Chapter 3: The Biological Father Arrives
At 10:46 a.m., a black SUV pulled into the hotel's entrance.
Kiara saw it through the window.
"That's him!""
She hurried toward the door, lifting the hem of her robe so she wouldn't trip.
Celeste followed.
Malcolm remained near the table.
He didn't need to see Darius to know who he was.
He had seen photographs over the years.
A younger man with a confident smile. Expensive watches. Designer sneakers. A habit of appearing in Kiara's life whenever it suited him.
Darius Coleman was forty-nine now.
And apparently, he had decided that his daughter's wedding was the perfect occasion to become a father again.
The suite door opened.
Darius entered carrying a large bouquet of pink roses.
He wore a navy suit, polished brown shoes, and a gold watch.
"There's my baby girl!""
Kiara rushed into his arms.
"Daddy!""
Malcolm looked down at the table.
The word sounded different now.
Not because Darius had earned it.
But because Malcolm had spent eighteen years believing it belonged to him too.
Darius kissed Kiara's forehead.
"Look at you. My little girl is getting married.""
Kiara laughed.
"I know!""
He held her at arm's length.
"Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.""
Celeste smiled.
"You're finally here.""
Darius turned toward her.
"Traffic was crazy.""
Malcolm glanced at the empty street visible through the window.
"Must have been terrible.""
Darius looked over.
For a moment, the two men studied each other.
Then Darius extended his hand.
"Malcolm, right?""
"That's right.""
"Good to finally meet you.""
Malcolm looked at the offered hand before shaking it.
"After eighteen years?""
Darius smiled awkwardly.
"Well, life happens.""
"Apparently.""
Kiara stepped between them.
"Can we not do this today?""
Darius raised both hands.
"Absolutely. No drama. This is your day.""
He placed the bouquet on the table.
Then his eyes moved to the wedding estimate.
"What's all this?""
Kiara hesitated.
"Just some final arrangements.""
Darius picked up the top page.
He scanned the numbers.
His eyebrows rose.
"Wow. This is a big wedding.""
Kiara nodded.
"I wanted something elegant.""
"Looks expensive.""
"It is.""
Darius looked toward Malcolm.
"Well, I suppose you've handled most of this?""
Malcolm said nothing.
Kiara answered for him.
"He was supposed to.""
Darius glanced at her.
"Was supposed to?""
Celeste stepped forward.
"There's been a misunderstanding.""
Malcolm almost smiled.
A misunderstanding.
That was what they were calling it.
He moved toward the small table and picked up his wallet.
Not to pay.
Just to make sure the credit card was still inside.
Darius noticed.
"Everything okay?""
Malcolm looked at him.
"Perfectly.""
Kiara grabbed the estimate.
"Actually, Daddy, there's something we need to discuss.""
Darius smiled.
"Of course. Anything.""
She placed the pages in front of him.
"The remaining wedding expenses.""
He looked at the document.
Then at her.
"What about them?""
"Malcolm isn't paying anymore.""
Silence.
Darius slowly lowered the paper.
"Why not?""
Kiara glanced toward Malcolm.
"He says he's not my father.""
Malcolm turned his head.
"I said I wasn't being treated like one.""
Darius shifted his weight.
"Well, that's unfortunate.""
Kiara moved closer to him.
"I was hoping you could help.""
Darius looked down again.
He turned another page.
Then another.
His smile began to disappear.
"How much are we talking about?""
Kiara named the outstanding amount.
Darius blinked.
"That's the balance?""
"Yes.""
"And this is on top of what's already been paid?""
"Yes.""
He whistled softly.
"That's a lot of money.""
Kiara's expression tightened.
"I know.""
Darius placed the papers on the table.
"Baby, I didn't realize the wedding was this expensive.""
"You said you wanted to be involved.""
"I do.""
"You said you wanted to walk me down the aisle.""
"I still do.""
"Then I need you to help.""
Darius looked uncomfortable.
He adjusted his watch.
"Let's not rush into anything.""
Malcolm watched him.
He recognized that movement.
He had seen Darius make similar excuses years earlier when Kiara asked why her father hadn't attended a school event.
Always an explanation.
Always another day.
Always a promise without a date.
Darius looked at Malcolm.
"Maybe we should all sit down and discuss a reasonable solution.""
Malcolm raised an eyebrow.
"A solution?""
"Yes. We're all here for Kiara.""
"Then I'm sure you'll be happy to handle the remaining balance.""
Darius gave a short laugh.
"Now, hold on. I didn't say that.""
Malcolm nodded.
"I didn't think you did.""
Kiara's face reddened.
"Daddy, please.""
Darius turned toward her.
"Don't call me like I'm refusing to help. I'm trying to understand the situation.""
"The situation is that I need the wedding paid for!""
"Watch your tone.""
She stared at him.
For the first time since he had arrived, she looked uncertain.
Darius tapped the paperwork.
"I have responsibilities too. You can't just hand me a bill and expect me to pay it.""
Kiara's eyes filled with frustration.
"But you said—"
"I said I'd be part of your wedding.""
"That's not what you said!""
Darius glanced toward Celeste.
She quickly intervened.
"Let's all calm down. We don't need to have this conversation in front of everybody.""
Malcolm folded his arms.
"Why not? We were comfortable having it when the person being disrespected was me.""
Celeste shot him a warning look.
"Malcolm.""
He ignored her.
Darius picked up his phone.
"Look, I have a business meeting later. I need to make a few calls.""
Kiara stepped closer.
"Can you at least cover the reception balance?""
Darius hesitated.
Then he asked a question nobody expected.
"How much did Malcolm already spend?""
Malcolm looked at him.
Kiara answered quietly.
"Almost sixty thousand.""
Darius's eyes widened.
"Sixty thousand dollars?""
"Yes.""
He looked at Malcolm again.
"That's generous.""
Malcolm gave a small nod.
"Somebody had to be.""
Darius's expression hardened.
"Are you trying to embarrass me?""
"No.""
"Because it sounds like you're trying to make me look bad in front of my daughter.""
Malcolm glanced at Kiara.
"Your daughter?""
Darius said nothing.
Malcolm continued.
"I've never asked you to compete with me. I never needed to. I just wanted that little girl to have somebody she could depend on.""
Darius adjusted his jacket.
"Well, she's grown now.""
"Yes. She is.""
"And she wants her biological father at her wedding. That's her choice.""
Malcolm nodded.
"Absolutely.""
He turned toward Kiara.
"And she has that choice.""
For a moment, the room was quiet.
Then Malcolm reached for the unsigned estimate and pushed it toward Darius.
"Here. Since you're the father who's supposed to stand beside her.""
Darius looked at the papers.
He didn't touch them.
Kiara stared at Malcolm.
"You're really doing this?""
Malcolm answered softly.
"No, sweetheart. I'm just no longer doing everything.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
Not the kind that came from heartbreak.
The kind that came when a plan stopped working.
Darius cleared his throat.
"Let's not make a decision right now. We have a wedding to get through.""
Malcolm looked at the white rose in its box.
Then he glanced at the clock.
11:03 a.m.
The coordinator needed payment confirmation in less than half an hour.
He slipped his hands into his pockets.
"You're right, Darius. There's a wedding to get through.""
He turned toward the door.
"But before anybody walks down that aisle, there's something Kiara needs to know.""
Celeste stiffened.
"What are you talking about?""
Malcolm looked at his wife.
Then at the man who had just arrived claiming the title he had carried for eighteen years.
"Ask Darius why he suddenly decided to come back into her life last week.""
Darius's smile vanished.
Kiara turned toward him.
"Daddy?""
Malcolm continued.
"Ask him what he wants from you besides the honor of walking you down the aisle.""
Darius took a step forward.
"Malcolm, that's enough.""
But Malcolm was already reaching for the hotel suite door.
And when he opened it, he found someone standing in the hallway.
A woman in a gray business suit.
She held a large envelope against her chest.
Her eyes moved from Malcolm to Darius.
Then she spoke.
"Mr. Coleman, I've been trying to reach you. We need to discuss the document you asked me to prepare concerning Kiara's inheritance.""
May you like
Kiara slowly turned.
"Your what?""
