Two Bulls

Timothy's POV

Aurora has organized yet another daddy and daughter day today. We're driving to this hotel she said we're going to be at. 

She chats animatedly, keeping the conversation light and casual, but I can't shake the feeling that there's something more to this trip. 

Her enthusiasm seems a bit forced, her laughter a tad too bright. "Dad, remember the time we went fishing up at the lake?" she asks, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia.

"Of course," I reply, smiling at the memory. "You caught the biggest fish that day."

She laughs, and it's genuine this time. "I did, didn't I? I miss those simpler times."

"Me too, Aurora," I say, glancing over at her. "Things have gotten complicated lately."

She nods, her expression growing thoughtful. "Yeah, but that's why we have days like this. To take a break and just enjoy each other's company."

I appreciate her effort to lighten the mood, but my mind drifts back to the recent tensions at home. 

Aurian's involvement with Samantha, Marcus Whitaker's daughter, has thrown everything into chaos. 

As we pull into the hotel parking lot, Aurora turns to me with a bright smile. "We're here! Ready for some quality time?"

"Absolutely," I reply, trying to match her enthusiasm. But as we step into the hotel lobby, I can't help but feel a sense of foreboding. There's something she's not telling me.

We walk into the hotel suite, and I immediately notice a lunch set up for more than just the two of us. 

The table is elegantly laid out with an assortment of dishes and a large, ornate centerpiece. Aurora guides me to one of the chairs, her smile faltering slightly as she does.

"Why lock the door?" I ask, my suspicion rising. She hesitates for a moment, then reaches for the lock and secures the door. 

"Dad, please sit down," she says softly, her tone serious now.

I sit, my eyes narrowing as I try to read her expression. "What's going on, Aurora? This doesn't feel like just a daddy-daughter day."

She takes a deep breath, clearly steeling herself for something. "Dad, I need you to listen to me carefully. Aurian and I... we've been planning something. Something important."

My heart starts to race. "What are you talking about?"

Before she can answer, there's a knock at the door. She glances at me apologetically before moving to unlock it. I brace myself, my military instincts kicking in, ready for anything.

The door opens to reveal a young girl I don't recognize followed closely by Marcus Whitaker. 

The girl looks nervous, her eyes darting between Marcus and me, while Marcus stands tall, his face set in a hard, unreadable expression.

"What is this?" I demand, rising to my feet.

Aurian steps out of nowhere and holds this girl's hand. I've concluded that this is the infamous Samantha's hand. 

"Dad, we need to talk. All of us. We need to understand why there's so much hatred between our families."

Aurora gently touches my arm, her voice calming. "Please, Dad. Just hear them out."

I glance around the room, at the hopeful yet anxious faces of my children, and then at Marcus…

The tension in the room is palpable as we all sit down. I can feel Marcus's eyes boring into me, and the old anger starts to bubble up inside me. The silence stretches, heavy and uncomfortable, until Marcus finally speaks.

"This is pointless," he says coldly, his voice dripping with disdain. "There's nothing to discuss."

I slam my hand down on the table, making everyone jump. "You're wrong, Whitaker. There's plenty to discuss. Starting with why you think you can control my son's life."

Marcus stands up, leaning over the table, his face inches from mine. "Control? You're one to talk about control, Miller. You think you can just dictate who your kids can or cannot be with?"

"You know damn well why I don't want my son anywhere near your family!" I shout back, my fists clenching.

Aurian and Samantha look horrified, their attempts to mediate falling on deaf ears as Marcus and I continue to yell over each other.

"Both of you, stop it!" Samantha finally screams, her voice breaking. "This isn't helping anything!"

But Marcus ignores her, his eyes locked onto mine with a fierce intensity. "Your family is nothing but trouble, Miller. Always has been. Always will be."

I stand up too, matching his aggressive stance. "And your family? You think you're any better? After everything you've done?"

Aurora steps between us, trying to push us apart. "Please, both of you! This isn't going to solve anything!"

Marcus points a finger at me, his hand shaking with anger. "If you don't keep your son away from my daughter, I swear to God, there will be consequences."

I push Aurora gently aside, taking a step closer to Marcus. "Is that a threat, Whitaker? Because if it is, you'd better be ready to back it up."

The room feels like it's about to explode. Aurian and Samantha look torn, wanting to intervene but not knowing how. 

Marcus and I are two bulls in a pen, neither willing to back down, the air thick with years of unresolved hatred.

Suddenly, Marcus lunges forward, and I brace myself, ready for a fight. But before he can reach me, Samantha and Aurian step between us, physically holding us back.

"Stop it! Both of you, just stop!" Aurian yells, his voice desperate. "This is exactly why we need to talk. We need to end this stupid feud!"

Marcus glares at me, breathing heavily, but he doesn't try to push past his daughter again. "You think talking is going to fix anything?" he sneers.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm the rage inside me. "Maybe it won't. But we owe it to our kids to at least try."

The room falls silent again, the tension still simmering but held in check. Marcus and I exchange one last, furious look before reluctantly sitting back down. The battle isn't over, but for now, it's on hold.

Taking a deep breath, I decide it's time to lay out the truth. I don't really have a choice right now. My kids are always my top priority, no doubt about that.

"Alright, you want to know why we're sworn enemies?" I say, my voice steady but filled with emotion. "Let's put everything on the table."

Marcus crosses his arms, glaring at me. "Go ahead, Miller. Enlighten everyone."

I glance at Aurian and Samantha, who are watching us with a mixture of fear and hope. Their relationship is doomed. 

"It started years ago, long before you two were even born," I begin. "Your father, Marcus, and I used to be business partners. We ran a lucrative operation together, trusted each other with everything. But then things went south."

Marcus interrupts, his voice laced with bitterness. "You mean you betrayed me, stole what was rightfully mine."

I shake my head, anger flaring up again. "That's not how it happened, and you know it. We were dealing with dangerous people, and you made a deal behind my back that put everything at risk. When I found out, I tried to salvage what I could. You saw it as betrayal, but I was trying to save us."

"You didn't try to save anything but your own skin," Marcus retorts, his face red with anger. "You left me to deal with the fallout, and I lost everything because of you."

"You made your choices, Marcus," I snap back. "You chose to align with criminals who had no loyalty, who would stab you in the back the first chance they got. I tried to warn you, but you wouldn't listen."

Aurian looks between us, confused and hurt. "Is that really what happened? You both let your pride destroy everything?"

Samantha's eyes are filled with tears. "This... this can't be the reason why you won't let us be together."

I turn to her, my expression softening. "It's more than just the business, Samantha. There were lives lost because of those deals. Innocent people who got caught in the crossfire."

Marcus scoffs, but there's a hint of guilt in his eyes. "You're talking about that night, aren't you? The warehouse fire."

"Yes," I say quietly. "You remember it well. Your decision to double-cross our clients led to that fire. My cousin was in that warehouse, Marcus. He died because of your greed."

Aurian and Samantha gasp, shock and horror etched on their faces. "I didn't know..." Aurian starts, his voice breaking.

"And that's why I can't just let this go," I continue, my voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "I lost my cousin, and I won't lose my son to the same family's reckless decisions."

Marcus looks down, unable to meet my eyes. "It was a mistake, Timothy. A mistake I regret every day. But holding onto this grudge, it's tearing our families apart."

I stare at him, the anger slowly draining away. "Maybe you're right, Marcus. But trust isn't something that can be easily rebuilt. Especially not after everything that's happened."

The room is silent, the weight of the past hanging heavily over us. Aurian steps forward, his voice steady but filled with determination. 

"Then let us try. Let us show you that things can be different. That we can be different."

Samantha nods, holding his hand. "Please, Dad. Give us a chance to prove that we can break this cycle."

Marcus and I exchange a long, weary look. The years of animosity and pain are still there, but so is a glimmer of something else—hope.

"We'll see," I finally say, my voice soft. "But this won't be easy. And it won't happen overnight."

Marcus nods, a reluctant agreement passing between us. "One step at a time, then."

Aurian and Samantha smile, relief washing over their faces. It's a small start, but it's a start nonetheless.

I wasn't ready for this conversation but I guess I needed it.