Page 98 of Let Me Love You

I don’t spare him a single glance. “I can’t be here while my heart is in another state.”

Pushing out of my chair, I look to my father. Through the hurt splashed across his face is … pride? He nods once, and I don’t hesitate. I rush toward the door.

Before exiting, I turn back and say, “Thank you to everyone who supported me even when you found out about my family’s heritage.”

I flee but don’t make it more than ten steps before the door opens and closes behind me.

“Wait a minute,” my father’s voice says. “I want to tell you something.”

I turn to face him. His chest is heaving. I squeeze my eyes shut, unable to look at him. He must’ve run to chase me. “What’s wrong?”

When he doesn’t say something right away, I pry my eyes open.

He places a hand to his heart, and I rush over to him, but he waves me off. “I’m fine. I don’t want something to come between you and your wife. I admit I jumped to conclusions, but I discovered who let the secret out.”

My eyes widen. “Who?”

My dad rubs his chin and gives me a sad smile. “Your real father.”

I straighten. “You are my real father.”

He shakes his head. “The man whose DNA gave you blond hair and blue eyes. Your mother has been keeping him quiet all these years, paying him off, but he wanted more than she could give this time, so he went to the press.”

I open my mouth and close it repeatedly almost like I’m a fish. My evil mother has been protecting me all these years without me knowing. Or maybe she was doing it to cover up her own misdeeds. I’m not sure I’ll ever find out.

My father must read my face because he says, “She did it to protect you, not herself.”

Chapter 43

Serenity

Five days have passed since I last saw Victor. Not that I’ve been counting. And I definitely didn’t shed tears every night after tucking Summer into bed. Just like how, right now, I’m not biting my lip to hold back the tears that have sprung to my eyes.

Summer and I are at Sully’s house. I’m not ready to return to the condo. That place brings back memories of Paul and … I can’t stop remembering his unseeing eyes.

I move through my days almost like a robot, trying to give Summer the stability she needs. And every time she asks where “Bubba” is, my heart grows heavy. I knew getting her involved in everything would backfire, and now, I haven’t told her we’re not going back to his house.

I still wake up in the middle of the night feeling Victor’s lips on mine. Then there are the days where no matter how many times I blink, I see Paul lying on the ground lifeless. But there’s no time to fall apart when I have a small child relying on me.

A week has to be enough time.

Even as I tell myself that, I miss Victor so much it’s almost as if I’m missing a part of myself.

Luckily, Sully took Summer to the park, giving me a few extra minutes this morning to get my butt kicked into gear. Moping around stops now. I’m not teaching my daughter anything other than how to not move on.

The front door swings open, and Harmony walks inside. “Get changed.”

I look around. “No hello or anything? Just a command?”

“Sully said you haven’t left the house since, well, everything.” Harmony’s voice softens. “I’m not trying to be mean.”

A second form enters behind her. “Come on. For once, just listen,” Lana says.

Before I can answer either of them, Abigail floats inside. “I’m here for the fun part.” She winks at me.

“Now you’re scaring me.”

Harmony shoots her best friend a glare. “It’s nothing bad. I promise.”