Page 99 of Seduced By You

Home. Finally, I was home.

* * *

Bubbles appeared on the surface of the milk pan. I stirred it, adding a little sugar. Every part of me ached as though I’d completed a five-hour workout in the gym. Having my parents back in my life had filled a void created all those months ago when I’d broken the news I was quitting the only career I’d ever known.

And Kadon leaving me had created another one.

Would I ever feel truly whole?

Footsteps shuffled behind me. I glanced over my shoulder, smiling at Papa trudging into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes.

“Can’t sleep?”

He shook his head.

“Same. Want some warm milk?”

He flashed his teeth. “You’ve always loved warm milk.”

“It soothes me.”

“If there’s enough in the pan, I’ll take some. Would you like me to do it?”

I shook my head. “I can manage.”

I poured two mugs, and we made our way through to the living room. Papa tugged a blanket off the back of the couch and put it over us both. We sipped our milk, quiet with our thoughts. Being around Papa had always been easier than spending time with Maman. He was a cool river on a summer’s day; she was a fiery volcano always on the edge of erupting. Yet I’d spent my life craving her approval. Which was the reason, I guessed, why the things she’d said to me had cut me so deeply.

“So, this man you were in the car with when it crashed. Where’s he?”

I closed my eyes. “He broke up with me.”

Papa sucked in a lungful of air through clenched teeth. “Did he now?” Displeasure laced every word. I couldn’t help but smile.

“It’s complicated, Papa.”

He ran his thumb over my stitched cheek, his touch so gentle it almost brought me to tears, and I’d cried enough already.

“Because of this?” His jaw flexed, a pulse thrumming in his cheek. I couldn’t love him more.

“At first, I thought it might’ve been, yeah. But now that I’ve had time and space to think about it, I know that’s wrong. It’s not Kadon’s style. He’s one of the most honorable men I know.” I nudged him. “Other than you.”

“Then why isn’t he here, supporting you when you need him?”

I couldn’t give Papa a full explanation. It wasn’t my secret to tell. But I’d thought about this a lot since getting home earlier today. Kadon leaving me had nothing to do withmeand everything to do withhim. He’d laid it out for me, plain as day, yet I’d not been in a place to truly listen.

“Kadon has some things he needs to work through. This accident brought up a lot of triggers for him. He’s blaming himself for my injuries, but it goes deeper than that. I hope he figures it out, and we can somehow find our way back to each other.”

“And if you don’t?”

My insides twisted as though someone were wringing out my intestines. “Then, unlike you and Maman, I guess we weren’t meant to be.”

He held out his arms, and I snuggled against him. He kissed my hair. “Ma chérie,” he murmured. “You’ll always be my baby. Whatever you need, whatever you want, I’m here for you.”

“Funny you should say that, Papa, because there is something you can help me with.” I shifted position. “Let me tell you about a girl called Ayesha.”

Chapter31

Kadon

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