Page 26 of Room Twenty-Seven: Theirs to Punish

“What the fuck are you talking about? They stole your money—“

“Miranda stole my money. Lillian was an innocent kid doing what her mom told her to.”

“You could have gone to the police,” I point out the obvious. “You could have told them where they were.”

“And then? Miranda would have been arrested, and Lillian would have been without a mother.”

“She could have been with us,” Nik grits out, anger radiating off him like a furnace on full heat. “We could have had her back all this time.”

“I tried, son. I tried…” Dad turns back to look at us. “Miranda did everything to prevent that from happening. She threatened to not only take Lillian but to also find a way to take you.”

“And you just gave up?”

“Son, trust me, it wasn't easy. There was a lot more going on at the time.” My father looks defeated, like he just came home from war, looking back on everything he’s been through and lost. “I tried the best I could, and yes, I know, my best wasn’t enough, but I did try.”

“You could have told me. You could have at least let me know she was safe.”

Dad’s eyebrows draw together. “Nik, you were so angry and hurt. I figured a clean break would be the best for you.”

“It wasn’t your decision to make.”

“You’re right, and I realize that now. I’m so sorry, son.”

The room goes quiet for a moment, but the tension still hangs heavy in the air. One thing still doesn't make sense. It irked me so much that I have to ask. “I still don’t get why you haven't divorced Miranda. If you knew where they were all along, you must have known Lillian split and hasn't talked to her mom in years.”

“I’m aware.” My dad sighs before walking over to the sofa to take a seat. He looks exhausted, wiping his hands across his face. “To be honest… I just didn’t want to lose my last connection to Lillian.”

Nik and I both stare at our father, searching his face for any clue about what he means, but all I see is a man who got his heart broken.

Then it clicks. “Oh my God. You love her.”

“He doesn't love Miranda,” Nik scoffs.

“I know.” Everyone knows that he never really loved Miranda or my mom. He was just tired of being alone. “He loves Lillian.”

“What? Is that true?” Niklas questions in shock. His mouth hangs open, while our father simply appears… guilty.

Dad buries his face into his palms, looking ashamed. “Yes. I do. I have for a while, but I knew I could never act on it. This is wrong, so wrong.”

“How long is a while?” Nik pushes. “How long?”

“It wasn’t always like that. I did love her as a daughter first. She was just such a joy to be around, funny, adventurous, sweet, and kind, with an innocence surrounding her. An innocence I wanted to protect at all cost.”

“That doesn't answer my question.”

“It wasn’t until three years ago that I started seeing her differently. Before that, she was really just a stepdaughter to me.”

I breathe a little easier. At least my dad isn’t a perv who looked at her that way when she was underage. She was already nineteen when he started lusting after her. It might still be a huge age gap, but at least it’s legal.

There's so much pain on his face. It would hurt me to see it if I wasn't so damn confused. He hid his feelings well. I have to give him that. I didn't have the first clue. Neither did Nik since his jaw has practically hit the floor.

Dad gestures toward him. “I knew. I knew how you felt about her.”

“You... did? But we never—”

“I know that, too. Nothing ever happened. My point in bringing that up is to say I would never stand in your way.” He looks around, scrubbing both hands over his head like a man trying to pull himself together. “What I walked in on just now. I know I shouldn't jump to conclusions and assume it means something more than sex, but if it does, I won't get in the way of your happiness.”

This is all too much. Nik holds his head in his hands like he's afraid it will explode. “I don't know what to think.”

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