Aria's POV
The words hit like a boulder hurled into a frozen lake.
Damian's fingers tightened around the edge of the table. His jaw locked, eyes lifting at last to meet his grandfather's—cold, silent, and no longer willing to take it without answer.
"Grandfather!" I gasped, moving on instinct to put myself between them. "Damian's still healing—please, don't—"
Elena and Grace both lunged forward, trying to hold Aldric back.
But he was beyond reason now. No amount of pleading would reach him.
Andrew, who had been silent until then, rose abruptly from his seat and caught his father's wrist mid-air before another blow—or another word—could fall. His voice was low, strained, and tightly controlled:
"Father. Enough. Please."
Damian lifted his head slowly, his eyes meeti
