, okay?I am sure you will enjoy this vacation more with no one to stop you from eating sweets.”
Adir giggled at that and said,” You are right! Okay okay! Come slowly. I will go have some cake now. Byee.”