"Whitney.." William called and jumped out of the couch. He walked up to the bed and grabbed her hand. He brought her crying face to his and kissed her on the lips.
Grace's eyes widened seeing her father getting affectionate with another woman. He has never been like that, not even with their mother.
Their father must have really loved this woman and still love her for him to get like this with her.
"I'm sorry William... I'm sorry.. " Whitney cried as she didn't know what to say. She wished she can tell him the entire truth, and how the children whom he thought he had with Maria are actually her children.
"I'm sorry," she continued apologising and Williams nodded his head. If she had stayed and fought for their love. If she had told him from the beginning that she was pregnant with his child.
Then maybe he would not have gone ahead with his marriage with Maria. But she was such a coward and let everything go until it was too late.
Now Maria has her children and William all wrapped around her finger. They will never believe her even if she were to tell the truth now. And she knows Maria is capable of doing anything, what if she goes ahead and hurt them?
"No I should be the one to be sorry. I'm the one who left you, and neglected you. I didn't fight for you or our love. I'm the one who's to blame here." William cried and Grace could feel herself tearing up as well.
She can't tell why but she's so affected by their tears.
"But I'm here now, and we will never be apart again. Life has given me a second chance and brought you my way, I'm not going to let you go like I did the first time. I'm going to do right by you this time around." Williams promised and Whitney was shocked.
"What are you saying William? That is impossible, you have your family and that doesn't include me." Whitney said and Williams shook his head.
"Well I want it to include you now. I should have done this a long time ago, but I guess it's time that I do that now." Williams said and stood up to face Grace.
"Honey I'm really sorry that I'm going to do this, but I can't continue to live in misery while I pretend to be happy because I'm not." Williams began and tears fell down Grace's eyes as she already knew what her father is about to say.
"For the past thirty years, I have lived each day of my life in regret and guilt. The only thing that gave me a modicum of solace was the fact that I was able to provide my children with a complete family." He added.
"Besides, the only woman I have ever loved was nowhere to be found so I didn't think it was necessary to continue living in a fantasy that would never exists." Wiliam said and looked at Whitney who looked at him back.
"But now, my fantasy can come to a reality if I'm bold enough to take the necessary steps. I love Whitney, I have always loved her and I will continue to do so until my last breath." Williams cried.
"I have already lived thirty years of my life without her. I'm not willing to carry on the rest of my life without her. So because of that, I want to marry her and make her wife. I wish to have your support." Williams said and Grace was left speechless.
"But..." Grace stammered.
"Dad..." Kyle's voice broke into the silence and everyone turned to look at the door. Only then did they realise that Christopher and others including Jack and Cassie have been at the door listening.
Jane, Cassie and Kyle all had tears in their eyes, while Jack and Chris just stood with a serious expression on their faces.
Grace couldn't handle the situation, so she ran out of the room.
"Grace..." Williams called.
"Child..." Whitney could not help call after her. Her heart broke in two seeing her child like that. She has no idea what she will do if those children were to reject her.
"I will go after her Mr Smith, please don't worry. She's just having a hard time processing all of these." Mike said and ran after Grace, whose crying voice could still be heard.
"Mrs Whitney!" Jane walked up to her with her eyes filed with tears. Mrs Whitney felt happy seeing her.
"Don't you cry, my child. You just got married yesterday. You do not want anything bad happening to you or your husband." Mrs Whitney said, and Jane wiped the tears off her eyes.
"You didn't tell me you had such history. You have been keeping all of these to yourself." Jane scolded her, and Whitney chuckled.
"There are a lot of things that I've kept away from you. I can only pray that you would forgive me when the time comes." Mrs Whitney said and Jane hugged her.
"I think we should leave Mrs Whitney to rest a little bit more. She still looks a little bit pale. Cassie go with Mrs Smith, I'm sure you both have a lot of catching up to do. Mr Williams, you might want to speak with your father as well." Jack said as he strode into the room.
"I will stay here with Mrs Whitney and wait for the doctor." Jack suggested and they all agreed with him.
"Please call me if anything happens. I will be back in a short while, Whitney." William said and Whitney nodded her head.
Jack stood by the bed waiting for them all to disappear. He waited for a while longer, and when he saw no trace of anyone, he decided to speak.
"How long are you planning on keeping it a secret?" Jack asked Whitney, and she looked up at him shocked.
"I can't say anything to Williams. He can't know those children are mine." Whitney replied.
"You are making the same mistake you made in the past. You are running away again." Jack retorted.