LIANA’S POV
+25 BONUS
“I’ll take care of her,” Killian continued, his tone even. “Liana’s my responsibility. She and Ryan… they’re my family. I’ll do right by her. I’ll love her. I’ll protect her. I’ll never leave again.”
Dad’s laugh was dry, cold. “Do right by her? are you hearing yourself? You’re married, Killian. You another woman, and you’re standing here telling me you’ll protect my daughter? From what? From
“I’m divorcing Cynthia,” Killian said, quiet but clear.
are still legally tied to
yourself?”
“It doesn’t matter!” Dad snapped. “It doesn’t undo anything! It doesn’t erase the fact that you were engaged when you touched her. It doesn’t change the fact that you’re her stepbrother. and I am still married to your mother!”
Killian’s hands were clenched, his knuckles white, but he said nothing.
“This is all wrong,” Dad continued, his voice rising, growing harsher with every of the word he spoke. “You two… you think
you
can play house and pretend this is some fairytale? It’s not. This is twisted. This is disgusting.”
I stepped forward before I even knew I was moving. “Dad, please…”
“No! Don’t you dare speak right now,” he said, spinning toward me. “Not when I’m this angry. Not when you’re standing
beside the man who destroyed everything I raised you to be.”
“Dad, he didn’t destroy me!”
“HE SLEPT WITH YOU!” he shouted, “WHEN YOU WERE NINETEEN! WHEN HE WAS TWENTY–FIVE! HE WAS ENGAGED! DO
YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT HE TOOK FROM YOU?!”
My lips were trembling My heart felt like it was ripping out of my chest.
“I didn’t mean to hurt her,” Killian said, his voice strained. “I never wanted any of this to happen that way. But I can’t undo what’s already happened. all I can do now is be there for her. For Ryan. For all of it.”
“YOU THINK YOU’RE A HERO?!” Dad was shaking now. “You think showing up after seven years makes you a father? Makes
you worthy of her? You think this is redemption? It’s not. It’s pathetic.”
“Dud, please stop… please,” I begged, voice hoarse, tears falling fast. “Just stop yelling.”
“He doesn’t deserve you,” he said, turning back to me. “and you? You don’t even see what he’s doing to you. You’re blind. Completely blind.”
“I’m not,” I whispered. “I’m not blind.”
“Yes, you are! Because if you weren’t, you wouldn’t be defending him. You wouldn’t be standing there, looking at me like I’m the villain. I’m your father. I raised you. I protected you and now you’re just… throwing it all away for him.”
Killian stepped forward then, but Dad shoved a hand up, “You move one step closer, and I swear I will punch you. I will.”
“I’m not your enemy,” Killian said, his voice low, almost pleading. “I’m trying to make things right”
“You’re not trying to make anything right. You’re trying to make excuses. You’re trying to justify something that can never be right NEVER.”
“You can hate me,” Killian said. “You can curse me. You can despise me. But I’m not leaving her again.”
“Then be ready to be cursed”
“Dad, please,” I choked out. “Please… just stop.”
29
+25 BONUS
He looked at me. Really looked at me. and then his face changed. His shoulders sank, his mouth trembled.
“You know what hurts the most?” he said, softer now. “That after everything… after all the sacrifices, all the nights I stayed up worrying about you, thinking about you… I come back and find you like this.”
“Dad…”
He shook his head slowly.
“I thought I raised a girl who knew her worth. Who understood right from wrong. But what I see
even recognize.”
My knees almost gave out. My fingers curled against the wall as if it could hold me upright.
“I am so… disappointed in you,” he said. “So deeply disappointed.”
I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t.
nowing
someone I don’t
He looked at Killian one last time. “You can take care of Ryan if you want. He’s your blood. But you will never have my
daughter. Not in this life.”
He turned to leave, his shoulders tense, his fists clenched.
My stepmother took one last glance at me, her face full of sadness. Then she ran after him.
“Honey!”
The door slammed.
2/2
