The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

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.

He paused, running a hand over his face in frustration. "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 take care of you and make

that? What do you know about me to be disappointed! What do you think you know about my

slumping slightly as the adrenaline drained from her body. "I know you 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

up at her, his expression pained. "I 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 ensure that." Evelyn shook her head slowly. "And you think I don't want the best for myself? I need you to understand that and respect my decisions. I'm not a child

of that family?" There was a hint of disbelief in his tone as if he still couldn't fully grasp the situation.

that you have a child for her boyfriend?" Claire asked with a concerned frown, worried that Derek

willing to listen, we can all sit down and talk. I'll explain everything to you, and

wife. "Alright," he agreed,

a small sense of relief. The hardest part was over, and

gave her a reassuring nod, and then back at her father as she sat down, and

with Michael's cousin! When did you have Samantha? Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you come back home all

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

scared, Dad," she finally managed, her voice trembling. "I was scared of how you'd react. I know you do not approve of having kids outside wedlock, and I didn't want to disappoint you