The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 2709

“| raised you from a tot to a grown woman, and is this how you repay me? By talking back? That job of yours, what's it worth? You're out there hustling for a meager paycheck that barely scratches five hundred a month. What's the point? I’ve told you time and again, come work at the family firm and help me out. But no, you’ve got to be stubborn about it. And now look, I, Francis, am the talk of the town because my daughter's out there running errands for peanuts. You know what Paul said to me last time we had coffee? He said no matter how busy | am with my business, | ought to look after my own flesh and blood, make sure you’re not living hand-to-mouth doing menial tasks. | was lost for words. What was | supposed to say? That my daughter’s chomping at the bit to wear herself down?”

Regina knew her father’s stature was no small thing and that he would never really get the life of a grassroots journalist. But never had she imagined that this was how he truly saw her.

“lm a reporter, Dad, doing a legitimate job. If you can’t say anything supportive, just zip it. I've given up expecting you to understand. Instead of wasting your breath, why don’t you pay more attention to your new wife and her daughter, and figure out why they’re so keen on slinging mud my way! Dad, you’re a real disappointment.”

With those words, Regina stormed out of the chilly mansion, leaving Francis stewing in his own anger, with nowhere to direct it except a tirade at Imogen. “Did you set Regina up? | warned you from day one not to have any designs on her. Have you forgotten how you clawed your way out of the slums? Let me remind you, if | was determined enough to get you out of there once, | can just as easily send you back.”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Imogen was a mess of tears. “Francis, what are you saying? You think I'd stoop to such pettiness over a few words from Regina? Today of all days? I’ve been nothing but hardworking and loyal by your side all these years. Have | ever slipped up? And now, you turn on me just because of a couple of sentences from your daughter?”

Exasperated by her sobs, Francis retreated to his study without a comforting word. Alone, he carefully pulled out a frame from his desk drawer — an old photograph, featuring him and another woman: Magina, his late wife.

Regina bore a striking resemblance to her mother in the photo, and it was no coincidence. Out oHoxe, Francis) had incorfor part of Magina’s name into their daughter's. He had hoped Regina would resemble her mother more as she grew up, but instead, he lost Magina forever.

“Magina, am | such a lousy father that our girl defies me? I’m always regretting mar eee spbresbtarhiy € too? | just wanted Regina to have a mother, but I've botched it. She won't even call Imogen ‘Mom.’ If | hadn't done this, maybe Regina wouldn't be so rebellious.”