That One Hockey Guy | OC

Part 3

This chapter may be triggering to some, mentions of different forms of abuse and trauma.

Read at your own discretion

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That is not how I wanted him to see his portrait.

I pant out of breath from running up the stairs, I lock eyes with my father who has his mouth wide open in shock.

Shit.

He looks from me, to the painting, back to me.

"You did this?" 3 simple words and my whole world crumbles.

"Yes, I did this." Stay strong, don't let him make you feel small.

"Lies, you a liar girl? Huh. Who did you pay to paint this?" His voice rises which scares me and I flinch when he throws the paintbrush pot at my head.

Not again. Please not again.

"No one, I painted it father. I promise." I tremble and stumble over my words.

Another paintbrush pot comes flying at my head and I feel a sharp stab at my cheek, alerting me one managed to hit me.

I yelp in pain and my father storms closer. He grabs me by my hair and I bounce onto my top toes to relieve some pain.

"Lie to me again and watch what happens Liliana." But I'm not, why can't you believe me. I want to speak up but right now I'm weak, a pathetic little girl who can't even stand up to her daddy.

"So tell me girl, who. Did. You. Pay. For this fucking portrait?" I wince because no matter what I WON'T lie. I prepare for pain as I open my mouth but Luka runs in shouting,

"Daddy you're home can we play cars?" Father plasters on a fake smile and bends down towards Luka.

"Of course son, I'll be out in a few minutes. I'm just spending some time with Liliana first."

Luka nods and walks out of the paint room with a smile on his face, as selfish as it sounds I hoped he would have stayed.

My father grabs hold of my hair again and waits for my response from his previous question.

I wipe my tears and grit my teeth. "I painted this, no one else. You can't accept that I'm actually good at something."

Crack. There goes my jaw.

I scream in pain as I lay on the floor, my father stepping on my hand spread on the floor holding me up. He walks out of the room leaving me feeling dirty and weak.

I open my mouth checking my jaw is still in place then search for my phone and call Lewis even though he is twelve hours ahead of me I know he will answer.

A muffled hello was all I needed to feel safe once again.

"Lewis, he hurt me again. I hate to do this—"

My brother cuts me off abruptly "I'm booking a flight for the morning, stay the night at Beth's or something please. Don't stay there no matter what tonight, I'll be home in no more than a day I promise."

"Lewis you don't have to come here I just need to borrow some money until I sell these last few paint—" again my brother cuts me off and tells me I can borrow how much I need but he still is booking a flight.

"What about Luka, I can't leave him." I sniffle.

"Dad won't touch Luka. I promise you that, once I'm there and everything is settled I'm filing for custody. I think we finally have enough evidence."