My Sister Stole My Mate And I Let Her (Seraphina) novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Chapter 26 FAILURE OF A FATHER

KIERAN’S POV

I didn’t expect Daniel to shut me out so completely.

Three calls ignored. Twelve texts left on read. Each unanswered attempt carved deeper into my chest. I felt the distance like a physical ache—it was cold, sharp, brutal.

I’d always believed myself a good father—present, devoted, enough. But now, I wasn’t so sure.

"He’ll never trust you again."

Sera’s words haunted me, razor-sharp and unforgiving. Worse because they were true. I’d crushed a child’s fragile faith beneath my boot like discarded trash.

When my phone finally rang, Mother’s voice held none of her usual warmth. "Your son cried himself to sleep, clutching that robot model he wanted to show you."

I flinched. "You sound just like Sera."

"Good," she hissed. "That girl should’ve chewed your ear off for what you did."

If I needed more proof that I had epically fucked up, that was it.

My mother had spent a decade sharpening her contempt for Sera. When even Sera’s greatest enemy took her side, I hadn’t just failed as a father.

I had become the very weakness I’d spent a lifetime despising—A coward behind his excuse.

My excuse for letting my son down was flimsy at best, absolutely ridiculous at worst.

I’d been out with Celeste. Forgetting the responsibilities in my life, like a teen lacking a fully developed frontal lobe.

I’d been so desperate to mend what I’d broken between us, to prove I could still be the man she once wanted. So when she begged me to take her to Six Flags Magic Mountain, I went like an obedient mutt instead of the Alpha I was supposed to be.

When she snatched my phone and tucked it into her purse—"No distractions, Kieran. Just us."—I didn’t challenge her.

And when I finally realized how late it was, when she pouted and asked me to drive her home first instead of rushing to Daniel’s school, I fucking agreed.

Sera was right. I’d chosen Celeste over Daniel.

I’d upgraded from shitty ex-husband to shitty father.

I’d forgotten the one thing that should have been carved into my bones—my son. My brilliant, kind-hearted boy who still looked at me like I hung the moon, even when I didn’t deserve an ounce of his faith. And I’d shattered him. Made him cry.

The self-loathing clung to me like the stench of blood after a hunt.

After an eternity of my mother’s scolding—"You’re lucky he’s even willing to speak to you"—she finally relented. Played mediator. Convinced Daniel to give me one last chance.

I clung to that opportunity like a drowning man clings to driftwood.

Then the screen flickered to life, and the moment I saw his face, it felt like I’d taken a soccer ball to the chest.

"Danny," I exhaled, running a hand over my face.

He wouldn’t look at me. His gaze fixed somewhere over my shoulder, on the painting behind me—the one of the mountain range he’d always loved.

"Hi." Flat. Empty.

My chest caved in. He used to light up when he saw me. Now I’d drained that light dry.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Bud, I’m so sorry. You have no idea how much—"

"Was it because of Celeste?" His voice was sharp. Too sharp for a nine-year-old.

Ice flooded my veins. Had Sera twisted his mind against me? Against Celeste?

"Danny, whatever your mom told you—"

"Mom didn’t say anything." His glare finally snapped to mine. "She never does. But I saw it myself. Yesterday. On the video call. That woman was sitting in our kitchen like she owned it. You were with her, right? That’s why you didn’t go to my school."

My jaw worked soundlessly—a damned Alpha rendered speechless by his own pup. There was no defense, no excuse that could dull the betrayal in his voice.

"I don’t like her, Dad." His gaze locked onto mine, eyes burning with conviction.

"Daniel." I dragged a hand down my face. "If you’d just give her a chance—"

"No." He shook his head firmly. "I don’t want her around us. Around me."

That stubborn set to his jaw? That was me. The same unyielding pride that had once made me challenge my father’s orders. Except Daniel wasn’t just stubborn—he was right.

And I was the one who’d lost his way.

"No." I clenched my fists. "We won’t." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

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