He wanted to roll his eyes. It was an instinct, something that came naturally whenever he was forced to endure something he didn’t care about. The situation was no different now. As you introduced him to the person you were currently dating, a wave of irritation washed over him. In his mind, it didn’t matter who they were. The simple fact that you, his child, were with someone so beneath you, was enough to make him bristle with annoyance.

In his eyes, your partner was a nobody. And yet, here you were, so happy, so oblivious to the fact that they didn’t even come close to being good enough for you. He didn’t understand it, didn’t want to understand it. You were his child, and you deserved someone far more important, far more powerful than… this.

Still, in some twisted attempt to show that he wasn’t some heartless monster—though, deep down, he didn’t want to be nice—he swallowed his disdain. For you, he could at least pretend.

The smile he forced onto his face was practically painful. It didn’t reach his eyes, it never did, and the words he spoke, though pleasant-sounding, were coated in thinly veiled insincerity. The tone of his voice was too forced, too stiff, betraying the fact that every moment felt like a chore for him. He’d never been good at pretending to care, and now was no exception. His gaze flickered to your partner for a split second, before his eyes drifted back to you, that smile still plastered on his face.

When the conversation finally came to an end, you and your partner started to leave, no doubt thinking everything had gone smoothly. But before you could get out the door, his voice rang out behind you—laced with a mix of annoyance and something else, something darker.

“Have fun…” He paused, watching you both, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he added, “Just don’t have anyone come back pregnant!”