The word parents coming from him made a flash of rage go through me. Assholes was more appropriate. I gave him a stiff nod in answer, then asked him the only question that truly mattered to me. “Did you know what they would do…how they would raise me…when you left? Did you know what sort of people they were?” If you did…just leave now. Because there will never be anything between us.

He still looked confused. “John and Susan? What are you talking about?” His eyes narrowed as he studied me, and I couldn’t tell if he was genuinely baffled, or if he just didn’t want to admit it, admit he knew exactly what kind of hell he was leaving me in.

Hearing my parents’ names from his lips was like a slap to the face, and I instinctively cringed. Needing an answer, I stepped toward him again, getting in his face again. My body coiled with tension as I clarified my question for him. “Did you know that you left me with people who would viciously abuse me…day in, day out?” Riley’s innocence flashed in my mind. That could have been me. You stole that from me. But did you do it on purpose? Voice shaking with pain, I spit out, “Did…you…know?”

All the blood drained from his face, and he was suddenly sickeningly pale. His dark blue eyes filled with tears as he studied me, as he absorbed the fact that I wasn’t joking, I wasn’t exaggerating. My life had been shit. Complete and utter shit.

“Kellan…no…I had no idea. I thought…” He paused to swallow, and I swear he looked like he was about to be sick. Seeing that reaction softened me more than his words. It truly seemed like he didn’t know. “I thought I was leaving you to a happy home, happier than I could have given you back then.”

He reached out to touch my arm, and it was only then that I realized I was shaking. “I know you won’t understand, but I was a mess back then. I didn’t know what I was doing. I got caught up in something with your mother that…was a horrible mistake,” he said with a sigh. Eyes widening, he quickly added, “Not that you were a mistake, just, the situation…”