Broken Dreams Stories

Chapter 107

The room fell into a heavy silence as Evelyn’s words hung in the air between them. Eric stared at her, his expression hard to read somewhere between shock, hurt, and anger.

Claire looked between her husband and stepdaughter, her face pale, eyes wide with concern. “Eric now’s the time to listen. Evelyn is right. We owe her that much”

er shoulder, silently supporting her as she confronted her father.

Derek stood still beside Evelyn, his arm still gently resting on her

For a moment, no one spoke. The tension in the room was tangible. It was so thick that a knife could cut through it. Evelyn’s heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in short, sharp bursts as she waited for her father’s response

She had never spoken to him like that before, and part of her was terrified of what he might say or do. But another part of her felt a sense of liberation—a relief that she’d finally voiced her feelings after years of pent–up frustration

Eric finally took a deep breath, the sound harsh in the quiet room. His face had lost some of its earlier fury, replaced with something more complicated, almost unreadable. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again as if struggling to find the right words.

He loved his daughter, and he couldn’t help it that he felt disappointed by her choices so far. “Evelyn” he began, his voice low and strained as his

wal authoritative exterior crumbled.

“I feel sad. I feel your mother would be disappointed in nie and think I did a poor job raising you. I promised her I would

know about me to be disappointed! What do you think you know about my life to judge

Evelyn’s arm, her eyes filled with understanding and sadness. “Evie, we’ve all made mistakes,” she said softly. “Your father

didn’t mean to hurt me, Dad. But your expectations, your disappointment. it’s been suffocating All I ever wanted was to get married to Michael. You both knew how much I loved him. Do you think I would

didn’t expect you to leave, Evelyn. I tried to find you after I calmed down. I just.. I wanted the best for you, and maybe I was too harsh in trying to

shook her head slowly. “And you think I don’t want the best for myself? I need you to understand that and

flicked toward Derek, then back to Evelyn. “And he he’s part of that family?” There was a hint of disbelief in

he is.”

for her boyfriend?” Claire asked with a

to listen, we can all sit down and talk. I’ll explain everything to you, and we can start to figure this out together,

exchanged a glance with his wife. “Alright,” he agreed, his voice softer and more resigned. “Let’s talk,”

feeling a small sense of relief. The hardest part was over, and though there was still a long way to go,

and then back at her

“What happened! Why

Why are you with Michael’s cousin! When did you have Samantha? Why didn’t you

times in her head, but now, seated here, with her father looking at her with both hurt and confusion,