Eric's POV:
My father’s coldness was chilling, and it wasn’t lost on me how he’d treated Cheryl in the past. A knot of worry twisted in my stomach as I wondered how this would play out. I slipped silently to Cheryl’s side, standing close to her.
I wouldn’t let anyone lay a finger on her.
Cheryl was clearly frightened. Her knuckles whitened as she gripped her handbag, but she stood tall, locking eyes with my father defiantly, as if daring him to break her. Her resolve was palpable, even if her body trembled slightly. Her voice was steady as she said, “No.”
The banquet hall exploded into a frenzy of whispers. Zoe’s face twisted, her teeth clenched, and her eyes smoldered with resentment.
But Cheryl didn’t back down. She took a deep breath, lifted her chin, and began to speak—her voice c
