Chapter 851

Cedric didn't give anyone a chance to explain or defend themselves.

He didn't need to.

He simply turned and made his way upstairs,his pace easy,like none of it had mattered.

Carol stood frozen at first.

When she snapped out of it, she gave a short nod. "I'm fine with how Cedric handled the matter."

Then she sent a message to the group chat. "You guys don't need to come here. Alexander is paralyzed now. Let Cedric take care of Hamilton."

Damon felt like the world had tipped off its axis. He couldn't find the words. Eventually,he turned to Carol and said, "But that's still our father."

Her expression didn't change. Gone was the usual calm."He's not Daniela's father. Anyone who dares to hurt her has to pay."

With that, she walked off and closed her door. Silence pressed down on the room like a heavy curtain.Not a sound. Not even a breath.

Damon and Nikolas stood there, looking pale and hollow.

Damon ran a hand through his hair and grabbed his coat off the couch. "What the hell just happened?Why did Dad have to mess with Daniela? Nikolas,come on. Let's go back. Dad needs to come and apologize."

Nikolas glanced upstairs. His voice was low. "You think he'll come? Even if he does, will they forgive him?"

The ride back was quiet. Neither of them spoke for a long time.

Their thoughts kept circling around the image of Daniela-blood pooling around her, her eyes red with vulnerability.

They had never seen Daniela like that.

Daniela was always composed, with an air of indifference. She always wore a faint smile, tough on the outside but soft-hearted.

She wasn't supposed to look like that-broken and exposed.

No wonder Cedric had snapped. After seeing her like that,they felt the same.

The car pulled up in front of the McCoy family's estate.

Nikolas didn't wait. He threw open the door and ran inside.

Damon followed, close behind.

The house exploded into chaos. It was the loudest argument they'd ever lived through.

Nikolas had wanted to keep his voice steady.

He had planned to talk about what Daniela had endured.

He wanted his father to know the kind of person she truly was.

He also needed to speak about how much pain the incident had caused her.

But when he opened the door, the sound of music filled the living room.

It was one of those slow, old classics Hamilton always played when he was in a good mood.

Nikolas' jaw tightened. He stepped further inside.

Hamilton sat on the couch, one leg crossed, a wine glass in hand. He was smiling, relaxed, humming to the tune as the rain tapped against the windows.

He heard the door creak and turned his head toward them.

From the way he looked, it was clear-he had no intention of letting anyone ruin his mood.

"Back so soon? Did you catch the news? I wonder who managed to capture Daniela's broken state. Quite the talent, don't you think? She had her eyes shut so tight.Brow all scrunched up. That image alone gives me a thrill just thinking about it. Alexander really outdid himself. I didn't think Daniela was that afraid of heights. Guess her mother's death left a bigger mark than I thought."

Hamilton laughed recklessly, tilting his head back to drink the wine in his glass. "It's absolutely thrilling!"

Then he looked at them both standing in the doorway "So? After they left, what happened? Did they lose it?Was she shaking like a leaf? Don't start with me. I've said it before-it never ends well. Women should stick to family. That's their place. Not running around,pretending they belong in the world outside."

Damon couldn't take it anymore. Rage shot through him. "Do you seriously feel nothing? No guilt at all?"