Template placeholder with Chapter 28
Chapter 28:
Stillness swept through the living room. Relief flickered across Dayna’s and Janessa’s faces at Ricky’s words. Any lingering connection Amelia felt toward her father disappeared at that moment.
“You are always like this, taking her side over mine,” Amelia said, her voice stripped of emotion.
All her life, whenever trouble brewed between Dayna and her, Ricky’s support for Dayna never wavered—Dayna could do no wrong in his eyes. With that, Amelia gathered her things and went upstairs, her face expressionless.
A flicker of unease crossed Dayna’s features, but Janessa nudged her on. So she said, “Dad, I’m telling the truth. I can call Jaxton right now, if you’d like p>
“Shut up p>
Pain lanced through Ricky’s back, forcing him to swallow his frustration. Once he recovered slightly, his attention fixed on Dayna. “Are you ready to be honest now p>
Ricky’s voice was calm, but Dayna could feel the storm brewing beneath his composed demeanor. Meeting his cold gaze, she couldn’t help but shiver.
𝗣𝘰р𝗎𝗅а𝗿 𝘀𝗍o𝘳𝗂еs o𝗻
Before she could speak, Janessa tried to smooth things over. “Darling, this is all just p>
“I wasn’t talking to you.” Ricky’s interruption was colder than ice. “Let her answer for herself. Or are you about to tell me you’ve known about this all along p>
Ricky shook off Janessa’s hand, fixing a fierce gaze on her. He had chosen not to press the issue of the video in front of Amelia, unwilling to give her the satisfaction of witnessing his frustration. But he wasn’t easily fooled; a single glance at the video was enough for him to confirm what had really happened.
Janessa, cornered by Ricky’s questions, let her strength drain away and dropped to her knees. Dayna instinctively moved to help her up, but Janessa’s quick glance held her back. Kneeling there, Janessa caught a faint softening in Ricky’s hardened expression.
“The footage is real, but don’t blame Dayna. Jaxton’s the one who pursued her. Dayna has never been anything but innocent. She really had no choice…” Janessa immediately directed blame to Jaxton, casting Dayna as the victim.
Watching Ricky’s anger melt away, Janessa tested the waters with a suggestion. “Darling, you know Amelia’s loyalty to this family is questionable. Even if she marries Jaxton, there’s no guarantee she’ll support us. But Dayna is different; she would never betray you. Dayna and Amelia both bear the Flynn name, so why not let Dayna get married to Jaxton p>
“Don’t talk nonsense,” Ricky retorted, shutting her idea down at once. “Don’t let me hear you suggest such a thing again. The engagement between Amelia and Jaxton will not change p>
Those words crushed any hope Janessa had been harboring, leaving Dayna crestfallen as well. Emboldened by desperation, Dayna stepped forward, her voice trembling.
“Dad, Jaxton doesn’t even care for my sister. His heart belongs to me. Why can’t he end things with her and choose me instead? If I were the one engaged to Jaxton, I’d do everything to support our family p>
As she spoke, Dayna worried that Ricky might get angry. But seeing him remain silent and show no anger, she felt encouraged.
“Dad, don’t you love me the most? Support me on this, please p>
Ricky’s voice grew weary. “Dayna, things aren’t as simple as you want to believe. Even if I agreed to this, you’d have to convince Jaxton to leave your sister for you. And that’s probably not going to happen p>