Page 70 of The Enemy

My hands were covering my face as I let the sobs take me. Everything hurt, and I wondered how many more times my heart would keep breaking. I was tired of feeling like I couldn’t measure up…like I wasn’t good enough.

I wasn’t paying attention, so I didn’t notice my father standing from where he sat, not until I felt him scooping me up so he could sit down as he held me. The action had me sobbing harder, and my father reacted by wrapping his arms around me.

It felt like I cried for hours, and by the time my sobs subsided, I felt drained. My dad was rubbing my back, and he kissed my forehead every so often.

“I’m sorry, Papi,” I whispered.

My dad only hugged me tighter.

“I’m sorry my actions made you feel like you couldn’t come to me for help. I failed you first, honey.”

“Has Grandfather disinherited me?”

My father sighed.

“Don’t worry about him…I’ll always have your back, Lulu.” He kissed my forehead. “After your stunt, I was infuriated, but then I was reminded of the role I played to get you to that point. And despite wishing you wouldn’t have done things the way you did, I’m also proud of you for standing up to everyone.”

His words made me tear up.

“There’s a reason I came here, Lulu,” he told me.

I looked up at him and braced for what he would say.

“Pricilla tried to do some damage control on her own. It was too late to stop it but know that we will get through this. I’m always going to be in your corner, Lulu.”

Maybe because my life had been on a rollercoaster in the past few days, his statement didn’t fill me with dread as it should have. My dad kissed my forehead and didn’t say more, and I took comfort that whatever that bitch had done had pushed my father back into my life.

Despite everything going on for the first time in weeks, I started to feel a bit better. All the crying was cathartic, and although not repaired, I knew this was the right step into repairing things with my dad.

We stayed in my living room for hours. The sun set, and my dad just held me. He would let me cry, and then eventually, he ordered some food for us when my stomach started growling.

It was mid-bite when he asked a question I should have seen coming. Since I wasn’t expecting it, I almost choked on my pizza.

“Did he force you into a relationship with him?”

My dad’s tone was even, his eyes calculating. He did not need to clarify who the hein question was. Not when I was responsible for outing us.

I shook my head.

“No,” I mumbled, trying to stop myself from crying. “I just wasn’t important enough for him.”

My heartbeat was faster as my dad opened his mouth, and I braced for what he would say. However, my phone began to ring before he could speak. It was Clove. I let it go to voicemail, but she called right away and sent a text saying, "Answer me.”

“What happened?” I asked.

“Neo just got arrested for beating the shit out of Tatum.”

TWENTY-TWO

NEO

For the first time,my life was spiraling beyond my control. All that planning and keeping my cool got me nothing. The company was a mess, and it didn’t matter if I showed up to work or not.

Gerald blew up my phone, as well as my mother and friends, and I didn’t answer any of them.

The one person I wanted to speak to hated me.

There was still a lot left unsaid between us, but before I talked to her, I wanted—no, I needed to make sure I fixed all the things I had done to hurt her.

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