02
Ferris had always known Kayla wasn’t the type to go easy on anyone, but he never expected her to cut them off completely. “I’m your father! How can you treat me like this?” he said, his voice shaking.
Kayla crossed her arms, her gaze cold. “Oh, now you remember you’re my father? Where were you when Mom was sick? At some club, cozying up to your bitches. Don’t act like we didn’t know.”
Her words hit hard, her tone unrelenting. “What kind of father are you anyway? You bring your bastard into this house like it’s no big deal. Do you even realize what you did to Mom? She died because of you.”
The memory still felt like a knife in her chest, twisting every time she thought about it. She swallowed the lump in her throat and fixed her glare on them. “Get out. Both of you.”
For years, Kayla had endured their selfishness, but this was her line in the sand,
Stephanie froze, then took a shaky step back. “You can’t just kick us out!”
Before Kayla could fire back, her phone buzzed. It was her lawyer. “Ms. Sutton, we’ve reviewed the footage you sent, but it’s not enough to prove Stephanie framed you. We’ll need a witness”
Kayla’s jaw tightened as she answered. “Got it.” She hung up and turned back to the room.
Ferris, sensing a crack in her armor, tried a different approach. He pushed Stephanie aside and softened his tone. “Kayla, don’t do this. I’m still your father. We’ve been a family for years. Don’t let things end like this.”
Stephanie’s face twisted in disbelief. “Dad, are you seriously taking her side? She just called me a bastard!”
Kayla let out a dry laugh, her expression icy. “Am I wrong?
I
Stephanie took a step forward, ready to argue, but Ferris grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Enough! Can’t you see how much damage you’ve done? If it weren’t for Kayla, this family would’ve crumbled long ago!”
him
Kayla folded her arms, letting out a bitter laugh. It was laughable how Ferris only saw her value when it suited
Her mind drifted back to the worst year of her life–the year her mother died.
Instead of grieving with her, Ferris had waltzed in with a “daughter” she didn’t need a DNA test to know was illegitimate. It had been clear as day this wasn’t about family but a grab for what rightfully belonged to her and her
mother.
“Seven days,” Kayla said coldly, snapping back to the present. “You have seven days to pack your things and
leave.”
Stephanie’s jaw dropped. “Seven days? Are you serious? What’s that supposed to mean? You’re kicking us out?”
Kayla stepped closer, her height giving her an edge. “If you keep running your mouth, it won’t even be seven
days.”
Stephanie faltered, her spoiled confidence wavering.
She wasn’t the naive girl who had first come into their home five years ago, but even with her polished arrogance, she couldn’t deny the fear creeping in. She had grown too used to luxury–too used to a life that wasn’t hers to begin with.
Ferris, sensing the shift, quickly plastered on a smile. “Now, Kayla, let’s not be hasty. You’ll be here all alone. Wouldn’t it be better if I stayed? I could keep you company, take care of things and–well–be the father I should’ve
