My Husband's Father Wants Me

Chapter 14

My father yanked Sophia behind his back, raising his hand once more, his palm quivering with unrestrained rage. "You insolent brat! What kind of barbaric attitude is that?!"

I stood my ground and met his murderous gaze head-on, letting a cold, bitter smile curve my lips. I tilted my face slightly, offering him my already stinging, bruised cheek.

"Go ahead," I whispered, my voice dripping with pure hatred. "Hit me again. But the second you do, you can kiss any chance of working with the Sterling Group goodbye forever."

"You...!" He faltered mid-swing, his hand trembling in the air. His eyes flared with venom, but he froze, catching the dark, unyielding conviction in my stare.

He swallowed hard, lowering his arm just an inch. "If I hadn't stepped in when the hospital called and saved that w***e of a mother of yours, do you think she'd even be breathing right now?!"

"How much?" I scoffed, taking a step closer to him. "Name the exact figure so I can reimburse you, Mr. Morgan."

My father's face flushed a deep, ugly crimson, his finger thrusting into the air between us. "You...! What the hell did you just call me?!"

"Bella, sweetie, that treatment cost a full $100,000," Sophia interjected, her voice dripping with fake concern. "Do you honestly expect us to believe you have that kind of money? Didn't you call your father yesterday, sobbing on the phone and begging him for a loan?"

"So you remember," I sneered, turning my glare onto her. "And you thought swooping in to settle the bill and slapping me around in an empty ward would make you two look like heroes?"

"I regret not letting you and your mother rot and die back then!" my father spat, his voice raspy with malice. "You're a jinx! It would have saved me the humiliation of watching you turn into such a despicable, scheming creature!"

A dull, agonizing ache bloomed inside my chest. Hearing my own father openly admit that he wished my mother and I were dead hit me like a physical blow.

I had known for years that he held no love for us in his heart, but hearing the raw truth spoken aloud cut straight through my soul.

I had foolishly believed that after years of his cold indifference, his words couldn't hurt me anymore.

The bitter truth was... it still hurt terribly.

"Despicable?" I let out a harsh, lifeless laugh. "Are you describing yourself, Mr. Morgan? Do you really think you can parade your mistress in front of me and act superior over a sum of money you'll get back in five minutes? And whose fault is it that my mother is reduced to this state in the first place?!"

I stepped right into his space, my voice rising with every word. "If you hadn't betrayed Mom, stolen her life's work, and climbed into her daughter's nanny's bed, would my vibrant, brilliant mother be lying in a ward today?! You stripped her of her company and fabricated lies about her infidelity to cover your own filth! Tell me, who is the despicable one here?!"

"You... you ungrateful little monster!" My father's bloodshot eyes bulged as his hand shook violently in the air.

He looked ready to tear me apart. Without warning, his arm whipped back, coming at me with full, terrifying force—this time intended to break me.

Suddenly, the heavy door swung open, and a deep, authoritative male voice cut sharply through the tension.

"Mrs. Sterling. Forgive my intrusion."

A tall, broad-shouldered man clad entirely in black tactical wear stepped into the ward. His presence was imposing, his icy posture commanding immediate attention.

"Mr. Damian Sterling is on the line," the man continued smoothly, holding up a sleek black phone. "He requests an urgent word with you."

My father's hand froze inches from my face, dropping limply to his side. He recoiled slightly, eyeing the muscular stranger with intense caution and fear.

I stared at the man in confusion, searching my memory. I had never seen him among the Sterling family's public security detail before.

Recovering my composure, I straightened my posture and stepped past my father. "Follow me outside, please."

I led the man out into the corridor, my heart hammering like a trapped bird inside my ribs.

‘Why would Damian be calling me right now? What was so urgent that he sent a guard instead of calling my personal phone?’

Once we were a safe distance down the hallway, I turned to him. "Where is the line? Hand me the phone."

The imposing guard suddenly looked deeply uncomfortable. He lowered his hand, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck as a sheepish expression crossed his face.

"Um... about that, ma'am," he stammered, his voice dropping an octave. "I made that up. I was standing outside, heard the commotion, and decided to intervene before he laid a hand on you."

I blinked, staring at the towering brute who was currently fidgeting like a scolded teenager.

A breathless, startled laugh burst from my lips.

‘Oh gods... did Damian actually send a shadow guard to follow me?’

I quickly suppressed my smile, pulling my features into a sharp, stern glare. "Are you spying on me?"

"W-what?"

"Did Damian order you to tail me?" I pressed, feigning anger.

"I... well..." The guard stammered, completely thrown off balance by my shift in tone. "Please, ma'am, don't mention this to the boss! He explicitly ordered me to remain discreet. He'll have my head if he finds out you spotted me."

"Fine," I said, nodding slowly. “I'll make a deal with you.”

He looked at me in relief. "A deal?"

"Yes," I replied. "I won't tell him you broke your cover... on one condition. You don't repeat a single word of what you heard inside that room to him, either."

As much as I loathed my father's actions, I had no desire to air my family's toxic, humiliating dirty laundry in front of Damian Sterling.

The guard looked torn. "What? But... reporting back is my job, ma'am."

"What's your name?" I asked smoothly.

"Jacob. But everyone calls me Jake."

"Listen to me, Jake," I said, lowering my voice. "You can report that you followed me safely to the hospital. You can tell him you saw me. But leave out everything my father said. Do we have a deal, or should I call Damian right now and tell him his shadow guard exposed himself in broad daylight?"

Jake winced, raising his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright! Rest assured, Mrs. Sterling. That part stays between us."

"Good," I said softly.

I turned back toward the reception desk to find out my mom's new room assignment but stopped dead in my tracks.

A nurse was wheeling a transport chair down the hall toward us.

Sitting in the chair was a frail, pale woman wrapped in a white hospital gown.

"Mom!"

All the tension drained from my body as I sprinted toward her. My mother looked up, offering me a weak, gentle smile as I knelt beside her chair, taking her cold hands in mine.

"I'm here, Mom. You're safe," I whispered, tears pricking my eyes.

I accompanied the nurse as we guided the wheelchair down the hall and into her designated recovery ward. But the moment the door swung open, my blood ran cold.

My father and Sophia were still standing inside, calmly waiting.

The moment my mother's eyes landed on them, her weak body stiffened violently. Her breathing hitched, turning into ragged, painful gasps as panic flooded her pale face.

"I don't want to see them!" my mother cried out, her hands shaking hysterically as she clutched my hand. "Bella! Get them away from me! Get them out!"

She was having an episode again!

"Get the f**k out!" I snarled, rounding on the shameless pair. "Now!"

My father didn't budge an inch. Instead, he folded his arms across his chest, a cruel, calculating smirk settling on his face.

"Why should we leave?" he sneered. "Didn't you just promise to reimburse me, Arabella? You have two choices: transfer the $100,000 back to my account this instant, or guarantee me a signed partnership contract with the Sterling Group within seventy-two hours. Choose one."