?Chapter 1461:


    Carol stood frozen at first. When she snapped out of it, she gave a short nod.


    “I’m fine with how Cedric handled the matter.”


    Then she sent a message to the group chat. “You guys don’t need toe here. Alexander is paralyzed now. Let Cedric take care of Hamilton.”


    Damon felt like the world had tipped off its axis. He couldn’t find the words. Eventually, he turned to Carol and said, “But that’s still our father.”


    Her expression didn’t change. Gone was the usual calm.


    “He’s not Dani’s father. Anyone who dares to hurt her has to pay.”


    With that, she walked off and closed her door.


    Silence pressed down on the room like a heavy curtain. Not a sound. Not even a breath.


    Damon and Niks stood there, looking pale and hollow.


    Damon ran a hand through his hair and grabbed his coat off the couch.


    “What the hell just happened? Why did Dad have to mess with Dani? Niks,e on. Let’s go back. Dad needs toe and apologize.”


    Niks nced upstairs. His voice was low.


    “You think he’lle? Even if he does, will they forgive him?”


    The ride back was quiet. Neither of them spoke for a long time.


    Their thoughts kept circling around the image of Dani—blood pooling around her, her eyes red with vulnerability. They had never seen Dani like that.


    Dani was alwaysposed, with an air of indifference. She always wore a faint smile, tough on the outside but soft-hearted.


    She wasn’t supposed to look like that—broken and exposed.


    No wonder Cedric had snapped. After seeing her like that, they felt the same.


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    The car pulled up in front of the McCoy family’s estate.


    Niks didn’t wait. He threw open the door and ran inside.


    Damon followed, close behind.


    The house exploded into chaos. It was the loudest argument they’d ever lived through.


    Niks had wanted to keep his voice steady. He had nned to talk about what Dani had endured. He wanted his father to know the kind of person she truly was. He also needed to speak about how much pain the incident had caused her.


    But when he opened the door, the sound of music filled the living room. It was one of those slow, old ssics Hamilton always yed when he was in a good mood.


    Niks’ jaw tightened. He stepped further inside.


    Hamilton sat on the couch, one leg crossed, a wine ss in hand. He was smiling, rxed, humming to the tune as the rain tapped against the windows.


    He heard the door creak and turned his head toward them.


    From the way he looked, it was clear—he had no intention of letting anyone ruin his mood.


    “Back so soon? Did you catch the news? I wonder who managed to capture Dani’s broken state. Quite the talent, don’t you think? She had her eyes shut so tight. Brow all scrunched up. That image alone gives me a thrill just thinking about it. Alexander really outdid himself. I didn’t think Dani was that afraid of heights. Guess her mother’s death left a bigger mark than I thought.” Hamiltonughed recklessly, tilting his head back to drink the wine in his ss.


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