Christian's POV

I finally managed to get her to rest. She was constantly moving and walking around, at times stopping to catch her breath. I knew what she was doing… she couldn't control it… but after some time, I managed to get her to stop and rest. I managed to get her to lay down with her head on my lap on the couch.

While she was reading some book, I kept thinking. Natalie pregnant? This was awfully bad. She was 18… a teenage will be raising a teenage. What will this do to my daughter? Will her company make her like her? Sometimes it's not the family… but it's the friends they are surrounded with. She was still very young… and I couldn't risk losing my daughter in any way… also… since when was Natalie dating? Let alone sleeping with other people! What if… What if my daughter wasn't a virgin before she was raped? What if she already slept with someone? /'You idiot! You know Sera wouldn't do that!'// I scolded myself. /'…but then, she did go to that frikkin club with Natalie…'/ I just don't know what to think! She's only 17, and her friends will sure put her in a situation where she either disobeys us to please her friends or obey us, and she'll be cut from her friends. There is no way she can win either way… I don't understand this mentality these days… back when I was her age, when my parents said something, I obeyed them immediately… no questions…

What about Taylor? He won't take this well… I already feel sorry for the guy that impregnated his daughter… this won't go well… for neither of them. He always brought his daughter up in discipline… and always put his foot down in anything… I still don't understand how she pulled this off… Not to mention, Prescott was on her tail… so she managed to trick Prescott as well? However Prescott doesn't stay constantly with her 24/7. Just like Taylor doesn't stay with my daughter 24/7.

Another swoosh from her book took me out of my thoughts.

'What are you reading?' I asked her gently as I removed my reading glasses and newspaper that I barely was paying attention to.

'The Republic… Plato…' she replied as she yet turned another page.

'Easy! You'll be finishing that in no time! You're practically eating that book…' I commented funnily as I played with her hair. 'I'd rather have you eat your food like that…' I continued softly as she sat her book down.

'What's wrong dad?'

'What do you mean?'

'You look thoughtful… and strangely quiet… and quiet you means trouble…'

'Well… I'm concerned…'

'…about?'

'Sera… what's this business with Natalie?'

'What do you mean?' She asked as she tried getting up.

'Stay…' I restrained her gently. 'I mean… I have many questions… for starters… when did her relationship sail?'

'I don't exactly know that dad… she told me when… when we went to L'Estillo…' She replied as she avoided my eyes.

'Have you…?' I started

'What? Have sex?' She confronted. 'No! Hell no dad! How could you even think that? I never had a boyfriend as yet… not even a fling…'

'Never?' I asked astonished.

'No! Never… I mean… I do like guys… and I wish I can find someone someday… but…'

'…but?' I asked her while she stood up to a seating position and I pulled her next to me.

'I don't think anyone would want me…' She admitted sadly, while I placed my arms protectively around her shoulders.

'Why do you say that?'

'…because… nobody would want me… I'm used… I don't feel me anymore… I feel dirty…'

'Sera… it wasn't your fault!'

'It was dad…'

'No Sera! It wasn't! and any guy that doesn't accept you for you doesn't even deserve you! You're an amazing young woman… and you should see that!'

'Why should I dad? You yourself didn't want to talk to me after that! Why should someone not related to me have a relationship with me, when my own flesh and blood said that I lost my name as his daughter?'

'Sera… I didn't mean that… I was angry at what that prick did to you! I was angry that I left you with no security with you… I thought there was going to be Nat's mother, and instead you were all alone… you went to that fucking club Sera… and I couldn't protect you!

'Dad!' She tried.

'No Sera… let me finish… I was blaming myself for all that you went through, and I was in pain… in pain of seeing you like that… and look where it gotten you! And you kept amazing me… you acted like nothing actually happened, unless the night came. It broke my heart hearing you shouting and screaming during the night… and I couldn't take all that pain away from you… and yet you went on with your life… with your studies… and to top it all you starved yourself… until your body couldn't take it anymore… and I didn't notice anything. I was to enclosed into what was I feeling that I let you fall down… I failed you Sera… and yet you managed to amaze me by forgiving anything that I did to hurt you… both to me and your mother… we pushed you, we played with your feelings… and here you are… acting as if nothing happened… and it's driving me nuts Sera! Normal people would hold a grudge and probably say something hard!' I reasoned.

'Dad, I don't have to hold a grudge… it would make me feel worse… I'd rather forgive and start over again, then holding to the past…' She replied. 'Dad what you fail to understand is that I never stopped loving you… not you and neither mum! I will never sabotage a family relationship. No matter what happens!'

'You always manage to amaze me Sera… you're mature for your age…' I smiled as I hugged her close to me. '…and no matter what a guy says to you… don't let him ever put you down. If he doesn't accept the fact that you were hurt, then he doesn't even deserve to look at you…and no guy will ever hurt my baby…'

'Really dad?'

'Yes! I literally beat up a guy your aunt Mia was dating…'

'What happened?' She asked me gently.

'Well… let's say that there were many things. For starters, his parents never accepted her, then they were having the same arguments over and over again, the same arguments every month, only to end up he shouting in her face and she cries. Then he started coming to her dates stinking, and at times he forgot to text her or call her for a whole day or two sometimes. Then he started commenting on other girls that he worked with, like how hot they were and a guy should never say that to a girl… not even as a joke. He wanted to go out with another girl while he was dating Mia. Mia confronted him and he said that his parents encouraged him to do so. She wasn't trusting him after that. He acted irresponsible and was irrespective towards mum and dad, and didn't think twice to say a hard word to her. She had to literally wait for his timing and he was manipulative…'

'…and how do you know about all of this dad?'

'Mia broke down in my arms one night… she asked me for some advice, and I couldn't just stand there. I held her through the night and I believed that her relationship wasn't going in the right direction. She broke up with him, but he made her feel guilty… she had to give in and got back together… but she couldn't trust him and love him as she used to… we spent hours discussing this… she kept trying to forgive him, and she felt more guilty because she then stopped putting input in her relationship. I could see she wasn't happy… he knew exactly what made Mia give in to him… he cried and she gave him what he wanted…'

'…and what happened then?'

'They split up! She cried… I remember… I held her the whole night… he broke her heart in many ways and he still wanted her, and she couldn't help it… she felt guilty for breaking his. He texted her saying that she shattered his heart…'

'…and what did you do?'

'I manned up for her and told him to leave Mia alone… she needed closure… and she wasn't going to get one… now she is happy with Julian. I still keep my tabs on him, even dad does so… we don't want her to get hurt… and I'll do the same with you!' I explained. '…and as for Natalie… I don't think it's a good idea that you'll hang out with her…'

'What? Why?'

'…because you need to focus on yourself Sera… you need to get better, and her pregnancy stress won't allow you. I know how you do… you consume yourself into others people's needs, and you'll forget yourself… you'll make time for her and help her…' I explained gently. 'When you were sick, she did visit you, but didn't stick by you… she had to keep on with her things… We were the ones to be there for you… Yes, I admit, Taylor, John and his family, Gail, Elliott and my parents were more there for you, till your mother and I opened our eyes… but right now you need to be focused on your recovery…'

'…but dad! She needs my support more than ever!'

'…and as a friend you will give it to her, but that's it Sera! You will not be hanging around her much… I don't want my daughter to end up like her!'

'Dad, just because she slept with Mark, doesn't mean I'll be sleeping with someone.'

'Sera I said no, and that's my final decision. You won't be hanging out with her, because you need to focus on your recovery!'

'Isn't that selfish?'

'No, because you will support her…'

'What about after she has the baby?'

'We'll see… probably she'll be too busy with the baby… but anyways… Your mother and I think it's the best decision.'

'Dad that's not fair!'

'Life isn't fair honey!' I chuckled. 'When you'll grow up you'll understand.'

'I think I already do!'

A week Later – Sera's POV

The day I've dropped the bombshell on dad finally came. I was about to take my permits test. I was very excited. I had already been taking few lessons with Uncle John. We thought on leaving it our little secret so it was a bit easy. Dad was grumpy while he was driving me back home, however I was on cloud nine. I was finally learning how to drive.

Ana's POV

I was already in the living room watching some television when I heard them entering home. I could feel some tension between them. I could hear Sera talk excitedly to both Gail and Taylor, however Christian came beside looking worse than he left this morning.

'Hey Ana…' He greeted grumpily.

'Hey baby… how did it go? Did Sera get her learning's permit?' I smiled gently, as I put my arms around him and kissed him gently.

'It was a nightmare…' He replied.

'She flunked?' I asked in surprise.

'Worse…' He replied as he rubbed his face and rested his back to the couch.

'I PASSED!' Sera came running in as if on cue with a paper in her hand.

'That's great honey!' I replied happily while I hugged her, while Christian kept looking worse and worse.

'Now all I have to do is drive a car!' She replied excitedly. 'Dad?'

'Ohh no… Not now Sera!' He replied again as she moved forward to him.

'Oh come on daddy! For me?' She asked gently as she kissed his cheek. 'I will follow your every order, and won't question you…'

'Well… putting it like that…' He started. 'I don't like the idea of you driving! We have a perfectly good security system, and you have Taylor to drive you wherever you want!' He reasoned with a bit of hope on his face.

'Dad!' She punched him lightly only to her fingers cracked.

'Ok… ok… fine… We'll go tomorrow… ok?' He replied gently as he pulled me beside me. 'We're heading for trouble Ana…' He continued.

'Why?' I asked him gently.

'If our daughter turns half a driver as you are, we would have to literally make a news statement for nobody to be driving when our daughter is out driving.'

'Dad!'

'Christian, I happened to be a very good driver!'

'Yeah apart for when you forget to fasten your seatbelt, speak on your phone when driving, listening to load music, ohh and not to mention forget to switch on your indicators when needed, not to mention the speeding tickets!'

'Oh come on Christian! Lighten up!' I chucked. 'What's driving without having some ups and downs?'

'Not endangering your life!'

'Sera… listen to me…' I started. 'If your father starts driving you nuts with all his lessons, just tell me…'

'You should better start with what you have in mind mum!' She laughed.

'Yeah… yeah… laugh while you can!' He replied. 'All you have in your hand is a piece of paper Sera… that doesn't mean you know how to drive…'

'…and that is why you will teach me daddy!' She smiled again.

'Damn… you know exactly which buttons to push to make me say yes.' He smiled. 'I love you kiddo…'

'I love you to daddy!' She replied. '…even you mummy…' She smiled again as she moved forward to hug me. 'I'll go call grandma Grace and grandpa Carrick.'

'They're coming tonight… you can tell them the good news…' I suggested.

'Ok!'

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