Self-pity? Where had that arrogance gone?
I let go of his hair just long enough to deliver a quick backhand, sending his head whipping to the side.
Tristan spat a wad of bloody saliva at my feet. “I did everything to please my father, but nothing was enough.” A choked sob broke from him. “To prove my loyalty, I had to bring Olivia to him. But I failed. And now he’s right—I’m a complete loser.”
I narrowed my eyes. None of this made sense.
The water heater in Jack’s basement hissed and rumbled, and the washing machine kicked to life with a sudden thud.
I tensed, momentarily startled, before remembering Jack’s explanation about clothes-washing devices and their strange “cycles.”
Turning back to Tristan, I dragged a hand across my stubbled jaw. “All this time with her—you knew Olivia was a time traveler? How?”
“My father told me. He told me everything… about Jack, about Olivia.” His breath hitched. “The only way to prove myself to him was to bring Olivia to him. But I failed.”
A ripple of unease crawled up my spine. The puzzle pieces were finally locking into place.
A single tear slippeddown Tristan’s cheek, and his head slumped forward, his entire body sagging.
Pathetic.
I grabbed his hair again, yanking his head up. “Keep talking. Who is this father of yours?”
Tristan clenched his jaw and shook his head, but when he finally spoke, his voice hardened. “I was trained to understand Timebornes from the time I could walk,” he muttered, his chin jutting forward. “My entire life was spent trying to make my father proud—to be the perfect son, to obey him, to please him.” A bitter laugh escaped his lips. “But it was never enough. I saw it in his eyes—disappointment, every single time. No matter what I did.” His gaze flickered to mine, dark and hollow.
“Then, one day, he told me about Olivia. About Jack. He said if I wanted to be a part of his world—to be accepted as his son—I had to bring Olivia to him.” His lips twisted. “Only then would I finally belong.
“I started watching Olivia, studying her, learning everything I could about her life. I thought dating her would make her trust me—make her spill her secrets. But one month turned into two, then a year, then two years… and still, I got nothing. She never let me in. Instead, I fell in love with her.”
My jaw clenched. The thought of him loving Olivia made my blood burn. She was meant for me.
“But my duty to my father was more important than love,” Tristan continued. “I couldn’t betray him.”
His lips trembled as he inhaled. “I started to panic, knowing my father would kill me if I didn’t act soon. I needed to make my move. Then Jack called her over for breakfast and spilled the truth about time travel right before me. It was the perfect setup. My chance.” His expression darkened. “But I failed. Miserably.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, suppressing the rage twisting in my gut. “And then? What happened between you and your father?”
Tristan tugged at his bindings, his knuckles turning white. “He disowned me. He told me I was the worst mistake of his life. A failure.” His voice cracked. “After that, no matter how hard I tried to earn his love, nothing was ever enough. He only wanted Olivia. She was my one chance to prove myself.”
His voice dissolved into a pitiful whimper—more a donkey’s bray than a man’s words.
“The moment she time traveled, I went into hiding, terrified of what he’d do to me. But… nothing happened.” He sniffled. “I haven’t seen him in months.”
Pathetic.
No man worth his salt would stoop to sniveling like this, painting himself as a victim.
I grasped Tristan’s bony shoulders and shook him. “Tell me—who is this father of yours that you fear so much?” I already had suspicions but wanted to hear him say it.
Tristan averted his gaze, lips pressing into a thin line.
I grabbed a fistful of his hair, jerking his head back. “Fine. If you don’t tell me who your father is, answer me this.” My voice dropped into a lethal whisper.
“Who is Eyan Malik?”
Tristan’s eyes darted wildly, rolling like pebbles kicked across a dirt road. “Father said he got rid of him.”
My patience thinned. “Who is your father?”
