Chapter 43 "Sable, please- You have no right to speak for her! You have no right to change her space! "I was only trying to help. To make this house a home for all of us." 'This was already our home! My voice cracked on the words. 'It was perfect before you-* The front door opened with a heavy thud. Dad walked through the entrance, still wearing his Alpha formal jacket from pack business. His silver hair was slightly mussed from the wind. But when his gaze found me standing in the foyer, everything else fell away. For a moment, neither of us moved. "Sable." He took a step forward, arms lifting slightly like he wanted to embrace me. But then he noticed the tension crackling through the room. Victoria's tear-filled eyes. Dad's expression shifted from joy to concern to something harder. "What's going on here?" "Rodrigo, thank goodness you're home." Victoria's voice trembled. "I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding." Dad's gaze moved between us, taking in the obvious conflict. When he looked back at me, there was a new wariness in his amber eyes. "Sable, what did you say to Victoria?" The question hit like a slap. Not what happened?' or 'are you okay?' but an immediate assumption that I was the problem. "Hi Dad," I said with mock brightness. "Good to see you too. How have you been? Oh wait-you didn't ask me that, did you? You went straight to defending Victoria instead." Dad's brow furrowed, and he stepped forward with his arms outstretched, wanting to embrace me. I took a step back, Dad's arms froze mid-reach. He looked down at his outstretched hands, then slowly let them fall to his sides. I'm fine,' I said flatly. "No thanks to anyone in this house." 'Sable, you should have told us you were coming home today," he said. "We could have prepared properly." The olive branch was small, but it was there. For a moment, I almost wanted to take it. "I thought about surprising you,' I said with a razor-sharp smile. "But it looks like you've been quite busy replacing everything Mom left behind." "Sable Crawford! Where is your manner? Dad shouted. Victoria dabbed at her eyes with a tissue that seemed to appear from nowhere. I simply mentioned that we'd converted the space for Daisy. I thought… | hoped Sable would be happy that the room was being used for something positive." 1/3 Chapter 43 Dad's expression darkened. Sable, Victoria has done nothing but care for this family while you were gone. She doesn't deserve to be attacked the moment you walk through the door." Attacked. Like I was some feral animal lashing out without cause. "And your attitude hasn't improved at all, Dad continued, his tone growing colder. "Three years away, and you're still the same spoiled and stubborn child." Each word felt like a knife between my ribs. "Same as you. Three years and you still haven't divorced her?" Dad went silent, his face cycling through shock and anger. He turned away from me. "Rodrigo, please." Victoria placed a gentle hand on his arm. "She's just had a long journey. Perhaps we should all take some time to adjust." Playing peacemaker now. How fucking convenient. "You're right, as always." Dad's voice softened when he addressed Victoria. "Why don't you go upstairs while I talk to Sable?" "Of course." Victoria paused beside me as she moved. Her voice dropped to a whisper meant only for my ears. "I hope this little tantrum got whatever was bothering you out of your system." Then louder, for Dad's benefit: "Welcome home, dear." Dad moved to the living room, settling onto the leather sofa with a heavy sigh. "Daddy!" Daisy came running into the living room, her small arms outstretched. Dad's entire demeanor transformed the moment he saw her. His face softened, the harsh lines of anger melting away as he opened his arms. Daisy launched herself into his embrace, chattering excitedly. Dad listened with genuine interest, asking questions, stroking her hair with gentle fingers. This was how a father should look at his child-with pure, uncomplicated love. I watched, my chest tightening. Before Mom died, Dad used to look at me this way too. Then everything changed. I'm the outsider here. Dad glanced up and noticed me still standing, watching their reunion. He cleared his throat and straightened slightly. 'Mary, he called toward the kitchen. 'Please prepare dinner. Seafood pasta, lamb chops, and roasted vegetables." I was surprised. He remembered my favorite meal. 'I'm not hungry," I finally said. "I'm sure your family will enjoy it." The emphasis on your was deliberate. Dad's face hardened. 'Sable, you are part of this family. Whether you accept it or not." 'Right. One big happy family." I turned toward the stairs. "Well, enjoy your dinner together. I'm sure it'll be very cozy." "Where are you going?" 2/3 7:22 pm Chapter 43 To my room. If I still have one." I climbed the stairs without looking back. The second floor hallway stretched before me, exactly as I remembered. Same cream-colored walls. Same family photos lining the corridor. But when I passed Mom's study, I stopped dead. The door was covered in colorful stickers. Cartoon princesses and rainbow unicorns. A crayon drawing of a house taped at child height. Through the gap beneath the door, I could see bright primary-colored furniture where Mom's mahogany desk used to sit. They really did it. They erased her completely. My bedroom door stood open at the end of the hall. I walked toward it on unsteady legs. Mary appeared with my luggage, setting the bags just inside the doorway. I've been keeping your room exactly as you left it," she said softly. "Fresh sheets every week. Dusted every few days." I looked around the space. Soft yellow walls. Built-in bookshelves lined with medical textbooks. And a framed photo on my nightstand. Mom and me from my fourteenth birthday. Her arm around my shoulders, both of us laughing at something Dad had said behind the camera. She looked so alive in the picture. Mary squeezed my shoulder gently. "I'll let you rest. Dinner will be ready in an hour if you change your mind." The door closed behind her with a soft click. I sank onto the bed and picked up the photo, tracing Mom's face with my fingertip. "Mom, I'm home," I whispered to the empty room.