Page 50 of Passion and Privilege

I leaned forward, folding my hands on the desk. “Paisley, you know it’s not that simple. Your mother has the final say in all of this.”

She looked at me, her gaze intense. “You’re the only father I’ve ever known. Why are you just washing your hands of me and letting her take me away?”

I took a deep breath, grappling with the difficulty of explaining a situation that was far beyond my control. “Paisley, I don’t have legal rights over you unless your mother agrees to let you stay. I can’t just take you away from her. I’ve asked her several times to let you stay here. You know that.”

“You could fight harder,” she said. “You don’t want me because I’m not really your daughter.”

“That isn’t true,” I said calmly. “You are my daughter, Paisley. Don’t ever doubt that.” My voice was sure, my gaze unflinching, locking onto hers. I wanted her to believe me, needed her to understand.

Her eyes welled up with tears, but she blinked them back quickly, a stubborn set to her jaw. “Then why doesn’t it feel like you’re fighting for me?”

The accusation hit me harder than a physical blow and I had to take a moment to compose myself. Her words were knife-sharp and their wounds ran deep. “I am fighting for you, Paisley,” I said gently. “I’ve tried talking to your mother again and again. Believe me, I’m doing everything I can. It’s not as easy as you think.”

“I don’t care,” she replied vehemently, her eyes flashing with that familiar fire I’d always admired. “You have to do more. You have to—I don’t know—threaten legal action or something. Can’t you get a lawyer?”

“Hiring a lawyer could escalate things, make them worse,” I admitted, rubbing my temples. “Your mother could keep you away from me for good. There is no court that is ever going to give me custody. I’m trying to do what’s best for you. I thought staying amicable would give me the best shot at seeing you.”

“Best for me?” She scoffed, her hands flying up in frustration before slapping back down on her thighs. “You think being shipped off to a boarding school in Germany is best for me? How can you say that?”

“I didn’t say that.” I sighed and raised my hands. “I said I’m trying to do what’s best, but sometimes the best thing isn’t always what we want.”

“Well, what I want is to stay here with you,” she shot back. “With this house. This is my home.”

“I know,” I acknowledged, my heart aching at her words. I’d give anything for things to be different, for the power to grant her wish, but it just wasn’t going to happen. Regina would never allow it to happen. She hated me, and her daughter was nothing more than a pawn. If she could use Paisley to fuck with me, she would do it.

Her frustration turned to anger, and she shook her head in disbelief. “That’s not fair! You’re the only one who cares about me, and I want to stay.”

I could see the pain in her eyes. “I do care about you. I love you, Paisley. You will always be my daughter.”

“I’ll beg, Timothy. I’ll do anything. I hate my life with her, and I want to stay here. They don’t want me there. He doesn’t like me. He called me a spoiled brat.”

My heart ached for her, but the harsh reality of the situation lingered. “Paisley, it’s not about what you or I want. It’s about what your mother decides. Unless she gives you up willingly, there’s nothing I can do.”

She looked at me, tears welling up in her eyes. “I can’t believe her! She doesn’t even care about me!” Paisley’s voice trembled, revealing the vulnerability she worked so hard to hide. “You’re the only one who cares. The only one who’s ever really cared.”

It felt like I was failing her when she needed me most. “I care, Paisley,” I reassured her. “More than you know.”

“Not enough to do anything about it.”

“Look, I will try talking to her again,” I said. “I’ll tell her you want to be here. I can provide you a good home.”

“You won’t do it.” She shook her head. “I know you won’t. I’m just a pain in the ass to all of you. You can’t wait to get me out of your hair.”

“Not true. Not even a little true.”

“I hate you,” she whispered before abruptly standing up and running out of the room.

I watched her go, the door closing behind her with a soft click. My hands clenched into fists on the desk, the weight of helplessness settling over me. It tore at me to see Paisley hurting, to know she faced such a shitty life back home. But without Regina’s cooperation, my hands were tied. I didn’t know what else I could do. I had contacted a lawyer, but it was futile.

My office door swung open once again. Catherine was standing in the doorway with accusation in her eyes. “What happened?” Catherine asked. “I just saw Paisley run out of here crying.”

I sighed, gesturing for her to sit. “Paisley wants to stay here, but it’s not that simple. Her mother has the final say, and unless Regina agrees to let her stay, I can’t do anything about it. Regina is never going to let me have Paisley. She knows I want her, and if she can fuck with me, she’s going to keep doing it.”

Catherine sighed. “She looks at you like a father. You were in her life for ten years. Wouldn’t a judge see there was a connection?”

“No, she’s not my biological daughter. My lawyer told me there was no chance for me to get any custody. So, legally, I have no rights over her.”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “What a terrible situation for both of you. And shame on Regina for using her daughter like a pawn in her sick game.”