Fiona pulled her hand back slightly, looking at Duncan with a confused frown. This wasn't the cold, distant father she was used to. The Duncan Brown she knew didn't sob, and he certainly didn't fly across the country just to sit by her bed.
"Dad, you're being really weird," Fiona said, her voice sounding small and suspicious. "Did Valerie find out about the fake deal with Nathan? Is that why you're upset? Are you worried about the family reputation?"
Duncan looked up, his eyes red and swollen. He wanted to scream that he had buried a casket with her name on it. He wanted to tell her he'd lived in a nightmare for close to three years. But he saw the look in Nathan's eyes was a warning to keep it together.
"No, Fiona," Duncan said, wiping his face with a trembling hand. "It's not about Valerie. It's not about the reputation. I just... I realized I haven't been a good father. I realized I should have stood up for you a long time ago."
