Derek’s POV
The silence that followed my outburst felt suffocating, but the damage was already carved into the air between us.
I had been driven past my breaking point, forced to speak truths that should have remained buried in the darker corners of my mind. Words that no rational man would ever allow to escape his lips.
None of this chaos would have erupted if Bella had simply accepted my proposal, if she had agreed to let be part of my child’s life. The bla would inevitably land squarely on my shoulders because I was the fool who had spoken those poisonous words aloud. Yet even now, with everything crumbling around us, the desperate need to be with her still clawed at my chest.
My father’s breathing grew labored as he processed what he had heard. "What did you just say?" His voice cracked with the weight of disbelief.
Before I could backtrack or deflect his attention, I felt small hands being pulled away from . Bella had swooped in like a protective lioness, lifting Leah from my arms with fierce determination.
The crack of her palm against my cheek echoed through the space, the force nearly sending stumbling backward. I managed to keep my footing, but the sting burned deeper than just my skin. She had finally claid our daughter from my grasp.
Tears glistened in her eyes as she stared at with a mixture of betrayal and disgust that cut through like a blade.
"You have caused enough damage," she whispered, her voice trembling as a single tear traced down her cheek.
My father stood frozen, his mouth working soundlessly as he struggled to digest the revelation that had just shattered his understanding.
"I am taking my children ho. Both of you have inflicted enough trauma on their young minds," Bella declared, her finger pointed at like an accusation made flesh.
I offered no resistance as she gathered her children and moved away from us. Their departure spoke volus, and I already knew that Bella would make my life infinitely more complicated from this mont forward.
Once they disappeared from view, my father stepped closer and drove his fist into my chest with enough force to knock the air from my lungs. I grunted and t his furious gaze.
"Are you telling that you shared that woman with other n, and the child you produced is a daughter?" His voice bood with indignation.
I wrinkled my nose in distaste at his crude assessnt of the situation.
His insensitivity had been grating on my nerves throughout this entire ordeal, and now his anger stemd purely from learning that my child was female rather than the grandson he had desperately wanted.
The realization left speechless with disappointnt.
"Your constant disparagent of my daughter makes question whether I should even pursue custody. She would not be safe in this environnt," I warned him, making it clear that his obsession with having a male heir had crossed a line.
My father hung his head before rubbing his temples and shaking it slowly.
"Fine, but do you honestly believe that girl will thrive in this world?" he muttered.
I rolled my shoulders back and clenched my hands into fists.
"She carries alpha blood in her veins, Father," I reminded him sharply, refusing to let him diminish her potential based on her gender.
"Na one woman who has demonstrated true power," he challenged, his voice dripping with skepticism.
I straightened and t his gaze directly.
"Every woman who has endured childbirth or survived living alongside selfish n," I shot back, my voice rising with conviction.
A bitter laugh escaped his throat.
"Do not let emotions cloud your judgnt. Tell of any woman who has led armies into battle. Just one," he pressed.
"Lady Norma," I declared loudly, and his laughter died instantly.
"She stands as living proof that won can fight wars, bear children, and accomplish feats that n could never achieve," I stated firmly.
He lowered his head in contemplation, and I watched as a calculating smile slowly spread across his features. I recognized that expression and dreaded what thoughts were forming behind it.
"Perhaps our Leah could surpass even Lady Norma’s legendary accomplishnts," he mused.
His words hit like a physical blow. Was this all my daughter represented to him? Not love or family, but another opportunity for glory and recognition. His affection was not reserved for Zack specifically, but rather for anyone who could enhance his reputation and feed his ego.
"So that woman actually carried different children? How is such a thing possible, and who fathered the other ones? Hugo and Jack?" he questioned with disturbing curiosity.
The reality of what I had revealed finally crashed over .
"Father, enough," I warned through gritted teeth.
I could not allow him to spread such damaging speculation about Bella, but he dismissed my concern with a casual wave of his hand.
"Do not presu to dictate how I should conduct myself or what actions I should take," he snapped.
As he turned to leave, I moved to block his path.
"I am giving you fair warning. If you do anything to harm Bella, I will inform the council that I no longer want custody," I threatened.
His expression hardened at my ultimatum. He had always demanded complete control over every situation, but his thods would only lead to destruction.
We began walking toward the vehicle after my father chose not to respond to my threat, but Serena still had questions that demanded answers.
"So am I being replaced?" she asked, hurrying to catch up with my father rather than approaching directly.
She could sense my volatile mood and wisely sought answers from him instead.
"Nobody ntioned replacent. We cannot even be certain that stubborn woman will accept Derek back, but you should prepare yourself to care for a daughter," my father inford her.
I watched Serena’s hands curl into tight fists. She turned toward with a look of pure resentnt burning in her eyes. The thought of her serving as a stepmother to my daughter made my stomach turn.
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