Page 11 of Cruel Steps

I gaped. What the hell? There was no way this was real.

“Isn’t it wonderful, Emmy? Oh, I can tell you’re excited! Your tears say it all.”

I wiped away the wetness, wishing I could step back through whatever portal I’d entered. This was not my life.

“I hadn’t gotten a chance to tell her yet, honey.” My dad beamed at the woman, and my stomach sank.

No. No. No.

This could not be happening.

My dad was a good man and a great dad, and I could acknowledge that selfishly, I didn’t want to share him. It had been the two of us for so long, and I’d gotten used to it. I knew it was unfair to ask him to live out the rest of his days alone, and part of me knew this day would happen sooner or later.

But not like this. Not to her.

“Oh! Well, I’ll give you both a few minutes to talk. I’ll finish things in the kitchen.” She kissed my father, his eyes lighting up as he watched her walk away. His features shifted as he focused on me, and guilt hit me, not wanting to deny him happiness.

“I promise nothing will change between us, Pumpkin. You’ll always be my best girl. It’s just time to open our hearts to new people. I thought you’d be more excited about this.”

I bristled, wiping my face, and scooted back. All the times I’d kept my father in the dark were returning to haunt me. I hadn’t wanted to burden him, but if he knew the truth, would he be making the same choice?

My dad watched me, his eyes pleading with me to be okay with this, and I wasn’t strong enough to deny him. Swallowing, I lost another chunk of my heart. Soon there wouldn’t be anything left.

“If she makes you happy, then I’m happy for you.”

He immediately deflated, reaching out to grab my hands, and that was when I saw it: a simple gold band on his ring finger—the same one that had been bare for the past few years.

“Wait, what’s that?”

My dad grimaced, and I knew the hits weren’t done coming yet.

“Rose and I got married this morning. I know it’s sudden, but I haven’t felt this happy in years.” Ouch. “I messed up this past year, I know that, and this is how I’m fixing it.”

“By getting married?” I screeched. “Exactly how does that work? You offer up your vintage vinyl collection as a dowry, or was it something else of mine?”

My father blanched at my words, and I wanted to hate myself for hurting him, but he’d put us in this situation. He’d gambled our money, and I had to pay the consequences.

“Things are improving financially.” Hope bloomed in my chest, and plans to stay at Brighton next summer formed. “However, you still won’t be returning to Brighton.” I opened my mouth to interject, but he stopped me. “Rose teaches at Hayward, and since we’re married, you’ll get free tuition along with her children.”

Jerking back at the word, my heart sank. How had I forgotten about Hope? The door opened, and my father turned, smiling like he’d won the lottery.

“Aw, there are my girls.”

Pain sliced through me at his words, but it had nothing on the malice and glee radiating from the tall, slender brunette beside Rose. Rose Adler—my new stepmom.

Which made Hope Adler my step sister.

Hope’s eyes dropped to my outfit, her sneer telling me exactly how she felt about my avoidance wear. Heart racing, I tried to think of the fastest way to escape. My house had been the only safe place in Oak Hills, and my dad had just given Rose and her children keys.

Hold. The. Phone.

Children.

As in more than one.

If Hope was here…

Then did that mean…

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