His After The Heartbreak (BL)-Chapter 13: Man Of Honor

Chapter 13 - Man of Honor

Tyler's POV

My mother was shaking so badly, I had to grip her arms just to steady her. Her face was pale, eyes wide with a fear I hadn't seen in years. It made my blood boil. He was the reason she looked like this.

I turned to face the man standing at our doorstep.

My father.

No. Not my father. He lost that title a long time ago.

He stood there, smug as ever, his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his tailored jacket. His piercing blue eyes—eyes I unfortunately inherited—gleamed with amusement, as if showing up unannounced after all these years was some kind of joke.

"You've grown since the last time I saw you," he said, his voice smooth, calculated.

Something inside me snapped.

I had to clench my fists at my sides to stop myself from launching at him. Grown? Of course, I had. He wouldn't know because he left when I was just a damn kid.

My teeth ground together. "What the hell are you doing here?" I spat.

His lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. "Is that any way to greet your old man?"

I scoffed, shaking my head. "Last time I checked, you weren't my old man. My father is dead. I don't have a father." I took a step closer, my voice dropping to a lethal whisper. "So why are you here?"

"Ouch." He placed a hand over his chest, pretending to be wounded. "That hurt, son."

I rolled my eyes. "That's not an answer."

He let out a long, slow exhale, tilting his head as he studied me. "Can't a man visit his family home? Can't I see my son again?"

I laughed humorlessly. "You lost the right to call this your home the day you walked out that door. You don't get to just show up like this, like nothing happened. That's not how it works."

His smirk faltered for just a second before he quickly masked it. "I'm here to bond with you. You know—father and son."

I let out a cold laugh. "Which son? The same son you rejected? The same son you told Mom had no future? The one you promised never to look at again? The one you threatened to take away if Mom ever brought me to you?" My voice rose, the anger I'd buried for years bubbling to the surface. "Or are you talking about some other son? Because I don't think I know you."

His jaw twitched, but he forced a smile. "That was all in the past, Tyler. I came here to make things right."

My stomach churned with disgust. He had the nerve to act like time erased everything?

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my rage. "You had years to make things right. But you didn't." I stepped toward the door, gripping the edge tightly. "So, no. You don't get to just waltz in here now and act like you give a damn."

I pushed the door, ready to slam it in his face.

But it wouldn't close.

I looked down.

His hand was on the door, stopping it.

A muscle in my jaw ticked. "Move your hand," I warned.

He didn't. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, voice low and firm. "I don't take 'no' for an answer, Tyler. Now, let me in."

I stared at him, stunned for a moment. The sheer audacity of this man was beyond anything I had ever seen.

I was this close to shoving the door harder—his damn hand be damned—but then I felt my mother's trembling fingers wrap around my wrist.

I turned to her.

Her face was pleading.

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"Tyler," she whispered, her voice shaky. "Please."

I clenched my jaw so tightly I thought my teeth might crack. My body was vibrating with frustration. Every instinct in me screamed to shove this man out, to never let him in.

But for her...

I stepped back.

I dropped my hands from the door.

My father chuckled. "So, you listen to Mommy, but you won't listen to your dear old dad?"

I shot him a glare so sharp it could have cut glass. "My mother didn't teach me to respect people who don't exist."

His lips twitched, but he didn't respond. Instead, he simply stepped inside, walking into our home like he owned the place.

I turned to look at my mom.

The fear in her eyes was even worse now.

She thought he was here to take me away.

My stomach twisted.

I clenched my fists, then turned back to him, my voice like ice. "You haven't answered my question."

He smirked. "Like I said, I came to bond with my son."

For the first time since he arrived, my mother spoke.

"Declan, what are you doing here?"

I froze.

That was the first time I'd ever heard her call him by his real name. Not 'your father.' Not even 'him.'

Declan.

He let out a low chuckle. "Shhh, I'm not here for you." He waved a dismissive hand. "I'm here for my son."

A disgusted scoff left my lips.

I crossed my arms. "Don't you have a wedding to plan? A fiancée to take care of? Shouldn't you be busy with all that instead of this bullshit?"

His smirk grew wider. "You see, son, you're more important than all that. That's part of why I'm here."

I frowned. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"I thought your mother hadn't told you yet," he said. "I came to tell you myself."

I leaned against the counter, unimpressed. "As you can see, she already did. So, you can leave now."

"Tsk, tsk. Not so fast, son." He strolled over to the dining table like he had all the time in the world.

Then, to my absolute disgust, he reached down, grabbed a piece of bacon from my plate, and popped it into his mouth.

"Hmmm." He let out a pleased sound. "Still as good a cook as ever."

I clenched my fists so hard I felt my nails dig into my skin.

I wanted to strangle him.

"Can you get to the point, Mr. Man? I have places to be, so make it quick."

He licked his fingers, completely ignoring my glare. "So sad. You'll have to cancel all your plans for today."

I narrowed my eyes. "And why the hell would I do that?"

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Because you're coming with me."

I raised an eyebrow. "Coming with you where?"

His grin widened. "To a groom's wedding shop. We need to pick out suits."

I let out a dry laugh. "You have plenty of people to do that with. Why the hell would I go?"

His next words made my stomach turn.

"Because," he said smoothly, "you're going to be my man of honor."