CHAPTER THIRTY–ONE

LIANA’S POV

The drive back to Killian’s house was quiet. Ryan had fallen asleep in the backseat, curled up with his arms around his little backpack. Killian was focused on the road, one hand on the steering wheel, the other brushing against mine every now and then. But I barely noticed, because I was still thinking about everything that happened that morning, the way Dad refused toe out, how he couldn’t even say goodbye. I hadn’t stopped thinking about it. I didn’t think I could stop.

When we got to the house, Killian parked gently in the driveway. He turned off the engine and looked at me.

b“/bDo byou /bwant to rest first? Or should I show you around properly now?b” /b

I nced at Ryan, still fast asleep. His mouth was slightly open, his head resting against the window. My heart squeezed if something inside me just couldn’t settle.

“Show me,” I said quietly. “I won’t be able to rest anyway.”

bias /i/b

Killian nodded. We stepped out of the car, and he gently lifted Ryan in his arms without waking him. I followed him into the

house.

It wasn’t my first time here. But it felt different now. as if I was supposed to belong. as if this ce wasn’t just a stopover

anymore.

He carried Ryan to the room already prepared for him andid him on the bed. Then he turned to me.

“Come. Let me give you the full tour.”

I followed him silently as he pointed out the guest rooms, the kitchen, the second living room, even the indoor mini–gym I

hadn’t noticed the first dayb. /b

“And this,” he said, opening a door gentlyb, /b“is your room.”

It was beautiful. Spacious, but not overly fancy. Soft colors, warm lighting, a bed that looked too big for one person. My suitcase had already been ced inside. a vase of fresh flowers sat on the dresserb, /bprobably Agnes‘ doing.

“I know byou’ve /bbeen here already,b” /bKillian said, rubbing the back of his neck, b“/bbut I didn’t get to do this properly. I wanted to.”

I walked into the room slowlyb, /bmy fingers brushing across the edge of the bed. It felt strange. and safe, and still not enough bto /bquiet the bache /bin my chest.

Killian stepped closer. “Liana…”

I shook my head quickly. b“/bbI /bjust need a minute.”

He nodded and bquietly /bleft the room, closing the door behind him.

As soon as he bwas /bgoneb, /bI sank onto the bed, buried my bface /bin my hands, and let the tearse.

I hadn’t cried in front of Ryan. bOr /bMother. bOr /beven Killian.

But now… I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

It was btoo /bmuch. The guilt. The disappointment in Dad’s beyes/b. The silence. The bfact /bthat he didn’t even say goodbye,

I bcurled /binto bmyself/bb, /bas if doing that bcould /bsomehow shield me from the pain as bif /bcrying hard enough would undo

everything. I missed him bso /bbso /bmuch.

I didn’t know bhow /blong I bcried/b. But beventually/bb, /bthere bwas /ba bsoft /bbknock /bon the bdoor/bb. /b

bI /bbwiped /bat my bface/bb, /bbtrying /bto bpose /bbmyself/b. b“/bbYeah/bb?/bb” /b

Killian stepped in, holding a ss of water. He took one look at me and didn’t say anything. He just walked over, handed me the ss, and sat on the bed beside me.

“I thought you might need this,” he said quietly.

I took it with trembling fingers. “Thanks.”

He hesitated, then reached for my hand. “I’m sorryb./b”

I looked down at our joined hands. “He’s ignoring my texts. It’s like I don’t exist anymore.”

Killian’s grip tightened. “You do exist. You’re here. You’re loved.”

I let out a brokenugh. “He doesn’t see it that way. To him, I chose byou /band gave up on everything else.”

b“/bbYou /bdidn’t give up on anyone, Liana.”

I sighed. “But he’s disappointed in me. and I can’t me him. I don’t even know if he’ll ever speak to me again.”

Killian reached up, cupping my cheek. “He will. Maybe not today. Maybe not soon. But he will.”

I closed my eyes, leaning into his palm. “I hope so.”

He kissed my forehead. Then stood.

“Come on,” he said, gently tugging my hand. “Let’s go shopping.”

I blinked. “Shopping?b” /b

“Yeah. For Ryan. and for you. I know you don’t feel up to it, but maybe it’ll help distract you. Just for a bit.”

bI /bnodded. “bOkay/b.”

Ryan was already awake and talking excitedly to Agnes when we came out. She wasughing at something he said, her

hands busy foldingundry.

“Agnes,” Killian said, “this is Liana.”

“We’ve met,” she smiled warmly. “But it’s nice to officially wee byou/b, Luna.”

Ryan ran to me. b“/bMomb! /bGuess what! Miss Agnes said she used to take care of Uncle Killian when he was little! Isn’t that

cool?!b” /b

I smiled. He was glowing. Happy.

“That’s really cool,” I said, ruffling his hair. “Did she tell you if Uncle Killian was naughty or notb?/bb” /b

“She said he was very bossy but always gave her choctes.b” /b

Killian groaned. “Okayb, /bthat’s enough ancient history. Let’s go get you some new clothesb, /blittle man.”

Ryan jumped. “Really? Can I pick Spider–Man bones/bb?!/bb” /b

Killian winked “Ofcourse you can. Even the ones with Batman!b” /b

“bХауууууууууу/bb!/bb” /b

Iughed a little. Just a little. But bit /bhelped.

We left shortly bafter/b.

Then we headed to the bmall/b.

Shopping with Killian and Ryan was chaotic and bstrangely /bhealing. Ryan darted bbetween /bstoresb, /bpicking things he liked and

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then tossing them back if he found something better. Killian chased after him while I walked behind them, just watching.

It was… peaceful.

Killian kept checking on me, every now and then squeezing my hand, asking if I was okay. I wasn’t. Not fully. But I was

better.

By the time we were done, we had too many bags, two cups of frozen yogurt, and one bvery /bcheerful Ryan.

BIG bSALE:/b3500 BONUS FREE bFOR /bYOU!

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