Marrying my high school bully

Melissa

“Everything will be fine.” I squeezed Dexter’s palm assuringly after we showed up at my father’s house.

He had filled me in on the argument they had a few days ago, and I couldn’t deny that my father would be pissed at him. But knowing that my father would always choose my happiness over anything, I convinced him to join me.

We were a team, and my father’s influence would be pertinent in bringing Emilia and her father down completely.

“I hope so.” He replied nervously and the housekeeper welcomed the both of us.

Her eyes lingered on Dexter with a puzzled expression, then she disappeared into the hallway almost immediately.

My father strode down the stairs, a dazzling smile appearing on his face as soon as he saw me, but when his gaze crossed to Dexter, it disappeared.

He returned his gaze to me while I pressed my lips, giving him a knowing look.

“Does he know?” He asked quietly, closing the distance between us.

I nodded slowly and stood up.

“I couldn’t hide it from him anymore, Dad. He realized that I was Lorraine and I didn’t see the need to keep deceiving him anymore. He’s a man with feelings and I’m sure that what he feels for me is genuine.”

My dad shook his head and retracted his steps.

“No, you shouldn’t have done that. Did you get distracted just because he knocked you up?” He accused me, his words creating a sharp ache in my chest.

How could he say such hurtful words to me?

“Dad!”I exclaimed, my eyes glistening with tears. “I’m not dumb. I know what I want, and maybe I made a mistake by coming to visit you.” I yelled, picking up my purse as I stormed out of the house.

Footsteps rang behind me, but I ignored them as I just wanted to be out of his house and be in the safety of others.

“Melissa!” He shouted when I got to the car. “Please, stop!”

My breaths came in quick pants and I suddenly felt tired. Dexter was right. My body presently had an aversion to any form of stress, and I tried to avoid anything that would make me unsettled, including my father’s displeasure at my reunion with Dexter.

I leaned against the car door, unable to do any other thing like even opening the car. I spun around slowly and peered at him as he wrapped his arms around me.

“I’m so sorry for talking to you that way, cupcake. You shouldn’t be at the receiving end of my frustration.” He darted a glare towards Dexter who stood by the door. “He should be.”

A scoff escaped my lips as I rolled my eyes.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“About him, Father, I’d just let you know ahead of time that I won’t allow you to do that to me.” I shook my head, my expression unsmiling.

He furrowed his brows and folded his arms. “What are you talking about?” He feigned ignorance.

“I won’t allow you to separate me from the one man that makes me happy.”

“Someone that slept with another woman when you went MIA? He couldn’t even hold back or search for you.” He argued and I huffed, slapping my forehead in resignation.

His reminder was painful, but I’d learned to keep the past behind me, including what had happened before.

“No one is a saint, Dad, including you. You knew that he was set up and he fell for it. You are aware of everything that took place, so why are you using it against him?” I vented my displeasure without holding back.

He looked away without saying a word.

I was spent, and gradually I regretted why I decided to bring Dexter along to visit my father. Maybe I should have updated my father about the new development between us alone.

“I’d like to have a word with him.” He broke the silence and my cheeks heated up.

I held his arm, inwardly giddy with excitement. “Don’t be harsh with him, Dad,” I warned him with a frown.

“I’ll try not to.”

DEXTER’S POV

Melissa/Lorraine’s father was one of the men that could make even the strongest man bow to him, because of the intimidating aura he had.

Since I had a daughter, I could relate to how he felt. If the story was changed and Lilly and I were the characters, I’d probably do worse than what he was doing.

I’d already given up and was about to tell Melissa not to worry about me when her father strode towards me with his face as cold as ice.

His lips thinned, and tension saturated the atmosphere, but I wasn’t scared of him. I only admired how he tried to protect his daughter from me.

What he didn’t know was that I’d always been there for her, and he didn’t have the power to separate us.

“I’d like to talk to you about my daughter.” He rumbled.

His straightforwardness was another thing I liked about him. Just like me, he hated beating around the bush.

“Now that you’ve charmed your way back to your heart, what is next?” He asked coldly.

“Our lives will return to how they used to be, and I’ll try to make up for every mistake I made. She suffered all by herself, and I was so stupid for allowing myself to be used against her. The guilt will continue to eat me up and I will allow it because that is the price I have to pay for my stupidity.” I said bitterly, folding my hands behind me. “But, what I’d like to tell you is that I can’t live without her. That woman,” I glanced at Melissa who was watching the both of us intently, “Holds my sanity. If anything happens to her again, I might completely lose it.”

His shoulders sagged, a silent display of his resignation.

“I felt the same when I realized that her mother was dead. We never dated, but the connection we had at our first meeting held me bound and I couldn’t even date anyone else. What you did broke her, and she really had a large heart to decide to take you back.”

“So are you giving me your permission?”

He gave me a once-over and advanced closer, his eyes staring almost condescending. “As a man, I understand what you went through, but as her father I don’t care. I will give you another chance to prove yourself because you make her happy, even though I don’t understand how. If she sheds as little as a single tear because of you, I don’t care how much of a billionaire you are, I’ll personally send you to jail.” He threatened with a scowl.

It was official.

I liked him, and once the dust died down, I’d ask him to mentor me on fatherhood.

“You won’t have to, Mr Rogers.”

“Don’t call me by that name. I’m your father-in-law, remember?” He said playfully then signaled towards Melissa to come over.

He went inside while I scooped her up and kissed her. The front door swung open with his head popped out.

“Are you coming in or not?”