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I watched him stroll through the yard and into the house, closing the door behind him. I sat stunned, unraveling inside from what he had just said. That was first and only time I had ever heard him say he was wrong, that it was his greedy, power-fueled need that led us here.

He's right, the man is fucking right.

Pushing myself up, I crossed the patio and went into the house. My father wasn't one for heartfelt conversation, and I couldn't help but feel like it was my mother speaking through him right then.

It was like her hand had come down and touched his heart, helping him to guide me in the right direction. I was going to listen to him, I was ready to tell Cyprus everything that had happened from the first moment she entered our home that night.

If Cyprus chose not to listen, there was nothing I could do. But I could try and help her see, I could try and help her understand. And maybe she would get pissed and hit me and tell me she never wanted to see me or my father again.

But I had to do the right thing.

The truth had eaten away at me, it made me harbor this guilt that I had to get off my chest. I was tired of the wall between us, the one I had felt for years and she had just discovered.

Climbing the stairs, I took them two at a time. My muscles were tense, my heart thudded against my ribs as I tried to put together the words inside my head that I was going to use.

I wanted to make sure that everything I said came out clear and easy to understand. I didn't want to risk her misunderstanding and twisting my words into something they weren't.

Taking in a deep breath, I knocked on the door. “Cyprus, let me in.” She didn't respond, not that I expected her to. “I'm coming in, we need to talk.”

Pressing my ear to the door, I tried to listen for any sounds. She was silent.

“If you're near the door then move, because I'm coming in, even if I have to break it down.” Holding the handle in my hand, I pinned my shoulder to the wood, ready to force my way in.

Twisting the handle, to my surprise it turned. Pushing it open, I poked my head inside before opening it up all the way. Glancing around, I found Cyprus sitting against the wall with a book in her hands and tears running down her face.

“Cyprus, you need to hear me out.” Stepping closer, I looked at the book and my heart sank in my chest. “Where did you get that?” I asked, moving slowly towards her. “Where did you find it?”

How the fuck did she get the diary?

“The detective gave it to me.” Sniffling, she wiped her eyes. “He said they found it here in the house.”

“You were never supposed to see that.” Stopping a foot from her, I raked my fingers through my hair. “My father was supposed to get rid of it so you'd never have to know.”

“But I do know, I know what happened that night.” Tears continued to fall as her shoulders rolled forward. “I remember, Birch.” Flicking her eyes up to mine, her lip trembled as she spoke. “I remember the night he killed my parents.”

She looked so broken, so lost and sad as her eyes swelled with pain I never wanted her to have.

“I wanted to tell you—”

“But you didn't!” screaming, she slammed her fist into the floor. “You knew what he did! You knew who I was! And you didn't tell me!” Gripping the carpet in her fingers, she clawed the fibers as her body began to shake.

Dropping to her side, I tried to hold her, but she pushed me away. “Let me explain, let me tell you the truth.”

“No!” Her screech came out loud and unhinged as she punched her fists into my chest. “No! No! I trusted you! I loved you! How could you do this to me?”

Snagging her hands, I yanked her into a bear hug, refusing to let her go. “I love you, Cyprus, I've always loved you. That was never a lie, I love you with everything I have.” Whispering into her ear, I kissed the side of her temple. “I love you so much, I never wanted to hurt you. None of this was supposed to happen, not like this.”

Her body shrank, folding up as she began to weep. Her entire life had just changed. What she lost, she had found, what she didn't know, now had the power to destroy us both. I never wanted that, I never wanted her to know the pain she had been through.

“Why did you lie to me for all these years? If you really love me, how could you lie to me?” Sharp nails dug into my chest as she held on tight. “How could you lie to me, Birch? Tell me.”

Burying her face in my shirt, I slipped my hand around the back of her head and held her tight. “I lied because I love you. I wanted you to always be happy, I wanted to make you happy. I was selfish, I was wrong.”

Tipping her head up, she nuzzled herself into the crook of my arm. “All those times you saw me crying about losing my family, that never bothered you? It didn't make you think?”

Running my thumb across her forehead, I traced her hairline and moved down her cheek. “It always bothered me, I hated seeing you like that. I wanted to tell you so bad, but I was afraid.”

“Afraid of what?” Her brows scrunched, eyes searching my face. “What were you scared of? Was it your father, did he threaten you?”