“Are you feeling a bit better now, Miss Ortiz?” Alastor asked as her cries slowly petered out. She had yet to lift her face from his chest. Yet, she did not move. “Miss Ortiz?”

“I ruined your vest… and tie… and shirt…” she muttered in his chest, where she could feel the vibration from his chuckle.

“I don’t think tears could destroy clothing unless they were made of paper. It’s alright, Miss Ortiz, what you did was healthy. Trying to suppress what you feel is never good. I’m glad you let it out.”

She still didn’t move her face from his chest and just continued to hug him. And as if he had read her mind once again.

“I won’t think of you any less if you’re face is red and puffy from crying either.” She twitched but still didn’t move, yet she then felt his chin rest on top of her head as he began to rub her back and started humming. Whether it was his intention or not, the man was making her feel a heck of a lot younger than she was. It was a bit embarrassing.

What made this even more embarrassing was that her Dad would, and had, done something like it whenever she broke down like this when she was little. Were all Dads like this or just the ones she knew?

When she finally moved away, she couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eye while he silently smiled down at her.

“I’m sorry…”

“What are you apologizing for?” Elain didn’t say anything as her cheeks flushed red from embarrassment. “You know, I believe you still have that cake waiting to be finished. Why don’t we head back down to the kitchen?”

“Sure,” she said in a very soft voice as they went to stand, leaving his office to head back down into the kitchen. And when she tried the cake again, she found that even though it didn’t taste any different, it somehow felt different to her, regardless of how small.

This started to make her rethink going to therapy now after speaking with Alastor.

“How does it taste?” he asked her.

She smiled, one that felt real for the first time in a long while. “It’s good.”

Afterwards, when Alastor cleaned up he looked at his pocket watch and then asked. “Why don’t we go for a bit of a walk? There’s still some time before I need to go and pick Amalie up from school.”

Elain was a little confused by this suggestion. “Uh, sure? I guess.”

Alastor’s smile grew at that. “Wonderful, there’s a place that I think you’d like, it’s a trail that I’ve walked countless times, both with Amalie and alone. It’s a wonderful place that can make you feel calm. Not to mention the trees are very beautiful.”

That did sound nice.

But why would he even offer to do something like that for her anyway? They didn’t know each other all that well, and he was probably a very busy man, he was a single parent and

already had his hands full. She didn’t want to add more stress or burden him even further.

“It’s all right you know,” he said suddenly. “Amalie doesn’t get out of school until three, there’s plenty of time to walk around for a bit before I need to pick up Amalie.”

Elain could feel the flush of her cheeks before asking. “How are you able to know what I’m thinking? Or am I… just that easy to read?”

To her surprise, Alastor laughed. “Oh, no don’t take it the wrong way, I’m not laughing at you. It’s just that Amalie has said something similar once before. I suppose I’ve always just been good at knowing what’s on people’s minds.”

“Was that where you were training to become a doctor or when you were an actor?”

“No, just years of watching other people. Seeing how they’d react to certain things, that’s all. Nothing more.”

Elain wondered what he meant by it, but given that he had been to several countries, and seen way more than her, it would make sense that he was more aware of people and what showed on their faces and what was hidden underneath. She wished time and time again about being able to know what people thought of her.

“How far is this trail you mentioned?”

“It’s by the park that we were at before. It’s merely a short walk.”

Elain thought about it, maybe the fresh air could do her some good.

“Sure, I could go for it, I think.”

* * *

The mid-afternoon breeze made the late summer heat far more tolerable. Her mismatched eyes watched as Alastor walked ahead of her, not even bothered by the heat. Her gaze went skyward, watching the wind push against the trees, making the branches move and leaves rustle as the clouds moved even higher above them in the sky.

It was mostly silent, besides the crunch of gravel underneath their feet as they walked, and besides the occasional runner, dogwalker or elderly couple watching the birds there weren’t many others around them. It felt like they were talking in a deep forest than just in a section of a park that had a lot of trees and a gravel trail with a tiny stream.

Alastor would talk about the area and would point out some of the small animals or birds, imitating their songs and would get a response like a Disney Princess and even had knowledge about the plants that were native to the area.

Yet as they walked, a thought continued to press until Elain was unable to hold back any longer and just say what she thought aloud.

“Do you think any less of me?” she asked, bringing Alastor to stop and look back at her, hands in pockets, a faint smile on his face. “About what I said? About… what I wished would happen to them for what they did to me?”

“No,” he didn’t even hesitate in his answer. “Miss Ortiz, my perception of you has grown, it’s only natural to want to get back at those who’ve hurt you in such a way. I understand what that’s like.”

Elian gave him a questioning stare; he’s said something like that before when she thought her graph had torn. “You mentioned before that you were harmed by someone, may I ask… who that was?” Elain then felt a shift, subtle but still noticeable in Alastor’s stance, how his gaze became a bit darker, as though he were recalling it while his smile grew faint.

“My wife,” he said as the wind picked up ever so slightly. “It was my wife, that harmed me so irreparably.”

Elain frowned. “Is that why she’s not around anymore?” she never asked what happened to his wife when they first met because, well one, they didn’t know each other well, and two, it didn’t seem all that important to know unless it was brought up like it was now.

Alastor motioned for them to take a seat on a nearby bench, he sat with his legs crossed, hands resting atop his knees as he looked up to the sky. “Partly, though why she left us was something else altogether. Her reputation had all but vanished when I told the police that she tried to kill my daughter, I caught my wife in the act trying to strangle Amalie.”

Elain’s head snapped to look right at the still-smiling man. “She did what?!” she nearly yelled out. “I… but… why…?” she couldn’t understand that, Amalie was a sweet little girl, a little quite sure, but whatever the woman thought didn’t justify trying to kill a child.

Alastor, on the other hand, didn’t seem at all shocked at her outburst as he continued calmly. “At the time I wasn’t too sure myself, but now, I don’t think she liked being married to me, though, in retrospect, marrying me was only a means to an end for her.”

“I don’t understand, if she didn’t want to marry you, why did she?”

“To gain access to her inheritance. She went to find a man who was the most suitable, someone with the best in looks, and class, to her, that was me. Now, I didn’t mind. I never thought of myself as the romantic type, but if a person is interested in me, I had no issues in returning their feelings. However, it wasn’t just marriage. She also wanted to have a child, that was another cavoite to her inheritance.”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“That seems over the top.”

“I know, but given her family’s history, it wasn’t that much of a surprise. Though there was a problem with that…”

“What kind of problem?”

“She wanted children, and I did not.”

Elain became silent, her thoughts churning over and over in her head, her first thought was that Alastor’s wife might have cheated on him, but retracted that thought given how alike Amalie looked to her father, which led to one other conclusion, something that was far worse than cheating on a significant other, which was cemented in what Alastor said next.

“She needed a child, and her parents would have had the child’s DNA tested with mine to make sure the baby was related to me. Sadly, I was not a willing participant in this act in what my wife decided to do to make it happen.”

But before Elain could even respond, Alastor continued.

“But that’s been a far longer time than your wounds that are still healing from what you went through. After all this time what I went through feels as though it was a mere penance in comparison.”

“No, it’s not.” Was all that Elain could say to that, Elain felt sick with regret, for something so awful to happen to someone she had gotten to know, of just hearing that a man who had been so kind to her, had been raped by his wife cast an even greater regret in opening Pandora’s box. This wasn’t like what she had dealt with, but it didn’t make what he went through any less valid with such trauma. “I… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“Don’t apologize for something you knew nothing about; besides, it was my choice to share what happened to me. Much like how you shared what happened with you. Our trauma may be different, but it does not change the pain we have been put through at the hands of others.”

“Still, I mean, I don’t know how you could stay married to such a monster after what she did to you…”

His smile twitched. “A monster indeed, but it was part of her inheritance, even I had no real say in the matter. Nor could I take this to court since, as my wife said when I confronted her, no one would believe me. Though I had a prenup before marriage, I could come out completely unscathed. But her parents, my wife’s parents, pleaded not to do that, that having parents that were separated would be bad for the child.”

“Now that’s bullshit.”

He chuckled, he seemed to agree to it. “Well, they did change their tune rather quickly when they learned that their daughter whom they let get away with rape tried to kill their grandchild.”

“And she ran away after that?”

“Yes, I don’t know what happened to her, and in truth, I don’t care. She has no inheritance, no money to continue her high-cost living, and is known throughout the country as a bitter woman who tried to end her own child’s life over money. No one would give someone like her any sympathy for her crimes.”

“I hope she suffers then.”

His smile subtilty grew, but Elain didn’t catch it. “I believe she has. Wherever she may be now.” He then stood. “But I do not regret having Amalie in my life. I never thought I’d be a good father or a father at all for that matter. But seeing her smile when she’s happy warms my heart. She is the greatest joy to come out of such horrendous acts.”

Elain looked at him, then asked. “Why tell me? I mean, I know I told you what happened to me, but…”

“I told you because I wanted to.” He says as he remains sitting upright. “I did not want you to think that I’d pity you for what happened. As I’ve said, we have both been dealt with a horrible trauma, something which I’m sure not many would relate, understand or even sympathize with. But I wanted you to know, to show that I understand. I mentioned before that your feelings are valid, and that it’s something you shouldn’t feel ashamed of.”

Still… she couldn’t understand why he’d tell her; it didn’t make much sense to her. Yet one thing did remain on her mind. “Then, did you also want your wife to die for what she did to you? Like I did for the people who did this to me?”

The air around him became far denser as he continued to smile, while his eyes seemed to be devoid of any life at all. “No, I didn’t wish for her death. Simply because if she were to die, then it would be over. I would want her to suffer, to live for as long as possible knowing that I and my child are having a better life than she could ever want for herself. And that she goes mad from it while regretting her actions.” His smile became warmer as he looked at Elain. “I always say the trick to defeating your enemies who are far away from you is to live your life the best that you can, be better who you were yesterday and that, perhaps one day, the one who hurt you so will get what they so rightfully deserve.”

Elain found herself smiling a bit in response. “You know, you’d make a heck of a therapist, you always seem to know what to say for others who are feeling down.”

“Thank you, Miss Ortiz, but I think I’m more than comfortable being a radio host. I can’t see myself being anything else, at least for now. But who knows what things will be like in the future? All we can do is keep moving forward until we’ve reached the end.” He then pulled out his pocket watch. “And speaking of time, we should get going, I need to pick Amalie up from school. Would you care to join me?”

“No, that’s alright, I don’t want to impose you any further. Plus, I should head back home, I don’t want my parents to worry.”

“Of course, then at least allow me to walk you back home. As safe as this area is, it would bring me at ease knowing you managed to get home safely.”

After Alastor dropped Elain at her home, she went back inside and up to her room, where in a draw from her desk she pulled out the card that a nurse had given her back after she had been examined. And how the whole talk with Alastor went made Elain consider talking to a professional about this issue.

So much for starting a new life in a new school on the first day… she thought with a sigh but wasn’t as bitter as she could have been had it not been for Alastor and his compassion. He just let her talk, though he talked too, it was mainly her. Like the lid in her head just came loose and all of what she felt, what she dealt with and the thought came pouring out like a waterfall and he just accepted it all without question or judgment.

Seriously, was there anything that man couldn’t do?

Though the same could probably be said the same about his daughter, people judge her so harshly for things a kid like her can’t help or change.

Amalie… Elain’s heart felt heavy when recalling what Alastor implied about his wife, it made Elain hope that the little girl didn’t know about her conception, but given how smart she seemed, that might not be a secret for long.

But deep down, Elain hoped that Amalie would never find out…

A kid like her deserves so much better than how things began for her. And as for the bitch that was Amalie’s Mom, Elain hoped that she was suffering in the worst way after running away like a coward, wherever the hell she might be, she didn’t deserve to be happy for as long as she lived. Wherever that may be.

Elain then lightly hit her cheeks with both hands, now was not the time to be feeling like this! She wanted to thank Alastor, not pity the man! But how could she go about thanking him without it being weird?

That’s it! She thought. I know how I can say thanks to him! And then rushed out of her bedroom and down to the kitchen where she pulled out a cookbook that belonged to her grandma, Dad’s mother, given to them before they moved across the border.

Scanning through the pages she found what she was looking for. A grin rested upon her features, just wait until he had a taste of this.

* * *

It was late that evening as Alastor sat in his office chair, tablet in one hand, the other along his face while deep in thought as he scrolled through an article about what had taken place nearly six months ago in America. Article, after article from several different news outlets went on about the assault that Elain Ortiz had dealt with at the hands of those who were more fortunate in money.

He eyed it coldly as he continued to scroll through, seeing just how fixed this whole judicial system was. Especially how this Shantae girl acted so entitled online through Instagram and TikTok, it wasn’t even hard to find her, the girl didn’t even bother to private her accounts or hide her location. From there he could see that there was no end to her depravity and arrogance.

Even going so far as to gloat that she got out of being imprisoned for her violent acts on another person, how she laughed calling Miss Ortiz a slew of horrible names. Alastor now knew that Elain choosing to not repeat what Shantae said wasn’t just out of popper courtesy, it was truly vile virtual that was being spewed from a girl who thought she owned the world and all who lived on it. It made him vaguely think of his wife, Marie-Amédée d’Orléans, truly a beautiful woman, a shame it was only at face value. He found it somewhat amusing how Marie and Shante seemed to have so much in common despite the differences in their familial background.

The longer he scrolled through the young woman’s comments, the hate that she wrote out to those who were angered by Shante’s escape from the law, and how Shantae continued to mock and threaten to harm Miss Ortiz even further caused a twitch in Alastor’s eye as his smile became strained.

Wealth never did amount to a person’s class, they could be a billionaire and be the truest scum of the earth, or the kindest of souls with not a penny to their name.

Yes, much like his wife, how arrogant she was. Though she was correct about one thing, about him, and his nature. Too bad it took her so long to realize. A smart person would have just fled, gone as far as they could so as never to be reached. But Marie was never that smart. No, she made the horrendous mistake of going after the one good thing that came out of their sham of a marriage. If she hadn’t harmed Amalie, then he wouldn’t have acted the way he had to such a woman.

Alastor tapped his index finger along the temple of his brow as he continued to watch.

What to do, what to do.

He wouldn’t act right away, no, he’d take his time, slow and steady always won the race after all. He wished to do something but needed time to formulate a proper plan for something like this.

With a half-smile, he turned off his tablet and left his office where he silently crept to his daughter’s room where she slept. Clinging to one of her plush toys for comfort, his smile turned soft as he brushed some strands of her hair out of her face. Amalie’s first day didn’t go well, it normally didn’t with those little miscreants, how he’d wish she’d tell him who it was that harmed his precious child so he could deal with it properly. She was so much like him in many ways, but also so different in so many others, it made him proud.

Soon enough though, he would get her out of that hellhole she called a school and place her in one that was far more suitable. Regardless of what her grandparents wanted. He had no intention of sending her to a boarding school far away from him where he couldn’t reach her easily. He’d make sure that she would be happy, that’s what she deserves. A happy, loving home and deserving of everything he never had at her age.

After softly placing a kiss on his daughter’s forehead he whispered in Icelandic. “Ég elska þig svo mikið, ljúfir draumar litla stelpa mín.” I love you so much, sweet dreams my little girl. Then silently left the room, leaving the door ajar in case she woke up and needed him for something, before heading downstairs putting the code into the lock on the basement door and going down to take care of things for the next day.