raised one hand.
I no longer needed anyone standing between us.
Derek lowered his voice.
“Vanessa lied to me.”
“That changes nothing.”
“How can you say that?”
“Because she didn’t force you to believe her.”
His jaw tightened.
“She manipulated me.”
“And Sophie begged you to listen.”
He looked toward the staircase.
“She’s my daughter too.”
“Then you should have acted like her father.”
The room fell quiet again.
Daniel opened his folder.
He removed the divorce petition and placed it on the table.
Derek stared at it.
“You’re really
