The room fell silent as Evelyn's words hung in the air. Eric stared at her, his expression unreadable—a mixture of shock, hurt, and anger. Claire looked between her husband and stepdaughter, her face pale, her eyes wide with concern. "Eric, now's the time to listen," she said. "Evelyn is right. We owe her that much." Derek stood beside Evelyn, his arm gently resting on her shoulder, silently supporting her.

For a moment, no one spoke. The tension was palpable; thick enough to cut with a knife. Evelyn's heart pounded, her breath coming in short, sharp bursts as she waited for her father's response. She had never spoken to him like this before, and she was terrified of his reaction. Yet, she also felt a sense of liberation, relieved to finally voice years of pent-up frustration.

Eric finally took a deep breath, the sound harsh in the quiet room. His anger had subsided, replaced by something more complex and unreadable. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, struggling to find the words. He loved his daughter, but he was undeniably disappointed by her choices. "Evelyn," he began, his voice low and strained, his authoritative exterior crumbling. "I never intended to hurt you. I just" He paused, running a hand over his face. "I feel sad. I feel your mother would be disappointed in me, and think I did a poor job raising you. I promised her I would take care of you, and give you the best, and seeing you live like this it feels like I've failed you."

"How can you say that?" Evelyn retorted, annoyed. "What do you know about my life to judge me?"

Claire gently placed her hand on Evelyn's arm. "Evie," she said softly, her eyes filled with understanding and sadness. "We've all made mistakes. Your father wants to listen, so please calm down."

Evelyn's anger ebbed, replaced by sadness and fatigue. She took a deep breath, her shoulders slumping. "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 marry Michael. You both knew how much I loved him. Do you think I would call off the wedding without a good reason? I expected your understanding, Dad. I was in pain! I didn't expect you to throw me out over a canceled wedding."

Eric looked up, 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."

Evelyn shook her head. "And you think I don't want the best for myself? I need you to understand and respect my decisions. I'm not a child anymore. I have my own life, my own child, my own family."

Eric's eyes flicked toward Derek, then back to Evelyn. "And he he's part of that family?" His tone held disbelief.

"Yes, he is," Evelyn said firmly.

Claire frowned, concerned. "He is Sandra's boyfriend, Evelyn. Are you aware of that? Does Sandra know you have a child with her boyfriend?"

"If you're willing to listen," Evelyn said, gesturing toward the couch, "we can all sit down and talk. I'll explain everything."

Eric hesitated, then nodded, exchanging a glance with Claire. "Alright," he agreed, his voice softer. "Let's talk." They sat down.

Evelyn smiled, relieved. The hardest part was over. She glanced at Derek, who nodded reassuringly, then back at her father.

"What happened? Why did you call off the wedding? Why are you with Michael's cousin? When did you have Samantha? Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you come home?" Eric's questions tumbled out.

Evelyn's throat tightened, her heart pounding. She had rehearsed this countless times, but now, all her practiced words vanished. "I I was scared, Dad," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Scared of your reaction. I know you disapprove of children outside of wedlock, and I didn't want to disappoint you more. I wasn't sure if you'd welcome us."

"You weren't sure if I'd welcome you?" Eric echoed, incredulous. "Evelyn, you're my daughter. I raised you to be strong, to face life's challenges, not hide them from me."

Claire placed her hand on Eric's arm. "Eric, let her explain. This isn't easy for her."

Evelyn swallowed. "Before I say anything, I know this will be a shock. I understand if you don't believe me, but please give me the benefit of the doubt." Her parents nodded. Evelyn took a deep breath. "I called off the wedding because I saw Michael and Sandra in bed together the day before the wedding."