Page 52 of The Caress

My father answers before I have a chance to say anything. "You don’t need to ask her. You can talk to me, man to man. Unless you’re afraid?"

"Stop," I whisper, but it’s too late. This is really happening. I look into my dad’s glassy, crazed eyes, but he’s not paying any attention to me. "Please don’t do this."

"Who do you think you are?" Keir demands. "Barging into my home and insulting me? My respect for Ella is the only thing keeping me from throwing you out of here right now, sir, but don’t test my patience."

Dad barks out a harsh laugh. "Your respect for her? That’s a joke, right? The whole world knows you’ve been fucking the nanny, and she’s been using you for your money." He sneers as he looks from Keir to me. "Or did you finally get him to believe that you were in love? I thought there was no way he could be that stupid." His gaze flicks back to Keir. "Now I think maybe I was wrong."

I wish the floor would open up and swallow me. I wish I could rewind time and stop this whole messy scene from ever happening. Most of all, I wish I could take back every angry word I’ve said about Keir to my family. I wish I could take back all the times I indulged my dad’s crazy rants and all the promises I’ve made to help him out of his financial mess.

If I’d ever dreamed this would happen—that my worst nightmare would come true—I never would have made those promises. I never would have spoken to him at all.

"What’s he talking about, Ella?" I turn to see Keir looking at me, his face a mask of anger and confusion. "Why did he say you were trying to convince me you were in love?"

"It’s not like that," I start to say, but my dad cuts me off again.

"It’s exactly like that," he shouts. "Just like that. Go ahead and ask her. See if she’ll lie to your face. Ask her if she planned on using you for your money."

Please no.

Please don’t ask.

"Did you?" The inevitable question hits me like a punch to the stomach. "Was that what you were planning?"

I don’t try to stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks as I plead with him. "It was never my idea, Keir. You have to believe me. I only ever agreed to his plan because my sister needs expensive treatments for her cancer. I swear that’s the only reason, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t take your money. I didn’t want to do it."

I’m babbling and sobbing as my whole world crashes down around me. Keir and my dad are both yelling, and I’m caught in the middle.

"See?" Dad points at me, a deranged smile spreading across his face. "I told you. She was ready to take your money and run." He laughs again and shakes his head. "Ella, you’ve really messed up now. And for what?"

"To help Joy," I swipe at the tears, but they keep falling. "That was all I ever wanted to do."

"You really are an idiot, aren’t you? Joy doesn’t have cancer. That was just part of the plan, not that it matters anymore. But I’m sure she’ll appreciate your loyalty when she finds out how hard you worked on her behalf."

I can’t breathe. I need to sit down. I stagger toward the wall, barely able to keep my legs from giving out. This is, by far, the worst day of my life. And the hits just keep coming.

Everything has been a lie. I’ve agonized over what to do and how to help my sister for weeks. Months.

All for nothing.

I’ll never forgive my dad for doing this to me. For putting me in this position. Never.

"Get him out of here," Keir says. I can hear several sets of boots on the stone floor as my dad shouts incoherently.

I’m not watching any of it, though. My field of vision has narrowed, and I seriously think I might be on the verge of passing out. I’m just leaning against the wall, waiting for this torture to end.

When it’s finally quiet again, I turn to look at Keir. All the color has drained from his face. there’s nothing but pain in his eyes as he meets my gaze.

"Keir, I’m sorry. I—"

"No," he interrupts, his deep voice barely above a whisper. "Don’t speak to me."

I close my mouth and watch as he walks out of the room.

It’s over.

I’ve lost him.

And it’s my own fault.

---