Her shameless defiance made me furious, yet it was almost laughable at the same time.

What burned me more was the way the bodyguards dropped their heads the moment she snapped at them. Clearly, they’d been bullied by this girl more than once.

I was about to explode when Adrian walked in. He sensed the tension instantly and barked, "Claire Ashford, why are you stooping to argue with a child? It’s not like this family is broke. So what if Serena buys a few outfits?"

The second he spoke, Serena lifted her chin smugly, her eyes glinting with open provocation.

Fine. No more pretending. She wanted to show her true colors? Then, let’s go all the way.

"I eat what my dad pays for, and I spend what my dad gives me. It has nothing to do with you! You take care of your daughter, and leave me the hell alone!" With that, she spun on her heel, ready to storm upstairs.

I lunged forward, grabbed her arm, and yanked her back a step.

"This house doesn’t answer to you. Pack your things and get out. Now."

Her face twisted with indignation, and she turned pleading eyes toward Adrian, desperate for him to back her up.

However, Adrian only waved her off. "Enough. Just get to school."

At that moment, Lila emerged, wheeling out her battered three-wheeled delivery scooter, dressed in her work uniform and ready to leave.

I caught her by the arm and stripped the uniform jacket from her shoulders. "Not today. You’re staying home. We’re settling this right here, right now."

"Mom, if I don’t go, they’ll fine me. These past few days will all be for nothing!" Lila’s voice was anxious, and her eyes were wide.

One of the bodyguards, named Samantha Hayes, who was quick and attentive, stepped forward, taking hold of the scooter and the delivery slip. "Miss, I’ll handle your route today. You should rest."

I turned to Emily, my assistant. "Bring in every guard from the company. Double the detail. Triple it."

Within the hour, the estate was swarming with security. Inside and out, bodyguards ringed the property so tightly that not even a fly could escape.

"Until I say otherwise, no one leaves this house."

I ordered Rachel Vaughn, the guard I trusted most, to pull up the surveillance feeds from inside the house.

Adrian’s face went pale. "Claire, you still don’t trust me? We agreed… No cameras in the house! You still went behind my back and installed them?"

I ignored him and told Emily to set up the massive screen in the courtyard.

"Don’t show it!" Serena shrieked, suddenly unhinged, lunging toward the screen to stop it.

My guards intercepted her immediately, holding her back.

Moments later, the footage flickered to life. The very first frame made my blood boil.

My hand flew before I even thought. I slapped Adrian hard across the face, the sound cracking through the courtyard like a whip.

"This is what you call being a father?"