Dark Dad’s Rebirth - Chapter 13: Regret (3)

This was the same man who had dirtied her life by bringing in a girl named Leria—a girl he called his true daughter.

‘No… maybe I’m the fake one, and she’s the real one…’

The thought twisted her insides. She couldn’t even muster a bitter laugh.

Aria had not forgotten.

She could still recall the day her Adamas ring, once hers, had been handed over to that girl, its brilliant golden glow mocking her.

She hadn’t forgotten the condescending gaze in Leria’s eyes as she treated Aria as nothing more than a counterfeit.

The memory brought a fresh wave of anger surging to the surface, her shoulders tensing and her breath quickening.

If Caelius had the time to come here and act like this, shouldn’t he be with Leria instead? What could he possibly want from her now?

‘Unless… he still needs something from me.’

Ah, of course. That’s it.

Whatever it was, something he couldn’t find in Leria must still lie with her. Something he needed. That’s why he was acting this way.

‘He’s only here because I’m still useful to him.’

A bitter smile spread across Aria’s face.

‘What else could it be?’

It was the only explanation that made sense. Why else would Caelius suddenly act so kind, so caring, if not for some ulterior motive?

Letting out a small scoff, she muttered coldly, “So, what is it that you need?”

Her chest ached with resentment, and her stomach churned with nausea. She wanted this over quickly so she could get away from him.

She didn’t want to face his deceitful, hypocritical facade any longer.

‘Disgusting hypocrite.’

Silently, she assessed him with contempt before speaking again, her voice laced with bitterness.

“Just say it already.”

Her words made Caelius falter, his eyes locking with hers for a moment. He seemed confused, as though he didn’t understand what she meant.

“You must need something from me if you’re suddenly acting so affectionate,” she said, her tone sharp and accusatory.

Caelius let out a soft, pained sigh at her barbed words, his face betraying his unease.

“It’s nauseating to even look at you like this. Stop with the fake sweetness and just get to the point.”

Her small mouth spilled venomous words, each one cutting deep. Caelius stared at her blankly, the coldness in her expression sinking into his chest like a knife.

“Waking up to this nonsense has already ruined my day…” she mumbled, looking away from him in disdain.

‘Ruined her day.’

Her voice echoed in his ears, leaving him momentarily stunned. Caelius lowered his gaze, unable to meet her icy stare.

She was right.

There was nothing he could say to deny it, no room to scold her for speaking so harshly. Of course, she would feel this way. Of course, she would be furious.

Her sharp eyes bore into him, silently demanding an explanation, urging him to just spit it out.

But he had nothing to say.

He had no ulterior motive, no “business” with her. That was the truth—but how could he convey it?

His hesitation only deepened Aria’s scorn. Her frown grew more pronounced as she watched him falter.

“Riri…”

She didn’t know it, but to Caelius, even uttering that single word had taken all the courage he could muster.

“I…”

He wanted to tell her he wasn’t here because he needed something from her. That he wasn’t trying to use her again. That he just wanted to be near her, to make sure she was okay.

But where could he even begin?

Their relationship had become so tangled, so broken, that he couldn’t see a way to untangle it.

“I’m not doing this because I need anything from—”

“Dad.”

Her cold voice cut him off, sharp and unyielding.

The bitterness in her tone made him smile faintly, a twisted expression filled with self-loathing.

“…Yes, Riri.”

“Are you playing games with me?”

Her words hit like a slap.

“I’ve been fooled by you too many times to count, you know.”

Caelius didn’t remember—how could he? But to Aria, those betrayals were unforgettable.

“Do you really think I’d still fall for your sugar-coated lies?”

Her relentless, cutting words left Caelius silent, unable to respond.

He clenched his jaw tightly, biting down on his trembling lips. No matter how much he wanted to refute her, he couldn’t find the words.

“Why? Is Leria or whatever her name is not enough for you?”

Aria’s voice was laced with mockery, her tone sharp and biting. Her words, dripping with venom, might as well have been daggers aimed straight at Caelius’s heart.

“You said she was meant to replace me.”

“…”

“Go ask her for help. She’s probably much more useful than I could ever be. What could you possibly need from someone like me? I can’t even use the ring properly…”

She let out a small scoff as she finished, her words carrying a hollow bitterness. Though she exhaled as if relieved, her insides churned violently.

The image of Caelius, speaking so fondly with Leria, lavishing her with attention and treating her as though he would offer her the world—those memories still haunted her. They gripped her heart tightly and shook it relentlessly.

She could feel his gaze fixed on her, but Aria stubbornly avoided looking at him. She wasn’t in the mood to meet his eyes, so she kept her focus on the blanket in front of her, staring at it as if it held all the answers.

Caelius didn’t attempt to explain himself. He said nothing in response to her cutting remarks. Instead, he sat silently, his lips pressed tightly together, watching her with an intensity that felt suffocating.

Even without meeting his eyes, Aria could feel the weight of his gaze. It was so heavy, so piercing, that one side of her face almost felt numb from the sheer force of it.

‘How little must he think of me?’

Her thoughts spiraled.

‘How pathetic must I seem for him to treat me this way, for him to bring another daughter into my life after degrading me so completely?’

Whether his actions were intended as mockery or not didn’t matter. What mattered was the pain his choices had caused her, the way they had ripped her apart.

Leria had already been granted the Vittelbach estate. She had already risen above Aria. And whatever lay ahead, Aria would have no choice but to face it all head-on.

But she didn’t think she could endure it.

The thought of coexisting with that girl was unbearable. It was instinctual; Aria knew deep down that she and Leria could not exist side by side.

This was the same reason why Caelius and Azekrysis had been unable to coexist, why they had ultimately turned their blades on each other.

Like them, Aria and Leria were destined for conflict.

It was obvious. And Caelius must have known it too.

Yet, despite knowing this, he had still brought Leria into their lives. That knowledge left Aria feeling small and insignificant, as though her worth had expired, her usefulness drained.

The golden light that once filled her eyes, brimming with affection and fleeting happiness, had dulled into a heavy, somber haze.

The sunlight that used to glimmer in her gaze was gone, replaced by a muted shadow.

Caelius, seeing her like this, couldn’t bring himself to speak for a long moment.

He simply sat there, deep in thought, his expression unreadable.

“…You’re right. I was careless.”

The words he finally uttered were chillingly calm, so foreign that they sent a shiver down Aria’s spine.

“…I was careless.”

Aria frowned slightly, her confusion was evident. She couldn’t tell what he meant by that.

“I shouldn’t have brought that girl into your life without explaining anything.”

His voice was low, rough, and jagged, each word falling like a stone into the silence of the room.

“I made a mistake. And it’s my job to fix it.”

His midnight-black eyes, gleaming like the night sky, darkened with a dangerous glint. The hint of murderous intent in his gaze seemed to light up the shadows, cold and unrelenting.

The gaze Caelius fixed upon her after so long was predatory like a beast poised to sink its teeth into the neck of its prey. The sheer intensity of it rooted Aria to the spot, paralyzed by an oppressive weight she could never grow accustomed to.

Unable to even draw a breath, she could only watch as he turned and left the room without a word.