“Apologize?” I whispered, disbelief choking me. “She almost strangled me to death.”
He shot me a look sharp enough to cut. “And yet she’s the reasonable one. Learn from her, Vivienne. Don’t make this worse than it already is.”
I turned to him, chest tight. “Dad, she—”
“Not another word,” he snapped. “You’re going to end this. No more police. No more drama.”
Seraphine, standing beside Adrian, sniffled delicately, a fake bandage wrapped around her wrist. Her eyes glistened with well-practiced tears.
“Vivienne,” she said weakly, “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I was just scared. I… I lost control.”
I clenched my fists, suppressing a scream.
My father’s gaze hardened. “Hear that? She’s apologizing. Now, you do the same.”
“I—”
“Now, Vivienne.”
Something inside me gave up. Tired. Exhausted. Sick of being cast as the villain in their story. I nodded slowly. “Fine. I’ll apologize.”
Adrian’s expression softened slightly, though his voice remained cold. “Good. You’ll apologize to her—and to Elias.”
“Elias?” My voice cracked.
“Yes,” he said. “You scared him. He saw you and Seraphine fighting. He won’t stop crying. He thinks you’re dangerous.”
My throat tightened. “Adrian, that’s not fair—”