ned to Lily, my heart breaking at the look on her face: wide-eyed and terrified. “Lily, don’t listen to him. He’s lying.”

Lily’s voice was barely a whisper, but it cut through me like a knife.

“Is it true? Dad… is it true?”

I dropped to my knees in front of her, my hands resting on her arms. “It doesn’t matter what anyone says.

I’m your dad. I’ve been there every day of your life. That’s what makes me your father.

Nothing else.”

She didn’t say anything, just stared at me, her lip quivering. I could feel her shaking beneath my hands, and it killed me to see her like that. I turned back to Jeff, my rage flaring again.

“Get out of here.”

Jeff sighed, looking almost sad.

“I know this is hard, but I’m not going anywhere. She deserves to know the truth.”

“You’re not her father,” I growled, barely holding back my anger. “You never will be.”

Jeff gave me one last pitying look before turning and walking away.

I wanted to chase him, to demand answers, but Lily’s small sob pulled me back.

I wrapped my arms around her, holding her as tightly as I could. I wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. Not ever.

That night, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with thoughts I didn’t want to have.

Could it be true? Could Kate have hidden something like that from me?

I thought about every moment we’d shared, every laugh, every conversation. Nothing made sense anymore.

The next day, I started digging into Jeff’s past.

I couldn’t just sit around waiting for answers. I needed to know the truth.

It didn’t take long to find out that Jeff had been fired from our company a month ago for lying on his résumé.

He had a history of manipulation, of using people to get what he wanted. The relief I felt was overwhelming.

He’d lied about everything.

A few nights later, Lily and I were sitting on the couch, watching some show that neither of us were really paying attention to. I knew I had to talk to her. She deserved to know the truth.

“Lily,” I said softly, “we need to talk about Jeff.”

She tensed, curling a little closer to me, but she didn’t say anything.

“He lied to you, kiddo.

About everything. Jeff is not your real dad. He’s just… sick.

He was trying to hurt us.”

Lily looked up at me, her eyes wide and scared. “But… what if it’s true?”

“It doesn’t matter what he said,” I told her, pulling her closer. “I’m your dad.

I’ve always been your dad, and nothing will ever change that.”

She stared at me for a long moment, her lip trembling, and then she nodded. “I love you, Dad.”

“I love you too, kiddo. Always.”

A few days later, I got a call from the police.

Jeff had been arrested for stalking another family. Turns out, the guy had a history of lying and manipulating people. It was over.

I hung up the phone, feeling like I could finally breathe again.

Lily was at the kitchen table, drawing quietly. I walked over and kissed the top of her head. We were going to be okay.

We had to be.