Do You Trust Me
RONNY’S POV
The second his hand connected with her face, something inside me snapped.
I didn’t think. I didn’t reason. I just moved.
Before he could even lower his arm again, I had him by the collar, yanking him. His eyes went wide, his mouth opening in shock as I shoved him back against the wall with all the fury burning in me.
“How dare you,” I snarled, my voice shaking with rage. “How fucking dare you touch her?”
He struggled, his hands pushing weakly against mine, but I wasn’t letting go. Not now. Not after seeing Liliana flinch, her small hand covering her cheek, her body trembling with the weight of it.
“Ronny—” he choked, his voice caught somewhere between fear and disbelief.
I shoved him harder, my face inches from his. “Do you want to die? Is that what you want? Because that’s what’s going to happen if you ever—ever—lay a hand on her again.”
His breath came out shaky, his eyes darting to Liliana. “Liliana—I didn’t—”
“Don’t you dare,” I cut him off, my voice rising, raw with fury. “Don’t you fucking dare make excuses. She just got out of the hospital. She’s been through hell. And you—her own father—you think you can raise your hand against her?!” My chest heaved, my grip so tight on his collar I could feel the fabric straining beneath my fists.
“The only reason I don’t tear your face apart right now is because you’re her dad,” I hissed through my teeth. “The only reason.”
Behind me, I could hear Liliana’s breath, sharp and uneven, her presence pulling at me even in the middle of my rage.
I leaned closer, my voice dropping low, dangerous. “If she says this house won’t be sold, then it won’t. Do you understand me?”
He swallowed hard, his face pale now, sweat beading on his forehead. He gave a jerky nod.
My jaw clenched so hard it hurt, but I forced myself to release him. I shoved him back, disgust and fury still burning through me. He stumbled against the wall, his breath ragged.
Without another word, I turned to Liliana. Her eyes were wide, glassy with tears, her cheek red where his hand had struck her. Seeing her like that cut me deeper than anything else ever could.
I held out my hand. She hesitated, then slipped hers into mine.
Her fingers were cold, trembling, but the fire in her eyes had returned. She turned to face him, her voice low but steady.
“If you sell this house,” she said, each word sharp, “then you might as well erase the fact that I was ever your daughter.”
Silence filled the room after that. Even Clara, who had been hovering nearby with her fake pitying expression, looked stunned.
I squeezed Liliana’s hand and led her toward the door. I didn’t look back at him. I didn’t want to see his face again.
The mansion’s heavy front doors shut behind us with a loud echo. The air outside was sharp and cold, filling my lungs as if I’d been holding my breath for hours.
We walked fast to the car. She was quiet, her hand still gripping mine like she was afraid to let go. I opened the passenger door for her, helped her in gently, then circled to the driver’s side.
As soon as I sat down, I grabbed her hand again.
“Liliana,” I said firmly, turning toward her. “Do you trust me?”
Her green eyes flicked to mine, still wet with tears but steady now. “Yes.”
“Good,” I said, my voice leaving no room for doubt. “He won’t sell that house. I’m going to make sure of it. I don’t care what it takes—I’ll use every resource I have, every connection I’ve built. That house stays yours.”
Her lips trembled, her voice breaking when she whispered, “Thank you, Ronny. For standing up for me.”
I squeezed her hand tighter. “Anytime. I’ll always be there for you. Always.”
She nodded, leaning her head against the window, closing her eyes as if holding in everything she couldn’t say aloud.
The drive back was quiet. The kind of quiet that wasn’t empty, but heavy, filled with all the words we weren’t speaking. She didn’t look at me, and I didn’t push her to. Her fingers stayed laced with mine the whole ride, and that was enough.
When we pulled into the driveway, she finally opened her eyes. She looked exhausted, broken in ways she didn’t want to admit.
The second we stepped inside, she let go of my hand and walked straight upstairs without a word. I didn’t stop her. I didn’t follow.
I knew her. I knew she needed space to breathe, to fall apart without anyone watching.
So I let her go.
But inside me, the storm raged on.
I sat on the couch, my hands still clenched into fists, my chest tight with fury. I kept seeing it—her father’s hand striking her, the sound of it echoing in my ears, her gasp of pain cutting through me like a blade.
He had crossed a line. A line you don’t come back from.
I didn’t care if he was her father. He was nothing to me now. Nothing but a man who had hurt the one person I swore to protect.
And I wasn’t going to sit back and let him destroy her memories too.
That house wasn’t just bricks and walls. It was her childhood. Her mother’s presence still lived in every corner of it. It was the one place she could hold onto when everything else was crumbling.
And he wanted to sell it like it was nothing.
Over my dead body.
I leaned back, running a hand through my hair, my jaw still tight. I made myself a promise right there.
I would pull out every resource I had. Every favor, every connection, every ounce of power I’d earned. I didn’t care what strings I had to pull or what rules I had to bend.
That house would not be sold.
Not now. Not ever.
Because Liliana deserved to keep at least one piece of her past safe.
And I would damn well make sure of it.
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