Marilyn’s shoulders trembled. “Yes,” she whispered. “She’s your daughter.”
Lina felt her world tilt. “What?”
Her mother reached for her hand, tears spilling. “I never told him. We were young, and when I found out I was pregnant, he’d already gone abroad for work. I thought he wouldn’t want us.”
Edward’s face crumpled. “I looked for you, Marilyn. I never knew. I thought I’d lost you forever.”
Lina stood frozen, staring at the man she had unknowingly saved—the man who was her father.
Days passed, and Edward’s condition improved. He asked to see Lina often, telling her stories about his travels, his regrets, and the loneliness that came with all his success. He confessed that money had never filled the emptiness he carried. Lina listened, torn between anger and longing.
One afternoon, as the golden light streamed through the hospital window, Edward spoke softly. “I can’t undo the years I missed, Lina. But if you’ll let me, I’d like to be part of what’s ahead. I don’t want to buy your love. I just want to earn a place in your life.”
Lina looked at him, her throat tight. “I don’t care about your money,” she said quietly. “I just want a dad who stays.”