Robert’s reaction was not one she’d thought she’d see. Granted, she wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but maybe some semblance of happiness?
Instead, she was met with wide eyes, red cheeks, thin lips. Robert looked like he was about to explode. He jerked his eyes to Ethan and looked like he was about to leap over the table.
“A baby?” he finally gritted out. “Harper, you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”
Well, that sounded a little...judgmental. Who was he to tell her anything about parenting, considering he hadn’t known she was around until she was an adult? Even then, he had seemed to have little interest in playing daddy.
“Harper will be a wonderful mother,” Ethan stated, coming to her defense.
Robert shifted his attention between Ethan and Harper. “I’m sure she will, but is she aware that the father of her child is a blackmailing bastard?”
Harper gripped the edge of the table. “Robert. What has gotten into you?” she demanded, stunned at his accusation and outburst.
“I think it’s time for us to go.” Ethan took her hand and started to come to his feet. “Clearly this was a bad idea.”
“Oh, don’t go yet,” Robert demanded. “I was just getting to the good part.”
Harper remained in her seat, her hand in Ethan’s as he tried to nudge her up. She stared across the table at her father, waiting for some type of explanation.
“What are you talking about?” she asked.
“Let’s go, Harper,” Ethan tugged again.
Robert reached across the table and took her other hand. “Listen to what I have to say before you go.”
Harper jerked her attention between the two men she was practically torn between. Both radiated anger and rage, and she’d never been more confused.
“Don’t listen to him,” Ethan pleaded. “Come with me, Harper.”
Irritated, she pulled her hands from each of them and glanced around the restaurant. People were starting to stare, and that was the last thing she wanted.
Harper stared up at Ethan. “Sit down.”
Robert remained the focus of Ethan. Harper had never seen such fury on anyone, let alone the man she’d fallen for. Nerves and fear pumped through her because whatever was going on had both men angry, and it seemed she was caught in the middle.
How could they already be feuding? They’d just met.
Unless they hadn’t... Did they know each other? But they’d acted like strangers before. Was that a lie?
Ethan finally eased back down in his seat and retook Harper’s hand, resting on the arm of her dining chair. But his eyes remained locked across the table.
“What are you talking about...this blackmail?” Harper demanded of her father. “I just introduced you and Ethan.”
“Oh, I’ve known Ethan since he was about twelve.” Robert shifted his focus. “Or was it thirteen?”
Harper glanced to Ethan. “Is that true?”
He remained silent, and Harper wasn’t sure he was going to say a word, but he finally blinked and turned his attention to her. That rage that had been pouring off him seemed to vanish, replaced by something akin to guilt and remorse in his eyes.
Dread settled heavy in her gut. He’d been lying to her?
“Robert was my stepfather for five years,” Ethan ultimately replied.
Those words hung in the air, and Harper attempted to process each one. There was no way this was true. Her biological father was the monster who’d stolen everything from Ethan? The man she wanted to build a relationship with, whose support and approval she’d wanted to gain, was scheming and deceitful?
Harper’s breath caught in her throat as she stared back at Ethan. “You used me,” she accused.
Ethan shook his head. “Never once,” he murmured, his gaze holding hers, almost silently begging her to believe him. “When we met, I had no idea who your father was.”