Page 69 of Saved By A Dark Billionaire
"A big juicy burger sounds good to me." She smiled down at me.
"Alright, big juicy burger coming right up."
I left quickly, running to the car. I wanted to get back to her as soon as I could. Today went so well, I was having a hard time believing it. My eyes spotted an old beat-up pickup truck parked in front of me. My mind began to wonder what a car in such a beat-up state was doing here. I watched as a muscular man with dirty blonde hair and a scruffy beard got down from it and headed into Rose's building. He must live there, but I don't think I've ever seen this truck before. I shook my head, focusing on the task ahead.
Don't go anywhere, Rose. I will be right back.
Chapter 24
Olive's P.O.V.
I had slipped my shirt on when I heard a knock at the door. I ran downstairs with a smile, thinking it was Lucas again.
"Did you forget something?" I opened the door, ready to tease him.
My smile quickly faded as my mind registered Dad's scruff face before me. His beard had grown, but his golden blonde hair was kept in its usual slicked to the side state. He had come unannounced, somehow finding where I lived. Did he know of this place beforehand? My stomach twisted with nerves, knowing Dad was here to lecture me.
"Are you going to let me in, or do you want to have this conversation in the hall?" He asked with his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed. He had a serious tone in his voice, one I'd grown used to, but still sent a chill running through my body.
He wasn't mad, he was furious, evident by the tic in his powerful jaw. I stepped to the side, allowing him to enter despite wanting to deny him access. I felt like I was betraying mom in some way by allowing him inside. This was her sanctuary from this very man.
"Why have you been ignoring me? You didn't even bother to tell me your mother died or when her funeral was. I would have liked to pay my respects." Dad started right off the bat, not wasting a second.
"No, you don't get to come to this place and talk about her. You're the reason she left. You're the reason I didn't have her growing up. Of course, I didn't tell you. You didn't have the right to know." Overwhelmed and furious by his words, my mouth moved before I could fully think about it. Never in my life had I talked back to my father.
"What did you say?!" He raised his voice, making me involuntarily flinch. "You don't get to tell me my rights. She abandonedyou, too. You can’t blame me. It was allherchoice."
"She leftbecauseofyou! So yes, it is your fault." Even if he refused to believe it, it's his fault mom left me behind too.
"I stepped up when your mother left, Livy.Iwas the only parent you had. This is how you treat me after I took care of you?" He was yelling now, bubbling my trauma ten fold. My body felt on edge, ready to jump at the slightest movement.
"You didn't take care of anyone! You drank yourself stupid almost every night. I'd come home and find you passed out with a bottle in your hand. I had to keep the house clean and cook if I ever wanted anything to eat. Between the two of usIwas the parent. Don't come here acting like you did me any favors. The only thing I learned from you was how to defend myself and throw a decent punch." I was surprised by the calmness in which I was able to speak these words. My anger was through the roof, but I tried not to show it. I didn't yell at him like I wanted to, not even raising my voice the slightest. My tone did not betray me as it stayed strong and calm despite my nerves.
"Livy, that's not fair. My wife had left me without a word, and a young girl to take care of. You. It was an impossible task." He argued back. I could see the anger boiling in him. His hands were fisted by his side, causing my heart to race. Would he hit me if provoked? He's the one person I can't fight back. My hands began to clam up as adrenaline coursed through me.
"Whose fault is that?" I rolled my eyes. Next thing I knew my cheek burned, stinging from the pain of his slap. The force was so great it caused my head to swivel. Tears stung my eyes, but I didn't let them fall. I turned to look at him, not touching my cheek, even though I desperately wanted to ease its burning with my cool hand.
"Get out!" I yelled at him, pointing to my front door.
"Livy, I didn't mean to. I am so sorry." He shook his head almost in shock.
It was like he was surprised he had done it. His poster changed completely along with his tone. All the anger had left him replaced by deep remorse. It didn't matter, the action was done. He had hit me, and there was no taking it back. I'd taken a blow from him many times, but it was never out of anger. It was always when he was teaching me, trying to help me improve. He'd never hit me in the face before, and definitely never out of spite or frustration.
"Get out, dad," I said again, keeping my voice leveled. "I don't want to see you again."
"Livy, don't be this way.Please. I didn't mean to." He kept shaking his head, as if he could shake away the fact he'd slapped me so hard across the face.
I could feel my cheek start to swell. The taste of iron was strong in my mouth, letting me know I'd bit my cheek hard enough to draw blood. I stared into his familiar eyes, noting the wrinkles on the sides. His eyes were my own, the same icy blue stare back at me in the mirror every morning.
"Just go."
Dad was slowly backing away to the door. His eyes kept staring at my cheek, filled with regrets. It didn't matter to me, he would look the same way anytime he would hurt mom. It didn't matter how remorseful he would feel after hitting her, he never stopped. He'd apologize, and be sweet for a few days, but then the cycle would repeat. I won't be part of that.
"I'm staying at the motel down the street. I won't leave until I see you again," he let me know as he hung by the door.
With one last sorrowful look at me, he left, closing the door behind him, leaving me in a deafening silence. I let my tears fall, carefully wiping them away, feeling my cheek sting even at the gentle touch of my own fingers. I found a bag of frozen vegetables and placed it carefully on my cheek, wincing as it made contact. My tears didn't stop, either. It was like I had opened a dam, and I couldn't close it back up until it ran its course.
The knock on the door reminded me Lucas was supposed to return. I didn't want him to see me like this. I didn't want him to worry. I also wasn't sure what exactly he'd say or do. I am not sure what I need right now. My heart doesn't even know if it wants to be angry, or wallow in the sadness longer. I thought of sending Lucas away without even opening the door, but it didn't seem right. After everything Lucas has shared with me, how can I keep him out? I opened the door, standing behind it, trying to hide a little longer. Lucas' sweet cologne filled my lungs as he entered the flat.
