He lets out a long, tired sigh, his dark eyes fixed on me like he’s sorting through all the things he probably shouldn’t say.
Is there a greater reason for what he did?
“Your father wanted to sell you to Anderson.”
I just stare at him, my mind stalling out. “I … I must’ve misheard you. What did you say?”
He rests his head against the headboard, expression flat, almost annoyed he has to repeat it.
“Your father wanted to sell your virginity to Anderson,” he says, clearer this time.
… What?
For a second, I honestly think I misheard him, because the room doesn’t feel real anymore.
A tight breath slips out of me. I don’t mean to make a sound, but there it is.
“Your mother knew exactly what was happening.”
“My … My m-mother?”
He scoffs. “Hell, she even fucking paraded it,” he spits. “Right there while I had my hands around her fucking throat. Like itwas something to be proud of. Like dying with that filth on her tongue made her special.”
He tilts his head, eyes cold.
“Crazy bitch really thought that’d stop me.”
I think I’m gonna be sick. The room spins and my fingertips are numb.
“I … Uhm.” I swallow hard. “What?”
“Yeah. That happened.”
“You’re lying.”
“Sure. I made up the worst story imaginable just to ruin your day.”
“No—no, this isn’t—” I stand, shaking, tears spilling hot down my cheeks. “You lied about your name. You lied to me. You’re a liar—I can’t trust you, I can’t—” My heart’s beating so hard it feels like it’s trying to break out of me. “You said it yourself! You’re a liar! You’re a manipulator! You twist everything!”
He doesn’t even flinch. If anything, my panic sharpens his focus on me. He pushes up from the bed and pushes his hands into his pants pockets.
“Yeah. I manipulate people. I lie when I need to.”
He takes a slow step closer, eyes locked on mine.
“But not to you. Not about this. I don’t twist the truth when it comes to what’s yours to know.”
He holds my face, forcing my gaze on him, but I slap his hands away. “Don’t touch me!”
It doesn’t deter him. He grabs my face again and shakes me slightly to bring me back to reality.
“Listen to me, little orchid. If I wanted to screw with your head, you wouldn’t even realize it was happening. But I’m not doing that to you.”
This can’t be happening.
My father is a monster, I know that.
He’s corrupt to the bone. He’ll betray, threaten, or break anyone if it gets him what he wants, and family isn’t an exception.
