The Billionaire Playboy’s Secret Family
Chapter 67

Regina shivered as he stepped closer. He pulled her into his embrace and held her. This had to be a mistake. This couldn't be real. "She'll come after the kids. She'll..."

"Do you really think there is anything she can do to them once we announce they are the Avery heirs?" Marcus asked. "You kept them safe by keeping them secret. Now let me keep them safe by telling the world. You're not alone...and running away is not the answer." Regina shook her head. How could she make him see this wouldn't work? That he was asking too much?

"I'm not...I'm not like them. I can't be what they want me to be."

"So?" Marcus smirked. "Who says you have to be? Be you. If they don't see the beauty in that it doesn't matter...but they will."

Regina kept shaking her head.

"Regina, if I may put in my two cents," Sarah said breaking her silence. "I'm a writer. Macey is a photographer. Aubrey is a painter. Ava is a restaurateur. Tracy is a lawyer. If you're afraid of what they will think of you being a singer or an actress...don't be. When society wants to squeeze you into a mold it's all right to break it, smash it. Aubrey will tell you the same thing."

"Do you want me to beg?" Marcus asked. "I will."

Before Regina could answer he lowered himself to his knees and looked up at her. His eyes were pleading, begging for her to see his sincerity. She heard her sister gasp but she couldn't let herself be distracted. "Get up," Regina said.

"Not until you say you'll stay," Marcus answered.

Regina shook fighting tears. Why was this happening now? She had already decided to leave, be done with all of it and start over. Why was he making this harder than it had to be?

"Say yes Regina. Give me a chance. Let me prove myself. Please."

Regina tried to move away but he held her hand firm but gentle.

"Please Regina."

"Say yes already," Renata muttered earning a glare from her sister. "He's on his knees." "Regina," Marcus tugged her attention back. "Let me show you dreams can come true."

"...Okay."

"Okay?" Marcus repeated wanting to make certain he heard correctly.

"Just get up," Regina insisted.

With a silly smile he stood and pulled her back into his embrace. He kissed her forehead as he held her. She was shaking uncontrollably, trembling like a leaf. This was probably something she never expected but he wasn't going to let her go now. Glancing up he saw Ulima and Renata watching them with what he hoped were happy tears. He gave them a nervous smile and offered a hand to shake while he still held Regina close, "Hi...um. I'm Marcus."

Ulima gave him a nod shaking his hand briefly, "Ulima. I'm Regina's mother. This is her sister Renata."

Renata gave him an awkward smile and shook his hand as well. This was probably the most awkward introduction of their lives but it was fine. As long as Regina was with him it would be fine.

***

"Hey Savannah," Zoe paused looking up from their work which now spanned a good portion of the sand. "Who's that with your mom?"

Savannah looked at her confused before looking over her shoulder. Her mouth fell open at the sight of the man on his knees. She hadn't seen him at all during the day of the trial and thought he had forgotten them but there he was. He was on his knees seemingly begging her mother for attention. As she watched he suddenly stood and held her mother close. That was good, right?

Since the older girls stopped digging Gabriella also stopped and followed their gaze to the deck. There her mother stood in a man's arms. A smile suddenly brightened her face.

"Daddy!"

She was on her feet in an instant and ran to the back porch with the corgi at her heels anxiously keeping an eye on her. Gabriella climbed the steps excitedly and ran toward her parents.

Regina was slowly relaxing and Marcus eased his embrace hoping to make her more comfortable when the delighted exclamation reached him, "Daddy!"

He turned in time to scoop up the excited little girl. Gabriella wrapped her arms around his neck. There was no hesitation as she clung to him. Whether she realized it was the truth was mute. What mattered is that he knew. This was his little girl. Her breathing was heavy from her brief run but not labored. He let out a sigh of relief. She hadn't harmed herself in her eagerness to reach him. "Mom?"

Regina turned as Savannah and the others slowly approached. She and her brothers were wary of the man they had only met briefly before. It was also clear their mother had been crying and they were not sure who was to blame. "Who is he?" Carlos asked eyeing Marcus carefully even as he doted on Gabriella.

"He's our daddy!" Gabriella proudly declared.

Her brothers turned their attention to their mother for confirmation. Regina hesitated but she could hardly deny it now, not after she had already told her mother and sister. Still, forming the words was too hard. She could only nod. Marcus cleared his throat crouching down still cradling Gabriella as he faced them at their own level, "I'm your father. It might be odd at first but...I'd like to be your dad."

"Do we still have to move to Texas?" Tony asked with a frown.

"No. I hope all of you will move in with me, actually."

"Do you live in an apartment too?" Gabriella asked.

"No. It's-sort of a house."

"How can you live in a sort of house?" Carlos asked.

"Is it like this one?" Tony asked looking at Sarah's home. "No...it's bigger."

"Bigger!" the boys exclaimed as one.

"You'll see it soon enough. My grandpa is eager to meet you."

Marcus thought the news would make them happy but instead they only frowned. Belatedly he recalled something they said about their maternal grandfather hating them. He still wondered about that and knew he would have to ask Regina about it. "Is he nice?" Gabriella asked hopefully.

"He is very nice," Marcus assured her. "He's going to treat you like a princess. And he'll let you have anything you want even if it's ice cream for supper."

Carlos and Tony smiled at that. If it was true it didn't sound bad at all. They moved closer letting him give them a brief embrace. It was awkward for all but Marcus hoped it would become more natural as they got to know each other.

Savannah moved toward her mother with a pensive expression. Regina embraced her, squeezing her shoulders tight. She understood how painful it must be to see her siblings with their father when hers wanted nothing to do with her. Patting the boys' heads and roughing their hair Marcus turned his attention to Savannah and noticed her serious expression.

"Um...Savannah," Marcus hesitated, "I know it won't be exactly the same but...will you let me be your dad too?"

She jerked to attention biting her lip anxiously saying, "You want to be my dad?"

"Yes I do. I'd be a fool not to," Marcus smiled. "But I'm going to need a lot of help. I've never done any of this before."

Giving him an awkward smile Savannah moved closer. Hesitantly she leaned forward and hugged him while he still crouched low. Marcus reached up patting her back and listened to her softly sniffled.

"You're doing a good job so far."

"Thanks," Marcus chuckled.