Cruel Prince (Royal Hearts Academy, #1)(88)

Sounds more like she got knocked up by the first guy she could find after my dad was arrested, and that guy didn’t want to stick around.

“You shouldn’t be so quick to believe her.” I hold his stare. “Do us both a favor and have a paternity test done before you take responsibility for this baby.”

Outrage crosses over his face. “She’s my wife.”

Frustration bubbles inside me. “And I’m your daughter.” I glare at him. “Something you always seem to forget.”

“What are you talking about? I’ve done nothing but provide for you all these years.”

Shelling out money for your kid doesn’t make you a parent…it just makes you a donor.

A real parent builds a relationship with their child.

A real parent takes the time to nurture and learn who their child is as a person.

A real parent doesn’t let their child feel unloved and unwanted for a single day, let alone years.

“Unlike your wife, I never wanted your money. All I ever wanted was you.” I shrug helplessly. “But you weren’t there.”

He blinks. “I’m having trouble understanding exactly what it is you’re implying.”

As usual, he doesn’t get it. He’s too wrapped up in Savannah.

“I’m saying I had one parent…and she’s gone.”

“That’s not true,” he protests. “I’ve been here your whole life.”

“Yeah, like a ghost. We don’t talk. You don’t know my hopes, my dreams, my fears. Hell, you don’t even know my favorite color.”

“Yes, I do. It’s pink.”

“It’s blue,” I scream. “Pink was mom’s favorite color.”

He scrubs a hand down his face and sighs. “I don’t know what you want me to say here, Dylan.”

Nothing.

I stand. “Not a damn thing. Just like the last ten years.”

I shouldn’t have to work so hard to get him to love me.

I shouldn’t have to fight so hard to make him understand how much he’s hurting me.

“Sit down.”

I jab the glass with my finger. “No. I am done. You want to keep burying your head in the sand while Savannah walks all over you? Be my guest. But I’m not sticking around for it.” I snatch my purse off the counter. “Congrats on your new baby. I hope you don’t ignore this one and fuck the whole parenting thing up like you did with me.”

With that, I turn and walk out.

Fuck his wife.

Fuck his new baby.

Fuck him.





Chapter 38





Dylan





My phone rings for the third time in four hours.

Sawyer’s name flashes across the screen and I press the ignore button again.

As soon as I walked through the front door, I told my aunt I didn’t feel good and had no intention of talking about the visit with my father. Ever.

I’ve been holed up in my bedroom ever since. Barely holding it together.

My phone vibrates with an incoming text:

Sawyer: You don’t have to talk. I just want you to know I’m here if you need me.





Guilt prickles my chest. It’s not Sawyer’s fault he’s an asshole.

Putting the phone to my ear, I call her back.

She answers on the first ring. “Hey.”

“Hey,” I whisper. “I’m not ignoring you. I’m just…I’m in a really bad head space right now.”

One small nudge off the tightrope and I’ll go tumbling.

“I’m sorry.” I can hear the hesitation in her voice before she says, “I was thinking about making a midnight fast food run if you want to come with.”

I look at the clock on my nightstand. It’s only ten forty-five. “It’s not midnight yet.”

She laughs. “I know, but I’ve been trying a new diet this week, and I’m seriously going to rip my hair out if I don’t get a cheeseburger in my system soon.”

It’s my turn to laugh. “I guess for the sake of your gorgeous hair, I have to come, don’t I?”

“Yes. Trust me, I don’t have the bone structure to pull off bald.” Her voice drops a little. “We don’t have to talk about today if you don’t want to. We can just drive around, gorge ourselves on greasy burgers, and listen to your favorite rock music.”

“Sounds perfect to me.” I pry myself off the bed. “Mind if I ask Oak to tag along? He texted me on my way home from the prison and told me he broke up with Hayley for good. He could probably use a pick me up, too.”

“Wow…that’s…I mean, a blind person could see that coming from a mile away, but yeah. Tell him to come hang. I’ll be there in twenty.”

“Awesome. See you then,” I say before ending the call and texting Oakley.

After I put on a pair of Chucks and check my phone, I wander across the hall to Oakley’s room.

I knock four times but he doesn’t answer, so I head for the kitchen. Lord knows it’s his second favorite room in the house. The first being the basement.

There’s no sign of him.

I’m about to ask my aunt and uncle if they’ve seen him, but I remember my aunt mentioned something about going to some kind of charity auction tonight.