Page 29 of The Sound of Secrets

“If you knew the details, would you have done anything to stop him?” I knew the answer, but when he shook his head in a nonchalant manner, I wanted to flip the table over and crush him underneath it.

“You’ve always acted like you know best, Channing. Who am I to stop you from doing anything?”

I barked out a laugh and felt the center of my chest burn. “You’re my father — only when it’s convenient. Leave Win alone before he buries you. And stay away from my mom. I’m getting a restraining order against you. If you keep harassing her, I’ll put you behind bars for good.” I was also going to figure out how to dissolve their marriage even if my mother protested.

My father lifted his eyebrows in a mocking manner. “Being married to a billionaire has made you brave. You never used to have the backbone to talk to me like this.” He smirked at me. “Don’t forget that my grandson trusts me more than you. If you push me too hard, I’ll make sure he wants nothing to do with you. It’s your fault his life has been so shitty, after all.”

I leaned back in the wooden chair and stared at him until he shifted uncomfortably. I crossed my arms and told him, “Ky’s not your grandson.” My voice was remarkably calm and steady.

My dad frowned and asked, “Did you get a blood test? How can you be certain?”

I tossed my head back and cackled like a madwoman. “I’m certain because you put in all this effort to push Win into action now. You want him to give you money. You can’t risk waiting for the results of a blood test, so youhaveto make these moves before the truth comes out. You’re impatient. When upsetting Mom didn’t get the desired results, you got desperate. I told Win that you underestimated me. I’m not my mother. And I’m not Willow. You have no idea what I’ve been through. It’ll take more than Mom telling me she hates me and the Internet calling me a gold-digger to get me to break down. And it’ll take more than my mental health to make Win surrender.”

My father slapped his palm on the table. The sound made me jump. I dug my fingernails into my arm and ordered myself to keep calm. I lifted my eyebrows in an expression that mirrored his own taunt and told him, “I had a lot of time to think on the ride down here from the city. That night, if Colette was involved, she would’ve used him to keep me from marrying Win. There was nothing she wanted more than to get me out of his life. If she knew where my son was, or had him to use as leverage, she would’ve. She was smart enough to understand the only way I would defy Win was if she gave me something he couldn’t. My child would be the only bargaining chip that fits the bill. I know without a doubt Ky is not my son. If I didn’t have a lifetime of experience as a pawn in your games, and being hated by that woman for no reason, I never would’ve recognized this was just another one of your schemes.” Rage choked me. Pure, white-hot fury filled me. I loathed this man. But I hated myself even more for the years of repressed longing and doubt.

I hoped the child I fought to bring into the world was out there somewhere living the best life. The sort of life that only someone in bed with the Hallidays could afford. If he was stolen from me, I comforted myself by imagining all the wonderful things his new family could provide. I assured myself the baby was better off without me. Like my father said, I kept my eyes locked on the nonexistent light at the end of a very dark, deep tunnel.

Facing reality was much harder. Dealing with that type of loss was impossible, on top of managing my mother and navigating everything happening with my sister. I fooled myself into believing the best scenario, because facing the truth was devastating. However, now there was no other option than to grapple with what really went down. I refused to be the only one suffering.

“I don’t know if you just came across Ky and noticed his age and appearance were a perfect match to absolutely fuck with my head. Or if you’re still mixed up with Parker and he pointed out the kid for you to use and abuse. Either way, you’re disgusting, and I’m done with you. Forget the idea that I owe you anything or that there is an ounce of familial affection left between us. You can consider me your enemy from this point. If you keep trying to fuck with me, Mom, or anyone else I Iove, you’ll be sorry.”

“Are you threatening me, Channing?”

I climbed to my feet and snatched my phone off the table. I pointed the device at him and warned, “Leave. Get out of this house. Put this town in your rearviewmirror. Go as far away from me and my family as possible. Act like you did when I was growing up and forget I ever existed.”

I didn’t want to turn my back on him because I didn’t know what he was capable of. He’d never physically hurt me. He also hadn’t bothered to stop the man who had been. I didn’t trust him as far as I could throw him, regardless.

My father got to his feet. “Do you think I’m afraid of you? You’re going to end up just like your mother. Locked away and out of your mind. You’re going to end up alone, living in a fantasy world, just like she does. I won’t have to fight you for a thing, Channing. It’ll all be mine for the taking.”

I scoffed as I drew closer to the front door. “I’m married. Anything I have goes to Win. Good luck getting anything from him.”

I put a hand on the doorknob and froze when I felt it turn underneath my fingers.

“How long do you thinkthismarriage will last? Your history with matrimony is a failure. No one seems to want to keep you for very long.”

Before I could respond with a scathing retort, the door opened. I braced myself so I didn’t fall backward. I instantly recognized the large, warm body that stepped into mine. I couldn’t see Win’s face, but I felt his anger pouring out of him. He was like a coiled spring, waiting for the pressure to release so he could snap.

“Are you okay?” “What are you doing here?” the questions overlapped. I took a step back so I could see his face. His jaw was rigid, and his eyes looked like astorm brewing. All of his attention was focused on my father. There wasn’t a hint of tolerance for the older man anywhere.

“It’s hard to punish Winnie for ditching her security when her aunt does the same thing.” Win scolded me while staring down my father. “Whether Channing and I stay married for days or decades, you are not getting anywhere near her from here on out. I told you not to try me.”

The older man didn’t appear intimidated in the slightest. He smiled and sat back down at the table as if threats weren’t being thrown around like confetti. “And I told you, if you didn’t give me what I want, things were going to get very ugly for the both of you. How does it feel to have the entire world wishing for your wife’s downfall? Is this the first time anyone has dared to question the mighty Win Halliday’s judgment?” He snorted. “I bet your mother is rolling over in the grave you prematurely put her in.”

Win grunted and subtly moved me behind his broad back. He held my hand and faced my father unflinchingly. The truth was, the old man wasn’t his opponent. My father might be slick and underhanded, but he didn’t have the same innate ruthlessness as Win. No one raised by Colette Halliday was easy to handle. My dad poked the figurative bear, and he was about to find out what a terrible idea that was.

Before Win said another word, the open doorway was filled with a man and a woman in police uniforms. The woman looked into the home and her eyes landedon Win. “We got a trespassing complaint. We’re here to look into the situation.”

Win grabbed me and pulled me to the side. He waved a hand in my father’s direction. “He’s the trespasser. This house belongs to my brother. That man is not allowed to be here.”

The police frowned. The male officer kept his hand resting on the butt of his weapon. His defensive stance seemed like it was aimed more at where Rocco was leaning against the SUV than toward anyone in the small house.

My father frowned at Win. “This house belongs to my wife. Her name is on the deed.”

Win shook his head and coolly replied. “Archie bought the house for Willow. Her name is on the deed, which passed to Winnie when she died. I put everything Archie and Willow left for their daughter in a trust. With my brother back and involved in Winnie’s life, he’s the co-manager of her trust. This house belongs to the Hallidays, not the Harveys.”

The female officer motioned to my father. “Sir, I suggest you leave unless you can provide proof you live here. We don’t want this to escalate to breaking and entering.”

Win lifted a dark eyebrow and asked, “We don’t?”

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