Derek's POV
My jaw clenched as I stared down my father and Serena. The weight of their expectations pressed against my chest like a vise.
"That's not going to happen. I'll raise my daughter on my own. Neither of you will get anywhere near her, because it's clear that none of you actually care about her wellbeing." My voice carried a finality that left no room for argument.
My father simply ignored the declaration, sliding into the driver's seat of their car. The ride back to the guest house passed in tense silence, my knuckles white as I gripped my hands in my lap.
The moment we stepped through the front door, my stomach dropped. Hugo stood in the center of the living room like a storm waiting to break. His powerful arms were crossed over his broad chest, dark eyes blazing with barely contained fury as they locked onto me.
"How does it feel knowing you destroyed her mental health?" Hugo's voice cut through the air like a blade.
