Withdrawing Help

Ella's voice shook with anger, her frustration boiling over. "Don't you dare compare him to Robert! That greedy, spineless man isn't even worthy of a single strand of Eric's hair!"

Lucas laughed bitterly. "Ella, I'm talking about strength. If he can't even protect you, how is he any better than Robert? Both are powerless and self-centered."

"Robert chose to let Brianna run wild. He'd already given up on my mother! Don't you know that? My mother wasn't like Brianna with her sweet-talking ways. She was a gentle and reserved woman, but Robert's heart strayed when he met Brianna. No matter what you say, I won't divorce Eric. Besides… you have no right to tell me what to do!" Ella's voice grew sharper, her temper rising.

"How can you speak to your father like that?" Luke's voice cut in as he strode into the room. He had overheard the escalating argument and couldn't stay away.