CHAPTER TWENTY–FIVE

bLIANA’S /bPOV

After dinnerb, /bwhen everything had quieted down and Ryan was already asleep, I sat on my bed brushing my hair when I

heard a bsoft /bbknock /bbat /bthe door.

b“/bCome in,” I saidb. /b

Mother stepped in, her expression calm but serious. She walked bover /bslowly and sat at the edge of my bed. Her fingers were sped together tightly in herp.

She looked at me for a moment, then finally asked the question that had clearly been on her mind all evening.

“Liana… who’s the father of Ryan? Is it…”

But before she could finish, her phone rang loudly. She jumped slightlyb, /bfumbling for it.

“Hello?” she answered quickly.

There was a long pause. Then her eyes widened, and her hand flew to her mouth.

“He’s awake? My husband is awake?!b” /b

bI /bstood up instantly.

“He’s awake!” she gasped, already on her feet. “Your father’s awakeb!/bb” /b

She rushed out of the room.

I grabbed my sweater and followed after her. as we got to the living room, Killian was already there,ing from the opposite direction, holding a sleepy Ryan in his arms.

b“/bbI /bbwas /bjusting to btell /byou,” Killian said breathlessly. b“/bThe nurse called. He’s conscious.”

Mother didn’t wait. She practically ran past him, heading for the bcar/b. Killian and I followed.

Mother sat in the back seat looking bso /bnervous and whispering prayers under her breath.

En Sakety w Mather’sp, half–asleep, his

head resting on

When we got to the hospital, she didn’t wait for anyone. She swung the door open and hurried trailed behind, my stomach twisting.

The elevator bride /bfelt endless. The hallway bwas /btoo quiet.

When we reached the room, Mother pushed the door open, and there he bwas/b.

bDad /b

shoulder.

carrying Ryan gentlyb. /bbI /b

Sitting up in bed, awake, his beyes /bscanning the room.

“bDaddy/bb!/b” I cried bout/b, rushing to him.

His barms /bopened wide, and I crashed into them. He hugged me so tight I could bbarely /bbreathe.

*bMy /bbdaughter/b… oh, my baby… bmy /bprincess… I bthought /bI’d never bsee /bbyou /bagain,” he bwhispered/bb, /bbvoice /brough with emotion.

I was sobbing. b“/bI’m so sorryb, /bbDaddy/b. I’m bso /bbsorry/b… bfor /beverything.”

?

linge

He pulled me back just enough to hold my face in his hands. His eyes were glossy, his brows etched in pain.

b“/bbYou /bhave no idea how I dreamed of this day,” he said softly. “bI /bwaited. Every day. Every night. I kept my phone by my pillow, hoping I’d hear your voice.”

I kept on sobbing, b“/bI’m so bsorry/bb, /bDaddy. I’m so bsorry/bb…/b”

Mother entered right then, setting Ryan down gently.

Dad’s eyes flicked to the little boy standing at her side, rubbing his

eyes.

“Who’s that?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could say a word, Killian

Dad’s face changed instantly.

He stood from the bed without warning, surprising everyone.

Then WHAM.

A

w

**

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His fist connected with Killian’s jaw.

b“/bbYou/b!b” /bDad shouted. b“/bYou’re the reason she disappeared seven years ago, you bastard!”

He grabbed Killian by the shirt and hit him again.

And again.

bAnd /bagain.

Killian didn’t fight back. He just took it, blood on his lip, his head slightly bowed.

b“/bbYou /bruined herb!/bb” /bDad shouted. “bYou /bdestroyed my daughter’s life!”

“Daddy, stop! Please!” I screamed, trying to pull him back. “Please, you’re not strong enough-

Mother joined me, trying to pull Dad away from Killian.

“Stop bit/bb, /bstop it, what bare /bbyou /bsaying?!b” /bshe cried. “What do byou /bmean he’s the breason/bb?/bb” /b

Dad was breathing heavily, his fists clenchedb, /bstill staring at Killian like he wanted to tear him apart.

Without a word, he turned, reached over to the bedside table, and grabbed his phone. His hands were unlocked it and handed it ito /imother.

She took bit /bfrom him, confused.

One look at the screen and she bgasped/b.

trembling as he

She stared at Killian in pure shock. Her eyes were wide, full of disbeliefb, /bas if the world around her had just cracked open. Then she turned slowly to look at me. Her face twisted in pain. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. And then she dropped ito /ithe floor, her hands clutching her chest as she broke into sobs.

b“/bMum“” I cried out, dropping beside her. b“/bMum, what is itb?!/bb” /b

She didn’t respond, just kept crying. Her body trembled as she cried. Whatever she saw on that phone, it shattered her.

I picked up the phone from where it had fallen beside her. My hands were trembling.

The screen was still on a video

I pressed yb. /b

And my heart stopped.

bIt /bwas Killian and I. In my room. bMy /bold room.

The moment I saw it, I knew exactly what day this was.

The night I left.

The day he brought Cynthia into the house. The day I locked myself in my room crying, and he came knocking.

And he didn’t stop until I opened the door.

–

We were on the bed in the video. The nket was pulled ove

my chest. My hair was messyb, /bmy face tear–streaked. I was

whispering something to him. He was beside me, shirtless, his hand wrapped around my waist.

“Killian,” my voice in the video whispered, “I need to tell you something… it’s important.”

In the videob, /bKillian climbed down the bed, adjusting his clothes.

b“/bNothing’s more important than me marrying Cynthia,” he said.

inter

7th

ht

A

I covered my mouth in horror. I remembered those words. I remembered how they crushed me that night. How I felt my world crash inside me.

And now it was all there… on video.

My hands shook so badly I almost dropped the phone.

“Who… Who recorded this…b?/bb” /b

今

b3/3/b