page92 (1/2)

Dad bows his head, a clear aduilt but also pain I hurt him just now, but he has to ohat he did if he wants to repri her older boss

“It’s not just the fact that he’s older, Poppy,” Dad finally says, daring to ain “Nathaniel Stone has a… troubled past I just don’t want you to get hurt”

I walk closer to hi when I see how broken he really looks At thisto cuddle her daddy

“It doesn’tin allery anymore”

Dad furrows his eyebrows, his expression harsh again “Did he fire you? Because we can take him to court, Poppy Unfair dismissal If he sexually harassed or manipulated or seduced you, in any e’ll take him to the cleaners”

I s that out of love for his daughter rather than hate for Nathaniel In fact, Dad has tons of respect for hi that more than one relationship has been ruined in this mess

“No, it was a mutual decision, Dad I’m okay with it, really”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure”

He gives a slow nod and then gestures to the car “Coive you a ride home”

I etch another weak set in, and Dad turns the ignition, he pauses and looks over at me

“Did he ever tell you what happened to his wife?” he asks, his voice as low as a whisper

I can’t hide my surprise over the question Nathaniel made it clear that there was no secret wife on the scene, but that was all he said He had a wife?

“No…” My voice trails off as the past tense of that sentence sinks in He had a wife So, that means

she must have died “W-what happened to her?” I ask Dad,a little