Chapter 67: Forgetting,Not Forgiving

This was the most Selen had spoken to him in a very long time. She set her things on her desk and then walked toward the couch on the other side of the office. Clancy was still standing close to the door, he was too busy paying attention to every single word that left her lips.

"So, you could help arrange art in a client’s space?" he asked her, trying to make more conversation.

"Yeah, for extra fees of course. But that is about work, and that is not what you want to speak to me about, is it?" She said to him, Clancy shook his head, no, in response to her question.

"Did you receive anything from my family lately?" He asked her. He was going to go straight to the point. There was no use beating about the bush, especially if she had already seen it. And according to what his mom said, it had been a while since it was sent and she was bound to have received it already.

Selen was surprised by his question. "Did he tell them to do it?" She wondered. "Yes." She answered plainly. "Selen, I know that my appearance must have been a shock to you and I want you to know that this is not me interceding for my family. But I want you to know that I had no idea, but I think that they are genuine.

I believe that their interests are pure and they meant no harm with what they left to the kids and-" Selen interrupted him. "What is the problem with you and your family thinking that my silence equals anger? Have you thought about the fact that maybe I am just indifferent when it comes to you guys?

Maybe I just do not care enough to respond, Maybe I just do not care enough to feed your conscience that I have already let go of the past because I do not think of them as significant enough to make myself a bitter person. How about that?" She said,

To Clancy, she was not just talking about his mother and his siblings. He felt like she was talking to him directly and not just his family, applying every single word to their own history.

He immediately thought about the long, detailed message he had sent her months ago, explaining his regrets and asking for a chance to talk. The silence he got after his long and heartfelt message to her, her denying every request he made to continue their conversation from that day in her office.

Even when Diana needed his bone marrow. She knew that there was a chance that he would be a match, and yet, she called him last. After all of her options had worn out. All this time, he thought the silence was due to her lingering anger. But what if she just did not care about him?

All this time, Clancy had convinced himself that her silence was because she was still holding onto deep, lingering anger. He had told himself that she just needed time to process her resentment. But looking at her expressionless face right now, reality hit him differently.

What if she did not hate him at all? What if she just did not care about him anymore?

Clancy cleared his throat, trying to find words, but his throat felt dry. The office was quiet "Selen," he started, but he stopped himself.

He looked at how she was sitting, completely relaxed, not showing a single sign of agitation or nerves. She was not avoiding eye contact, and she was not gripping the couch cushions. She was just waiting for him to finish so she could get to her work.

"So you really do not feel anything when you look at me?" he asked, his voice much quieter now. "Not even a little bit of resentment for how things ended?" He asked.

Selen leaned back slightly. "I believe that I have told you this before. Resentment takes energy, Clancy. It means I would have to spend my day thinking about what you did, what your family did, and how it affected me. I do not have the time or the desire to do that.

When the package arrived, I did not get mad. I just put it in a drawer because it did not matter more to me than my daughter who was in the hospital" she said. Clancy shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Hearing her say it out loud was different from guessing it.

When someone is angry, you can argue with them, apologize, or try to fix the mistake. But there was nothing to fix here. She had simply closed that Chapter of her life and moved on, leaving them completely outside of it.

"I see,’ Clancy said. He glanced toward the desk where her things were neatly organized. "I did not mean to ambush you. My mom was just worried that you were holding a grudge, and I wanted to clear the air." He said.

"The air is clear," Selen said, standing up from the couch and walking back to her desk. She picked up a folder, making it clear that their conversation was over.

"You can tell your mother she does not need to send anything else. You are already a part of the kids’ lives, and they are still adjusting. Please do not add your drama filled family to the mix." she said.

Clancy nodded slowly. He backed toward the door, his hand finding the metal handle. He wanted to say something else about just the two of them, not his mom, not his siblings, not the kids. Just the two of them.

Instead he opened the door and walked out to the hallway, shutting the door behind himself. He was pleased to hear the sound of the kids at the end of the hall. When they spotted him, the boys ran toward him for a hug. "Where is Diana ?" He asked them. "Downstairs," they said simultaneously.

Clancy held their hands and led them downstairs to meet Diana . "Hey kiddo," he said to her, calling her attention. "You’re here!" She exclaimed and got up, catching Clancy off guard.