Page 50 of Bully Billionaire Dragon

“Who is calling you now, dear?” my father asks, interrupting me from my thoughts as I sit on a bench on our deck in our backyard.

“Could be anyone,” I respond.

I know it is TJ, but who knows, maybe he and his cronies have gotten people to blow up my phone to try and stop me from taking them to court. Or to keep me up at night, as I’ve been getting calls at all hours.

“You’ve seemed down this weekend,” my father says. “Tell me what’s going on. You know I will always be here for you.”

I look up to my father.

His hair is graying and there are wrinkles around his mouth and eyes. He has gotten older over the years, but he is still the same man I grew up with. We used to be close, and since I’ve returned home there has been something disrupting our bond. I know I am mostly to blame for leaving the family behind to go to D.C., but it still seems as if they don’t understand why I left. Especially my father.

“I’m not sure I believe that, Dad.”

His entire body stiffens.

“I’m sorry for whatever I did to cause this rift between us,” my father whispers, but I hear him.

My eyes widen as I look up to him.

“I love you and I only want what’s best for you. I know these past ten years we have been distant, but having you homehas been a blessing. I’m not sure what I or your mother will do once you leave again.”

Tears brim in my eyes as they do my father’s, but I stay silent, not wanting to interrupt his speech.

“I am here if you need anything, sweetie, and right now, it seems like you need me.”

I let the tears fall and my father joins me on the bench as he wraps an arm around me.

“It’s awful, Dad,” I cry into his shoulder. “I did something horrible.”

“What did you do?”

I freeze.

How much do I tell my father? He knows now about the court case, but he doesn’t know exactly who I am suing. TJ and Shane are still friends, so I’m assuming my father still sees him from time to time.

“Honey, just let it out. I won’t judge.”

I believe him. So I tell him everything, from TJ bullying me all those years ago at the beach to me giving in to a night of passion with him. My father listens from start to finish while keeping an arm around me.

It feels good to get this all off my chest, but it also hurts. Reminiscing about my time with TJ fills me with conflict. I hate to admit it, but the sex was electric, and I did feel my heart bursting every moment we had together. But once I saw the photo, reality hit and guilt and regret flowed over me.

I tell my father all of this, and once I’m done, it is as if an elephant-sized weight has been lifted off my back.

“Taylor, listen. No boy—or man, for that matter—is worth this much heartache. You did nothing wrong by giving in to your passions. You are a grown woman and are allowed to dabble in your desires. I am thankful you left out the gory details,” my father jokes, and I roll my eyes. “But it seems you should really have this talk with TJ. He’s the only one who can give you closure.”

I hate it, but I know my father is right.

“Thank you for listening, Dad.”

“Thank you for sharing. It isn’t every day I get to be there for you, but I intend to for the rest of my long life.”

We hug and I spot Shane watching from the doorway.

“So, you slept with my friend,” Shane deadpans.

“Shane, you be nice to your sister and don’t sass her,” Father speaks up for me.

I am thankful to know he truly does have my back, just like he did when I was a little girl.

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