I stared at both of them, speechless. “You know that isn't true. And you don't know Royal. I do, and you're wrong.”
I wasn't stupid enough to believe them. Maybe Royal and I hadn't talked a lot about what our relationship meant or where it was going, but considering we were practically living together and I'd never been happier in my life, I didn't need the talk. I knew how I felt. I hadn't told him I loved him, but I would as soon as I worked up the nerve.
My father dismissed me with a roll of his eyes. At that moment, I thought I'd never hated him so much in my entire life.
He was about to prove me wrong.
“We've let this go so far, but it needs to stop,” he said, ignoring Royal to focus on me. “He's nothing more than a spoiled man-whore and you're acting like a stupid slut. Keep your legs together and get back to work. I don't want to discuss this again.”
“You've let this go?” I repeated, incredulous. Had he just called Royal a man-whore and me a slut? What the hell? All of a sudden, I was done. “You owe us an apology.”
“I'm not apologizing for speaking my truth,” my dad said, his chin sticking out in defiance. Hell, he looked just like a sullen little boy when he did that. Why couldn't my parents act like adults?
I crossed my arms over my chest to hide my shaking hands. “Either you apologize, or you can get out of my bakery. I wish you'd never come back here. You say Royal is using me, that he's making a fool of me, but what about you? Are you ever going to pay me back? Or was that just a lie to placate me?”
My father's eyes skipped to Royal at the mention of payment. Just as quickly, he shrugged off his concern. “I told you, I'm working on it. I just need a little more time. And it wasn't your money in the first place.”
“It was half my money, which only makes it worse.” My voice was shaking, but I kept going. “And you know what? Keep it. Consider us even, pack your things, and leave Sawyers Bend. How about that? If you go, I'll forgive the debt.”
I thought that was a pretty good offer, all things considered. I wasn't expecting the rush of relief as I gave up on him repaying me. It didn't last long.
A silky smile spread across my father's face. I braced. Royal must have sensed something coming, because his hand closed over my shoulder, steadying me. I needed it.
“I don't have to pay you back anyway. You took the money from the business, right?”
I gave a stiff nod, so angry at my father I couldn't process the embarrassment of having my stupidity exposed to Royal.
“Then it's my money, too. Didn't Grams tell you?” He cocked his head to the side, innocent concern all over his face.
He was neither innocent nor concerned, he just wanted to set the stage. I couldn't even bring myself to shake my head. Instead, I leaned into Royal, needing his strength at my back.
“Your Grandmother changed her will. Sweetheart Bakery is in her name only, and when she dies, the whole thing comes to me. You're just an employee. So, technically, we could have you charged with felony theft.” He gave me a beatific smile, a cat with his paw on the mouse's tail, willing to be generous now that he had all the power.
There was a very good chance I was going to throw up. Just an employee? Grams and I had talked about changing the ownership structure of the business. I thought we just hadn't gotten around to it, and I hadn't pushed because… Because I trusted my grandmother.
My chest was caving in, oxygen strangling in my lungs. Everything I'd worked for was gone. I'd given up on school, thinking I wouldn't need it with Sweetheart in my future. Thinking I was part of a team, that I'd found my place.
It was all a lie.
My father waited for me to say something. I scrabbled for words, mind spinning, stomach slowly turning inside out. Maybe he was lying. It wouldn't be the first time. And Grams wouldn't just give him the bakery. No way.
I tried to imagine him waking up hours before dawn to work his ass off in a hot kitchen.
Not going to happen.
Before I let that realization calm me, I understood.
He wouldn't have to wake up early to bust his ass in the kitchen. That's what I was for.
I refused to cry. Or throw up. My father's smile was kind as he said to Royal, “This is family business, Sawyer. Why don't you give Daisy some space to work this out on her own? She doesn't have time to entertain you. She has special orders to finish.”