Page 90 of Make You Mine

One that even Maddy doesn’t know about. Both silent victims of my father’s abuse. Except she stayed with him, she persisted. I slipped away.

“Can I come in?”

She purses her lips before treating me with a soft smile again. “You don’t need to apologize for a thing.” She moves aside, making way for me enter the house.

The living room hasn’t changed much; the walls are lined with pictures of different landscapes. Not a single family portrait, giving a good understanding of our family dynamics to guests.

The same desk I used to work on sits in a corner, behind the sofa and TV set.

“Would you like some water?” Miranda stops midway to the kitchen, turning her head my way.

I look around. It’s quiet here.

Where is my father?

“Actually, I…I wanted to talk to my father.”

Miranda’s posture tightens. She presses her arms to her chest, holding herself.

“I’m not sure that’s the best idea,” she says. “I know I didn’t mention it when we talked. I didn’t want to alarm you. I’m sure Maddy filled you in, but he’s⁠—”

“I know he’s sick. I won’t cause a fuss. I just want to see him.”

She parts her lips, swallows her words, pointing at the corridor that follows the living room, where our home library, their bedroom, my temporary room, and a bathroom used to be. “He’s in his office.”

I tilt my head.

“We took your old room and remodeled it into Lucas’ office.” She swallows, seeming uncomfortable. “No offense, Kayden, you weren’t here for years. And we weren’t sure we were going to see you again. We couldn’t sleep in the same room after he got sick, and he insisted on working. I had to give him something.”

Of course they did.

My father’s stubborn. I inherited that from him. He likes to pretend he’s okay even if it kills him. He’d rather die than let a woman take control of his business.

I bet he thinks he’s still got the hang of it. And Miranda has to deal with his nagging day after day, while making sure his business stays afloat.

I need to give it to her. She’s been patient and smart. From what I heard from Madelyn, Miranda learned everything from scratch about my father’s business and has managed to do okay. Of course, we don’t have as much money as before, but she’s been keeping the family on profit.

I shake my head, reassuring her. “You don’t need to give me any explanations.”

This stopped being my house a long time ago.

She presses her lips together. “All your things are back in the attic.”

“Thanks.”

I’m about to go my way when a door swings open and a man comes out of the bathroom, the nearest door to the living room entrance.

A man who isn’t my father.

He’s young, with disheveled brown hair and a trimmed beard, wearing simple slacks and a button-up shirt.

“Hey.” He greets me nonchalantly, stretching his hand forward. “You must be the son.”

I shake it, my eyebrows furrowed to the center of my forehead.

“Oh,” Miranda says, standing between us. “Kayden, this is Russell. My assistant.”

This is new.