Chapter 78

The silence in the study amplified the beat of Dad’s heart, I could hear his breath slowly leave his lungs, his feet turning cold and his eyes lifeless. “What are you doing here?” there was a spite in his voice that I could not ignore. “Who let you into this house? Aguiella!” First time I heard Dad yell Nanny’s name, and it was not in a pleasant way.

“There’s no need for that,” I lowered my voice, hurt by how quickly Dad wanted me out of the house. “I won't be staying for long,” I searched his eyes. “I... I just need your help.”

“Whatever it is you have come for, I am sorry to say, but you have wasted your time. I don’t need you to be here, I don’t want you to be here now leave.” There was nothing calm about the way he said it, even though his voice seemed calm. He steadied his eyes on me, and I searched for the tenderness it once had, but it was gone!

Of course, I knew waltzing into Pa’s house wasn’t just going to be a walk in the park. I didn’t expect to be specially treated now tha