Page 64 of My Alpha Stepbrother's Dirty Secret 2

"Do you love my daughter?"he asked.

That question hit me hard.I didn't see it coming.I blinked."Yes.I do."I didn't even hesitate.

He nodded slowly, took another sip, and sat down.

"She's the only child I'll ever have," he said quietly, as if he was talking more to himself than to me."Her mother...my late wife...she was everything to me.Not that I don't love your mother, I love her so much too, but with Emilia...it was different.She was my world, Killian.Liana...she's the only piece of her I have left."

I sat there, just listening, not touching my drink.

Then his voice cracked, and he said something that made my chest tighten."She didn't die a normal death.She was murdered.Beheaded."

He was crying now.

"Ever since she was brutally murdered, I hated werewolf beings.I promised myself my daughter wouldn't have anything to do with them.I hid her scent so she could live like a human.So she wouldn't live in fear."

He wiped at his face with the back of his hand."When your mom told me you were a werewolf, I panicked.I didn't know what to do.And then I found out you were the reason Liana ran away all those years ago, I got so pissed off.But it wasn't you I hated, Killian.It was what you were."

I stayed quiet.I understood him, even if I didn't like it.

Then he looked up, eyes red, face tired."But after watching you...the way you are with her...even though you're a little too possessive, and sometimes borderline obsessive...you treat her like she's your last breath."

"That's because she is," I said without thinking.

He let out a dry chuckle and nodded again."But you were married."

"That was a political marriage.I should've told you and my mom when I brought her to you.I never loved Cynthia.I thought I needed her for power, for connections.But I was wrong.I never did."

"That's good to hear," he said, leaning back and staring at the ceiling."I know Liana is angry with me right now.Hell, I deserve it.I lied to her.I kept the truth away, thinking I was protecting her.But I failed.They still got to her.Those monsters still got to her.I couldn't protect her.I'm such a useless fool."

He started crying."If she never forgives me, I'll understand.I just hope she knows how much I love her.I never wanted to hurt her.Never.I just...I didn't know what else to do."

He was sobbing now, and I had no idea how to comfort him.I reached out and patted his back, awkwardly."I'm sure if you explain it to her, she'll understand.Liana loves you so much—"

"I don't hate you, Daddy."

We both turned at the same time.She was there, standing in the corner in her nightwear, her voice soft and shaky.Her eyes were wet.I didn't even hear her come down.

"I just wanted to know who I really am.I never really got to see Mom's face.I only have these tiny, blurry memories of her.She died when I was two, and you took away every picture, every memory I could've held on to.I just wanted to know what she looked like.I wasn't angry at you because I hated you.I was angry because you didn't trust me enough to tell me the truth."

Her dad stood up and opened his arms."Come here, my baby girl."

She didn't hesitate.She ran into his arms, crying hard against his chest, and he held her as if he was afraid to let go.He kissed the top of her head over and over, whispering apologies.

I sat there, watching the two of them.Something in my chest loosened.

Finally, he pulled back and wiped her tears.

"I thought I was doing it to protect you, but I guess my way of protecting you was wrong."He said, "I'm sorry that I stripped you of the little memories you had of your mom.I promise to make it up to you."

"How?"She asked.

"I'll start by showing you all the stuff I kept hidden from you.Pictures...letters...everything about your mom.I'll be right back."

He walked away quickly, and I turned to Liana.

"Baby," I whispered."Come here."

She came straight to me and stood between my legs, wrapping her arms around my shoulders as I pulled her into my chest and held her tight.I didn't say anything.I just held her.