Page 3 of My Alpha Stepbrother's Dirty Secret 2

He stood up, frustrated."Okay.Fine I remember, but It doesn't matter now!"

"It does matter!"I screamed, my throat burning."Dad, please tell me.It's my life!Why are you hiding this from me?!What are you so afraid of?!"

He ran his hands through his hair and finally burst out, "I'm just trying to protect you, Liana.You won't understand."

I stared at him, my entire body trembling."Protect me from what?!You keep saying that over and over but you won't say from what!What are you protecting me from, Dad?!From the truth?!"

"You won't understand," he said again, voice cracking.

"Then help me understand!"I shouted."You lied to me my entire life!You let me grow up feeling like something was wrong with me!You never said anything!Never even hinted!That was so cruel dad.So so cruel!"

"It was for the best," he whispered, eyes rimmed with tears."I didn't want to lose you."

"You will if you don't tell me the truth dad!"I said coldly, stepping back.

My stepmom was crying too now.She rushed to him again, kneeling beside him."Liana, please...he's not ready.He's not strong enough for this."

"Not ready?"I repeated with a hollow laugh, wiping the tears off my face."He's had YEaRS to be ready.Why does he still need more time?What exactly is he hiding that I can't know?Huh?"

He looked up at me, red-eyed and shaking."I'm just trying to protect you...That's all I've ever wanted."

I felt like I was going to explode."Stop saying that!Just stop!Protect me?You're not protecting me.You're breaking me.You're confusing the hell out of me.You're making me feel like I'm crazy!"

"Killian, please...take her away," my stepmom said gently, eyes full of pity.

"No!"I screamed, crying harder."I'm not leaving until he gives me the truth.I deserve that much!"

Killian reached out slowly, his voice low but steady."Liana...you're in pain.Let me take you somewhere calm.Please.Just for now.We'll figure it out together."

I shook my head, lips trembling, but I couldn't say no anymore.My chest hurt, my head was throbbing, and my whole world felt as if it was tilting.So I let him lead me away.

And the moment we got into the car and the door shut, I collapsed.

"It's not fair!"I screamed, punching the seat with everything I had left."Why me?!Why won't he tell me?!Why did he lie to me, Killian?!My whole life has been a damn lie, and now that I want the truth, he hides behind 'I'm trying to protect you!'He's not even trying to explain!I feel lost!I feel so damn lost, Killian!"

He didn't say anything.He didn't need to.He pulled me into him, let me cry into his chest, held me like I was the most fragile thing in the world.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into my hair."I'm so sorry, Liana."

He drove me to his hotel, held my hand the whole way.Didn't say much.He knew I needed space.He knew I needed silence.

When we got to the room, I didn't even make it to the bed properly.I sank to the edge, my legs weak, my throat sore, my heart aching in a way I had never known.

Killian sat beside me, pulling me into his arms, stroking my hair gently.

"You're safe here," he whispered, his lips brushing my forehead."I promise, you're safe."

CHAPTER 52

Liana's POV

I didn't know how long I'd been curled up on the bed, but I was still shaking.The tears had stopped, but the feeling in my chest hadn't gone anywhere.

Killian sat beside me, brushing his fingers lightly over my arm.He didn't say much.

"Have you eaten today?"

I shook my head slowly, still staring at the sheets.