Elena held her breath, unsure of whether she should interject or let me continue my conversation with the phone. But I was longing for a response, any response, even if it wasn't from my late wife. Finally, Elena broke the silence.
"I believe you're doing everything you can," she said softly. "The kids are happy and healthy, and they know they're loved. You're doing your best as a dad, and you're constantly striving to improve. That's what any good father would do. You're raising them just fine, alpha. Rest assured, I truly believe your late wife would be proud of you."
I nodded, but my mind still wandered. My fingers fiddled with the phone, tracing its edges, wondering once again if it was time to let go. I entered the passcode to unlock the device, which happened to be the date of our wedding, and noticed that I had a new voicemail.
Curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to listen to the message. To my surprise, it was from my daughter. She was talking about a new boy she liked and was seeing. Elena's reaction became tense, revealing that this was the secret they had been keeping from me.
My grip on the phone tightened, and Elena could sense the anger radiating from me. Fury consumed me as I struggled to comprehend why my own daughter would hide something like this from me. Elena attempted to calm me down, reassuring me that they were just kids and that there was no harm in it. However, my anger was too overwhelming to listen. I demanded answers and, in my rage, I accelerated the car. The intensity of my fury was palpable. As we sped towards our destination, Elena continued her efforts to calm me down, hoping that my temper would eventually subside and that we could resolve the issue in a more peaceful manner.