“Papa... please,” I pleaded.
He shrugged. “I’m only being honest.”
I took a breath. “Why did you want me to come?”
His eyes narrowed. “Why do you think? I would’ve thought after everything I did for you, you would at least have some fucking compassion.”
“What do you mean—”
His fist slammed the table, cutting me off.
“You know what the hell I mean. I dideverythingfor you,“ he seethed. I could barely look him in the eyes as his finger pressed against the glass, his accusations never letting up. “I gave you everything you ever needed. Disciplined you, spoiled you... And what do I get in return? I get another useless daughter who only wants to rebel and ruin everything I’ve worked for.”
Lowering my head, my lip wobbled.
“You fucking look at me when I’m talking to you.”
I couldn’t, I was almost sure of it. But I found the strength—in my safety on the other side of this glass, from the guard standing by, and from Tristian at my back. I lifted my head, meeting my father’s glare. It took every fiber in me to do it, but I did.
Hate radiated from him. He looked at me like he wanted to come through the glass.
Maybe he would have tried if the guards weren’t here.
Footsteps sounded behind me. Tristian approached. His hand fell upon my shoulder, and the strength that I’d summoned to stare down my father, now threatening to fail me, came back.
My father’s glare turned to Tristian, the fury in it rising. Then, to me: “I’d like to speak to my daughter alone. Do you think your new boyfriend will give me that opportunity?”
Lowering the phone, I looked over my shoulder to Tristian.
He gazed down at me. “We can leave, doll.”
I could only sigh.
I had choices now.
I knew that.The man on the other side of the glass had cuffs on his wrists and a guard at his back and no way to reach me. I knew that too. It just didn’t feel like it yet.
“It’s okay. He’s put me through… much worse,” I whispered.
Tristian’s eyes hardened. The sting of every bruise my father had ever given me seemed to throb beneath my skin at the memory.
Tristian’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and he brought it out, furrowing his eyebrows. “It’s my mother’s nurse.”
“Take it. It could be important.”
Tristian leaned down and kissed my hair briefly before lowering his lips to my ear. “Remember, he’s in there, and you’re out here.He can’t control you anymore.”
Taking in his words, I silently watched him walk toward the door, anxiously holding the phone to his ear. He stood there and went no farther, murmuring quietly with a furrowed brow as he kept his eyes on me.
He can’t control you anymore.
I turned back, raising the phone again. I had to take a steadying breath to meet my father’s eyes again.
He shook his head bitterly. “After everything I’ve done... You still look at me like that. Like I didn’t try to raise you to be better than your whore of a sister. Like I didn’t do everything for you.”
He can’t control you anymore.
“Papa...” I began. “Why did you want me to come?”
