+25 BONUS
LIANA’S POV
“Daddy!” I cried out, my voice breaking, my legs moving before I could even think. He had just stormed on the th
and Mother had
rushed after him. I wanted to go too. I had to go. I had to make him understand. But before I could even get to the door, Killian’s arm shot out and pulled me back.
“Liana-” (1
“Let go of me!” I screamed, trying to yank free, my heart pounding so loud it was as if it would burst. “Let
“He’s not in the right state to talk-”
“I DON’T CARE!” I yelled, turning on him so fast that my shoulder slammed against his chest. “You shouldn’t have said that! Why would you say something like that in front of him?!”
Killian stood there, his face tight. “He needed to know the truth.”
“No, he didn’t! Not like that! Not with that tone!” My voice cracked as tears ran down my face. I was shaking, every nerve in my body lit up with pain and confusion, it was as if I could barely breathe through it. “You sounded like you were
challenging him, Killian! Like you were taunting him. That’s my father!”
“And you’re mine,” he said. “I won’t apologize for loving you.”
“But you could’ve handled it differently!” I shouted. “You could’ve been more respectful! You know how he feels! Why did you have to push him?!”
He took a breath, stepped closer, but I backed away, wiping at my face roughly.
“I wasn’t trying to disrespect him,” he said. “I just wanted him to know I meant it. That I’m not going to walk away.”
“And now he hates you even more,” I said, my voice trembling. “He thinks you’re trying to destroy our family.”
“I’m not trying to destroy anything,” he said quietly. “I’m trying to be part of it.”
I looked away, my chest heaving as if the whole world was pressing down on me. I felt so torn. So broken.
“You know what he means to me,” I whispered. “You know how much I needed his forgiveness. His blessing. and now… now I don’t even know if I’ll ever get it.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I really am. I didn’t want to make it worse.”
“Then why did it feel like you were staking a claim? Like you were forcing him to change his mind instead of trying to
understand him?”
Killian shook his head “I don’t know. Maybe I was scared too. Maybe I felt like if I didn’t speak up, I’d lose you all over again.”
My lips parted, but no words came. I couldn’t even look at him
“I love you, Liana. I meant everything I said. But I never meant to disrespect your dad. I swear.”
I sat down slowly on the edge of the couch, holding my head in my hands. “Then why does it feel like everything is falling
apart?”
Killian knelt in front of me, his eyes soft, his voice gentle “We’ll fix it. We have to believe that.”
I looked down at him, tears stinging my eyes. “I don’t know if I can I don’t know if he’ll ever forgive me. Or you”
“Just give him time,” he whispered “and no matter how hard it gets, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
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But inside me, it felt as if I had lost my father tonight.
and I didn’t know if I was strong enough to lose him and still keep everything else.
+25 BONUS
The next morning was uncomfortably quiet. I stood by the living room window, my bag already packed, Ryan sitting sleepily beside it while Killian talked softly to him, trying to distract him with a toy car. But even Ryan wasn’t really smiling.
My eyes kept drifting toward the hallway.
I kept hoping I’d see him.
But he never came.
Mother came instead. She was in a soft grey sweater and slippers, her hair pulled into a messy bun like she hadn’t slept all night. She had a steaming cup of coffee in her hand and a worried look on her face when she walked in.
“You’re ready to leave?” she asked gently, standing close to me.
I nodded slowly, but my eyes moved back to the hallway. “Where’s Dad?”
She sighed. Deeply. Her shoulders dropped as if she was tired of trying. “He’s still angry, sweetheart. He’s not ready to come
out yet.”
My heart twisted, making my chest feel tight. “He won’t even say goodbye?”
She stepped closer, touched my arm softly. “He can’t. Not right now. I tried talking to him, Liana. He just stared at the wall
and said he didn’t want to talk about it.”
Tears burning behind my eyes. “Just… if he ever asks, tell him I love him. and I’m sorry. Even if he never forgives me. Just
let him know that.”
She blinked hard, trying not to cry. “I will. I promise.”
Killian came over, holding Ryan’s small hand in his. He looked between us, sensing the tension in the room. Then turned to
me
“Liana… I’m sorry.”
I looked at him, and sighed.
“Take care of her, Killian. This isn’t easy for her. Or for him. You both need to be patient.” Mother said.
“I will,” he said “You have my word ”
She gave him a small smile, then crouched to Ryan’s level. “Take care of your mommy, okay? Be a good boy.”
Ryan nodded and hugged her tightly, clinging to her neck. “I will grandma
She held him longer than expected, like she needed something to hold onto. Then she stood and looked at me one more time.
“If anything changes… if he asks about you, I’ll call Don’t lose hope.”
Ttried to smile. It didn’t come out right. “Thanks.”
I turned toward the door with Killian, Ryan’s hand in mine now. But before we stepped outside, I paused
My eyes found that hallway again Still empty
“Goodbye Mom ”
“Goodbye dear,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
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Killian reached for my hand and squeezed it. “Mom, don’t forget. Help us pacify him.”
“I will.”
I nodded and blinked fast, biting my lower lip as we stepped out the door.
We left without a goodbye from dad.
And it hurt more than anything else that had happened.
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