Page 139 of Back to Willow

“Oh, so you don’t know! Not really, do you?” An evil laugh escapes my father’s mouth. “So fucking naïve! She’s manipulating you, and you’re falling for it!”

“She told me,” I counter. “Except, it could be mine, too. We’ll be sure soon.”

“Good, then.” The patronising tone in his voice makes me want to punch him. He’s never been so lucky to be my father before.

But this isn’t news. He’s always been cold and detached, intervening only to get his way. Appearances came first, and the family came second. It hasn’t changed one fucking bit.

“We’ll finally know which one of you is the father, then.”

My mother’s words feel like a bucket of freezing water over my head. My heart drops to my feet as my brain struggles to comprehend these words.

And because I can’t keep up fast enough, my father chimes in right afterwards, “Yes, we’ll need to know which one of you will ask for full custody.”

What?

“No, no, no,” a soft wail sounds behind me. “Oh no!”

I turn just in time to see my girl crying—again—while opening the front door.

“No one’s fucking doing that,” I growl, that primal instinct to protect her—them—coming out.

“Watch me,” my father challenges me, pushing his chest out and trying to look taller than me. While I have inherited my mother’s blonde hair, everything has been given to me by this excuse of a man in front of me. And I’ve never regretted my ancestry as much as this day. “That little whore is the fucking problem, and I’ll get rid of it.”

When I look back, she’s still there like a statue, still gripping the door.

“Come here and admit everything!”

When he stalks in her direction, I step in front of him, blocking access to her. “Babe,” I call her. “Get home, and I’ll meet you—”

“It wasn’t enough that you screwed both of my sons—destroying one’s life and distancing the other from his family—you had to keep this child a secret?”

“What?” I croak.

“You heard it right. That kid is most likely your nephew!”

“You’re crazy,” I chuckle darkly, not believing him for one second.

“Am I? Then why else would she leave without telling you about the kid? Huh?”

My hands, which were pressing against my father’s chest, fall limply to my sides. My face contorts in confusion as I glance back at Mason. He’s still rocking back and forward, hands covering his head like he’s protecting himself from unbearable pain.

My brother? Willow?

It can’t be. They barely spent time together—or talked for that matter—since he was never home. He’s claiming that both of them cheated, but…she would never.

Cheat?Nah, that’s ridiculous, and I know it.

I—shit.

“Mummy, let’s go home. Please.” I snap out of it as Dylan’s incessant requests fall upon deaf ears. Turning around, I see her crouching down, barely able to breathe.

“Willow?” I call weakly. “What is this all about?”

She wouldn’t.I know it.

When her swollen eyes lock on mine, they knock the breath out of me at the pain mirrored in them. She’s hurting so damn bad, but…

“I wouldn’t,” she mumbles through her sobs. “Not…” And with a shaky breath, she hastily stands up and pulls Dylan with her, slamming the door behind her.

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