Page 102 of Silver Tears

My eyes fill with tears. I don’t know why I ever doubted him.

“I was planning to speak with my solicitor tomorrow about applying for legal guardianship of Charlie until his mother can care for him again anyway.”

“You were?” I say, both shocked and relieved, as I wipe away the tears streaming down my face.

“Of course,” he says. Reaching over and squeezing my knee. “He’s family, and he needs you. Charlie needs all of us. I’ll also be paying for my ex-wife to access a private rehab facility if she’ll agree to go.”

“She will,” I tell him, nodding my head profusely. “She will. She just needs a chance.”

“Well, I’ll need to come and visit your home and ensure it’s a suitable environment, but I am happy to release him into your care as an interim measure. We can go from there.”

“Excellent,” my dad says, smiling at her. “Milly, why don’t you check how your mum is doing while I complete the paperwork with Ellen?”

I nod my head, standing to my feet and drying my eyes. “Thank you.” I fling myself at him and wrap my arms around him. “I couldn’t bear to be parted from him.”

Dad looks like he’s fighting back tears as he hugs me back and tells me that everything will work out. I leave the small office and head over to the busy nurses’ station and flag down the attention of an older, friendly looking nurse.

“Hi, do you know which bay my mum is in, it’s Andrea Heaton?”

The nurse directs me to a small bay over in the corner. When I walk in, she’s lying on her side staring at the wall. There is a large bruise forming on her cheek and she has a cut lip. Other than that, she just looks tired and painfully thin.

“Hey, mum,” I say, walking over to the side of the bed she’s lying on. “How are you?”

“I’m sorry,” she says, her voice barely a whisper. “Adam told me what he tried to do to you. I’m so sorry. I’m going to do better. I’m going to be a better mum to you and Charlie. Adam is going to pay for me to go to rehab. I’m going to get clean and come home.”

I wipe away a tear that falls down my cheek. “I’m so pleased to hear that, mum. I’m just glad you and Chops are safe now, and that Lenny will be behind bars where he belongs.”

Mum nods her head and wipes her face. She’s also crying. “Can you ever forgive me?”

I take her thin hand in mine. “I already have. You’re my mum and I love you. We’ll get through this.”

She smiles sadly at me and reaches up and runs her hand over my bruised cheek. “We will. We’ll be okay.” She yawns. “Sorry, I’m exhausted.”

“It’s okay. You’ve been through a rough time. Get some sleep.” I pat her hand, and she smiles affectionately before closing her eyes. She drifts off in no time.

When I step back into the corridor. Everyone is still here. My dad returns shortly after me, having done what he needed to with the social worker. Dad walks over to Seb and offers out his hand.

“I owe you so much for what you have done for my daughter,” he says sincerely.

Seb looks up from his seat and shakes his head. “Mr Silver, you don’t owe me anything. I’m not the hero in this situation.”

“I beg to differ, son. You kept my daughter safe, and you looked after her mum and brother.”

Seb frowns and looks down at his hands. “I’m not the good guy here.” He looks over at me and offers me a half smile. “Your daughter is so strong and kind, and I don’t deserve her.”

My dad goes to interrupt, and Seb holds up his hand to stop him.

“I need to say this. A good person would have offered to help your daughter, regardless. I used her situation to blackmail her into being my fake girlfriend.”

My heart feels like it drops into my stomach. What is he doing? Why is he telling them this?

“I used her situation to better my own. I blackmailed her. Made her pretend to adore me, kiss me, spend time with me. Mills deserves so much better.” He refuses to look my way as he makes his confession.

There’s silence in the corridor. Damon is stone faced. “Is this true?” he asks me.

I bob my head from side to side, not knowing how to answer. I don’t want to lie anymore, but I also feel a need to defend Seb.

“You fucking bastard,” Damon growls, flying to his feet and grabbing Seb by his T-shirt. Archer and my dad intervene, pulling him away. Damon glares at him angrily with his fist clenched.

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