Chapter 76 His Arms, My Shelter
GENESIS
"Don't hide from me, baby. I'm so sorry."
I looked down at his grip on my wrist, then back up at him. He looked sorry—truly—but I still felt so dirty. His words echoed in my head, impossible to forget.
"I promise you, baby, I didn't give her permission to take you anywhere. I would never do that. She's my friend, yes, but I'd never allow her to do something like that," he said, gently brushing my hair away from my face. His touch was soft, but his fingers pressed into my skin like he needed me to believe him.
I wanted to. He looked like he was telling the truth.
But I couldn't. Why should I?
"Dammit… you still don't believe me." He sighed, voice taut. "Come. I'll prove it to you."
Before I could react, he was lifting me off the bathroom floor. I gasped, startled, and instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck—even though I didn't want to.
We stepped out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. We were both dripping wet, leaving puddles in our wake. The cold air hit me instantly as he dropped me down, making me shiver. I wrapped my arms around myself. He turned away, and my gaze dropped to the bed, my thoughts racing, body trembling.
Then he returned with a towel and began drying me off—fast, almost frantic. Before I could say anything, he was tugging a piece of clothing over my head.
"Put your hand through that armhole, baby," he murmured.
I looked at him, confused, then down at the shirt—it was his. I hesitated, then slid my arms through. The fabric hung down to my thighs, the sleeves drooping well past my wrists.
Without warning, he picked me up again and carried me out of the room. I blinked, dazed.
Where were we going?
Was I going to be punished?
We moved down the stairs. I stole a glance at him—his jaw was clenched, his eyes blazing with fury.
We reached the bottom and stepped outside. My heart thudded wildly in my chest with every step, and then I saw her.
Veronica.
She was being escorted toward a car.
"Veronica," Kieran called—not loud, but sharp. The kind of voice that made people turn. She did, slowly, and the moment our eyes met, I looked away, burying my face against his neck. My heart thundered. I remembered her laugh, the water pouring over me, the look in her eyes. Tears burned at the corners of my vision and slipped down my cheeks.
I felt pathetic. I told myself I'd be stronger—after I threw away the poison Monica gave me, I swore I wouldn't be a silent doormat anymore. But look at me now. I couldn't even look my abuser in the eye without crumbling.
How was I supposed to reclaim my father's legacy like this? My inheritance?
"Come here," Kieran said, I clung tighter to him. He held me closer, protectively.
Footsteps approached.
No. Not again. Wasn't it over? I didn't want to be hurt anymore.
"I need you to apologize to my wife."
I stiffened. Wife? That… wasn't what I expected at all.
Kieran lowered me gently to the ground. I didn't want to stand, but I had to. My bare feet touched the cold steps. I glanced at Veronica—and the men standing behind her.
Her eyes were swollen and red like she'd been crying. Her skin looked pale, haunted. She kept flicking glances between Kieran and me.
"I'm waiting," Kieran said, his voice firm, eyes locked on hers. "Apologize to her—and admit that audio you played was fake."
He was angry—but not at me. At her.
Why? Wasn't she his friend? Or… maybe not anymore.
Veronica bit her lip hard. Her hands twisted together nervously. She didn't want to do it—that much was obvious. And honestly, I didn't need her apology. Kieran had seen what she'd done. He came for me. That was enough.
Besides, what would an apology even change? Fifteen years of pain—fifteen years of silence. No one had ever said sorry before.
Why should this time be any different?
I turned away from her and pressed my face against Kieran's torso. He rubbed soothing circles along the small of my back.
"I'm sorry," Veronica said. With my face still tucked into Kieran's side, I peeked up at her. She wasn't even looking at me—her gaze was fixed on the floor.
"Say her name," Kieran growled, his voice low and sharp.
Veronica flinched, then lifted her teary eyes to his. Slowly, she turned to me.
"I'm sorry, Genesis," she whispered. "I'm so sorry. Kieran never gave me permission to take you or do any of those things. He didn't know."
My breath caught. He didn't? But…
She wiped a tear from her cheek. "I faked it. The audio… those were words he said to me about something else. I cut them up, pieced them together to make it sound like he said something he didn't."
Pieced them together? I understood the words, but my mind struggled to catch up.
"He didn't say that. It was all a lie," she said again, her voice cracking.
It was all a lie. Her words echoed in my head, looping louder and louder. That meant… he didn't want me to get hurt. He hadn't betrayed me. And all this time, I believed he had.
I looked up at Kieran again, my eyes swimming, and wrapped my arms tightly around him. He held me close.
"Take her away," he muttered, his voice cold and final.
The sound of retreating footsteps faded behind us as he wrapped both arms around me. Then he bent down, touching his forehead to mine.
"Now will you stop crying?" he murmured, his voice softer now.
My lips trembled, but I nodded.
"That's my girl," he whispered. "I will never hurt you."
Then he kissed me, and I clung to him as if letting go would tear me apart.