noveldrama
Chapter 483: Don’t disappoint me this time.
Chapter 483: Don’t disappoint me this time.
Arwen was caught off guard with that.
It was just four words … yet the weight it held was far what she had realized.
Back in the past, she had desperately wanted to hear it on several occasions. But she never did.
And now, when she least expected it, it came so effortlessly. But what surprised her was that she still couldn't let go of the way those words made her feel.
It shouldn't make her feel anything, yet it made her eyes feel heavy with emotions.
Idris was watching her expression very intently, so when he saw the emotion in her gaze shift, he instinctively stepped forward to hold her hands.
But before he could, Arwen stepped back effortlessly, avoiding his attempt.
He wasn't offended; rather, a small smile curled his lips, with which he wanted to ease the awkwardness between them. However, it didn't quite reach the expectations. It only made the sadness reflect in his eyes that he tried hard to hide..
"Today," he began with a smile that looked genuine. "I truly feel like a proud father. People are looking at me, envying my luck of having such an excellent daughter, who is not just so filial but also so capable. They all said that with you around, I wouldn't have to worry at all. It's so good. Was it the same when you were back in school? I remember you were also the topper in the class and —"
Before he could say further, he realized what he had mentioned —
He froze and couldn't utter another word. His gaze glazed with guilt … regret.
When Arwen saw her like that, she couldn't help but smile, giving out a low, disdainful chuckle.
"Arwen, Dad is sorry —"
"I have always been the topper of the first elite class, Dad." Although the statement should be filled with pride, when Arwen spoke, it felt like she was mocking herself, her young self. "It was never an easy feat to maintain it, year after year. But every year, I still put all my best efforts into carrying it in the hope that someday my parents would attend and feel proud of me. But that never happened. You know, at that time, I had seen all the other parents visiting the teachers, attending the parents' teachers meeting, asking their kids to be like me so that they could also feel proud like my parents must be feeling every year."
"But little did they know that my parents never had enough time to feel the pride. They have always been so busy working, they hardly got time to even notice the efforts I put in for them —every single day, every month and relentlessly for years."
Idris felt needles of regret prick his heart —an ache spread through his heart. But he held it in, letting Arwen continue. He couldn't make up for the grievances, but he would never step back from recognizing them anymore.
Arwen glanced up at him and smiled. "You are right," she said, continuing. "It was the same even when I was back in school. If you have ever cared to attend the parents-teachers meeting, you would have known. But since you didn't, you should even care to mention it."
Her eyes were tearing, but she held the command on it. Not even a single tear rolled down her her, making her look weak.
Giving him one last glance, she turned to walk away. But just when she was about to walk past him, she paused and said, "Dad, you can be proud today, but know that in this success, I have made no effort to make you or anyone else proud. My success today is something that I would only dedicate to myself because no one else has any part to play in it."
She stopped doing things for her parents the day she severed the ties from them. There was no looking back.
It might be unfair to Idris … he might deserve a chance to make amends,
But she was not willing to give him that chance because that would be unfair for her.
Saying that, she walked away.
Idris slowly turned to look her way, watching her walk confidently on her own. Arwen never clung to him, and he thought she didn't like to. But only today, he realized, it was because he never gave her any chance to. If only he had allowed her to, she wouldn't have been so disappointed in him.
He didn't move. He stood there, just watching his daughter.
Arwen walked forward with grace, pausing each time someone came to greet her. Elegant. Composed. Unshaken.
How could he not be proud?
He would be —always.
Not because she had succeeded, but because she was his daughter.
And taking pride in her … was the only thing he was truly meant to do.
While he was staring at Arwen, Catrin made her way to him, coming to stand by his side.
"Are you seeing her?" she said, voice clipped, eyes narrowed. "She is now even flaunting her rebellious attitude. She went behind our backs, working in Mom's company for five years. What was she even trying to prove?"
Idris didn't respond at first. His eyes stayed fixed on Arwen.
"You would never know that, Catrin," he finally said, before turning to her with a small smile that hid his sarcasm well. "You know why?" he asked.
And Catrin brows tugged in a frown at his tone.
"Because you never tried looking at her like a mother looks at her daughter. If you do, you would definitely see her intention clear."
He then gestured a server around and walked to him before exchanging his empty glass with another flute of champagne.
Catrin gritted, but before she could speak, Idris had already gone away.
Frustrated, she turned to look back at Arwen. She was graceful talking to someone, instructing them on something.
"Fine, Arwen, I will look at you like a mother for the last time," she muttered to herself before opening her clutch to pull her phone out. "Don't disappoint me this time."