CHAPTER TWENTY–ONE

LIANA’S POV

“I’m Killian. Ryan’s father.” Killian said stiffly, his voice low andulliCold as he stared down Sim/li/ul

Simon blinked, confused. His eyes moved to me, looking for

Killian’s jaw twitched. “As you can see, I’m alive.”

answe

“But… but you told me he was dead.”

Simon looked from me to him and back again. The look on his face was making my stomach twist with guilt.

“Is this true? Is he really-?b” /b

I nodded slowly. “Yeah… he is.”

Simon’s shoulders dropped. I could see it in his face. The disappointment. The hurt.

“So… byou /bare back with him? Just like that?b” /b

I tried to say something. Tried to exin. But nothing came out.

“Liana,” he whispered. “I came all the way here for you. I was really hoping to start something real with you. I meant

everything I said. I wasn’t just ying,”

I looked down at the table. I couldn’t say anything. I didn’t even know what to say. Because in my heart, I knew. I knew I

never really felt what I was supposed to feel for Simon. He was kind, respectful, gentle. The perfect man. But not for me.

Simon sat up straighter. “bI /bwon’t give up. Not yet. I came here for you, Liana. I’m here for byou/b, always.”

He took my hand, as if to peck it, but Killian’s hard gaze on him could have set the entire café on fire.

Simon froze, pulled his hand away from mine awkwardly.

L

Killian didn’t say a word. Instead, he stepped closer, wrapped an a arm around my waist and pulled me gently but firmly out of

the chair.

I followed him.

Not a word was spoken between us as we stepped outside.

The moment we got into his car, he mmed the door shut and gripped the steering wheel like he wanted to break it.

I nced at him, my heart still racing. “What are byou /bdoing hereb?/bb” /b

He didn’t answer right away. His jaw clenched. Then he blet /bout a slow breath, as if he was trying to calm himself.

“I came to find byou/b.b” /b

“Why? To embarrass me? To drag me around like a puppet again?b” /b

“No” His voice was quiet this time. “To say I’m bsorry/bb./bb” /b

Iblinked

“Liana, I’m sorry I’m so sorry For what bI /bdid in the office. For how I made you feel. For not listening to you For forcing myself on you For hurting you. bI /bdidn’t want to be that man. I didn’t mean to go that far. I lost control I just. I just couldn’t take it. Seeing you with someone else, hearing his name bI /bjust couldn’t take it.”

He looked at me then, really looked at me. His eyes were red, his express

“I’ve been a monster. I know that. And if I could undo it, I would. If I could take your pain and wear it instead, I would. I

swear. But I can’t. All I can do is beg you to believe that bI /bnever stopped loving you. That every fucked–up thing I’ve done has

been because I don’t know how to be without you.”

I didn’t say anything.

I just looked out the window. But my lips curled slightly. Just a little.

Because even if I was still mad, part of me was… relieved. Relieved that he finally admitted it. That he knew he hurt me.

He ran a hand through his hair. “I want to take you out. Do something nice. Prove I can be better. But…

more urgent.”

He turned my face to look at him, his face filled with concern.

“It’s your dad. He’s in the hospital.”

Everything inside me stopped.

“Whatb?/bb” /b

“He had a heart attack this morning. He’s in aa.”

I couldn’t breathe.

Tears rushed to my beyes /binstantly. I turned to him, blinking fast. “bNo. /bNo, no, no…

“Mom called me. She said he kept calling your name before he passed out. He wants to see you.

“Oh my God…”

I buried my face in my handsb, /bthe sobsing before I could stop them.

b“/bI’m a terrible daughter,” I cried. “I should have gone to him. I should have-b” /b

Killian tried to reach for me, but I pushed his hand away.

”

AN

there’s something

“You don’t understand,” I whispered. “Ever since I left, he kept trying to reach me. I changed my number but I kept the old phone. Just so I could see his messages. He messaged me almost every month. Sometimes every week. He never gave up. Always saying he missed me. That he was waiting for his princess toe home.”

My chest was aching. My eyes burning.

“He was so proud of me,” I cried, my voice already broken. b“/bAlways said I’d be the first to do it right. To wait until marriage. To stay pure. Even after high school, he still called me his angel. His little angel who could do no wrong.” My hands were trembling as I tried to wipe the tears that bkept /bpouring, but they wouldn’t stop. Nothing could stop them now.

“But I… I got pregnant. And not just by anyone… bby you/b. You!” I shoutedb, /bmy eyes burning. b“/bbMy /bown stepbrother! I defiled everything he believed in. I let him down in the worst way possibleb!/bb” /b

I hupped through my sobs, pain building in my chest bso /bviolently it was hard to breathe. “I ruined everything I couldn’t bear to see his face if he found out I couldn’t bface /bhim. So I stayed away, Seven years. bI /bstayed away. I ignored his messages. His calls His pleas I broke his heart. And now he’s he’s lying there in a bf/b–fucking hospital bed because of me. I did this. I-

“Stop,” Killian said gently, stepping closer. “Lianab, /bstop…”

“No!” I screamed, hitting his chest with both fists. “It’s all bbecause /bof you!” I hit him again “You caused this! Every damn

thing!” bI /bwas sobbing uncontrobly now, my hands shoving him but it was like trying to move a mountain.

b“/bYou’re the reason I left! You’re the reason I couldn’t go home! You did this! You ruined me!”

He didn’t defend himself. Didn’t stop me. He just stood there, letting every hitnd on his chest.

“I know,” he whispered. “I know it’s my fault. I know. You’re right.”

I froze for a second, tears still falling down my cheeks.

“I was a fool,” he said quietly. “I let you go. I turned my back when byou /bneeded me. I thought I was protecting you…

protecting us. But I destroyed everything instead.”

His voice broke then, his own tears zing his eyes. “I’m so sorry, Liana. So fucking sorry. I can’t take back the past. I can’t fix everything I broke. But if I could go back… if I could undo every painful day bI /bcaused you, I would. I swear I would.”

I looked at him, tears spilling freely now.

“Take me to him,” I whispered. “Please… just take me to my dad.”

H