"Sophie! Stay with me! Do you hear me?" Henry was yelling, his voice tight with panic. He even pinched my cheeks, trying to keep me conscious. I could hear people gasping, someone shouting to call an ambulance. My head was spinning, and everything was kind of a blur. But I still caught a glimpse of his eyes—dark, anxious, and all over the place. His face was tense, lips pressed into a thin line, that usual intimidating aura clinging to him. “Mr. Carter, I get that no parent wants to see their kids fight like this. But don’t go around deciding who’s wrong just because of your own feelings. Sophie’s part of our family now. I’ll take full responsibility. You don’t need to worry. Just take care of your own daughter and wife.” Pain slammed into me like a truck. My whole body gave

