Eventually, he arranged a birthday vacation to Hawaii, hoping shared memories might bring them closer. Instead, the announcement drew little enthusiasm, followed by Bella’s cutting declaration: “You’re delusional if you think you’re our dad.”
Wounded and angry, he canceled the vacation. Julia said his impulsive decision could undermine any remaining chance of connection, while the girls accused him of trying to purchase their affection. No reconciliation followed in the account. He still loved them, but questioned how much rejection he could bear. What remained unresolved was whether canceling the trip protected him emotionally or made an already fragile relationship harder to repair.
