CHAPTER THIRTY–SIX

Liana’s POV

I knew the moment I heard the knock, it was my father. My heart skipped, not because I was excited, but because I wasn’t ready. He said he wanted to talk about my future which was the reason why he wasing. I wasn’t ready. I didn’t think I was ready for such conversations.

Agnes opened the door before I could even get up from the couch. And there he was.

bMy /bfather.

Standing tall in his signature charcoal grey suit, his expression tight, his eyes sharper than I remembered. He didn’t bsay /ba

word. Not yet. Beside him stood Mother. Her smile was soft, but her eyes were just as worried.

“Liana,” my dad said as he stepped inside. “We need to talk.”

My chest tightened. I nodded, stepping back to let them in. They walked in like they’d done it a hundred times before, as if they still had that authority. Maybe they did. Maybe I just hadn’t shaken off the part of me that still wanted to be their

daughter, the one who didn’t disappoint them.

“Would byou /blike some tea bor /bb” /b

b“/bbNo/b,” my dad said sharply. “This won’t take long.”

Mother touched his arm gently. “Please, don’t start like that.”

He didn’t respond.

We sat down in the living room. I curled my fingers tightly together in myp. My dad looked at me for a long time. Then he

exhaledb. /b

b“/bI’ve spoken to an old friend of mine,” he said. “Very close friend. His son’s a widower. He owns a luxury hotel here in the city. Well–established, good man. He has a daughter. Young, maybe Ryan’s age.”

I blinked, as my chest stilled.

He kept going. “He’s interested in meeting byou/b. He’sing in tomorrow. The n is, you two go out for lunch. Just talk. See how it goes.”

I stared at him like he’d pped me.

b“/bWhatb?/bb” /b

“Liana, listen-b” /b

b“/bYou want to matchmake me to some stranger? Some man I’ve never metb?/bb” /b

“He’s a good man. Responsible. From a good family.”

I stood up, as my voice rose. “And whatb? /bYou think that makes it okayb? /bYou think I’m some trophy you can just hand off to the next man you approve biof/i/bb?/bb” /b

“It’s not like that-”

“It is exactly like that!”

He stood too. “I’m trying to save byou /bfrom more disgrace! From making another mistake that’ll ruin your blife/b.b” /b

Iughed, bitterb, /bcold, like the sound of my own heart had turned on bme/bb. /bb“/bbYou /bmean Killianb. /bThat’s what this is about.b” /b

36

“bOf /bcourse, it is!” he barked. “You expect me to sit here and ept that you’re sleeping will b

byour /bstepbrother?b” /b

“Stop calling him that! He’s not my brother, and you know it!”

“He is byour /bstepmother’s son! That makes him—”

O

“Nothing! We didn’t grow up together, we didn’t live as siblings, this is not some messed–up forbidden thing you’re making it

out to be.”

“Liana,” Mother whispered gently. “Please… I know this is hard. But your father is scared.”

“Then he should say that instead of treating me like some shameful secret.”

b“/bYou think I’m not scared?” my dad snapped. “You think it didn’t break something in me when I found out what hiding all those years? You left this house without a wordb. /bYou were ashamed! You knew what you did was wrong.”

“I left because I was scared you’d never love me the same again. And I was right.”

“Don’t twist this. bI’ve /balways loved you. I always will. But I will never approve of this rtionship. Never.”

“Then that’s on you,” I said, my voice thick. “Because I’m not giving him up.”

b“/bYou don’t know what you’re doing. You think this is love, but it’s not. It’s obsession. It’s lust.”

b“/bbNo/b, Dad. It’s the only real thing I’ve ever felt.”

were

The room fell into a heavy silence. Mom’s eyes were damp now. She looked at me with something close to heartbreak.

“We’re not trying to hurt you,i” /ishe said quietly. “We just want what’s best for you.”

“Then trust me to decide what that is.”

My father shook his head. “You’re blinded. That man… he destroyed your life. He took everything from you. I WON’T EVER

ALLOW YOU BE WITH HIM!b” /b

The front door creaked.

I turned.

Killianb. /b

He walked in, his expression unreadable, but his presence filled the entire space like a powerful aura.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” he said calmly.

bMy /bdad tensed. “You have no business here.b” /b

Killian stepped closer, his btone /bstill evenb, /brespectful, but firm. “With all due respectb, /bsir… I do. Liana is not ba /bchild. She doesn’t need to be handed off bto /banother man like property.”

“And you think you’re the better option?”

“I never imed to be betterb,/b” Killian saidb. /b“But I love her. I choose her. Every single day.”

“You ruined herb, /byou selfish bastardb!/bb” /b

“No, Dad,” I cut in, my chest heaving as my heart mmed against my ribs. b“/bHe didn’t ruin me. Can byou/b–can you bjust /bstop

ming him for God’s sake!”

He stared at me like bI’d /bbpped /bhim. His jaw clenchedb, /bbeyes /bnarrowing with something bbetween /bdisbelief and bbetrayal/b.

b“/bbYou’re /breally standing here… defending himb??/bb” /b

I swallowed hardb, /bbmy /bbvoice /bbbarely /bholding btogether/b. “bYes/b. I am.”

b2/3 /b

His head shook slowlyb, /bas if he couldn’t recognize the girl standing in front of him. “Then you’re on your own.”

My knees nearly gave out, but I forced myself to stay still. To not crumble in from Www

tasted blood–anything to stop the tears burning in my eyes.

of him. I bit the inside of my cheek until I

“I’ve always been, Dad,” I whispered, a bitter smile tugging at my mouth. b“/bYou just never noticed.”

Mother ced a gentle hand on his arm. “Honey, please…”

He didn’t look at her.

He didn’t look at me.

He just stared past me, as if I was already gone.

b“/bbIf /byou walk this path,” he said, his voice trembling with fury and something deeper–disappointment, maybeb, /bor don’t expect my support. I won’t stand by and watch you throw your life away.”

“I’m not throwing anything awayb,” /bI said, even though my voice cracked. “You just don’t want to

His cold eyes finally locked with mine.

see

iit/ii./ii” /i

disgust-b” /b

“Then maybe I can’t proudly call you my daughter anymore.”

The words gutted me. My breath caught in my throat.

“Dad…”

b“/bYou’ve lived seven years without me,” he said, each word sharp and final. “You might as well live the rest of

without me. Because from this day forward…”

Mother gripped his arm harder. “Don’t say it. Please-b” /b

“I, Andrew Rivers, disown you.”

bIt /bwas quiet after that. So quiet I could hear the blood rushing in my ears. He turned without another word, grabbed Mother’s hand, and walked toward the door.

He didn’t look back.

bNot /bbonce/b.

And I—I just stood there. Frozen.