“I’m taking her to the hospital, because she’s hurt,” he retorted, his voice cold as ice.

Carolina dropped the grocery bag onto the foyer table with a sharp bang, not caring that the contents spilled everywhere.

“Don’t you dare start with your usual dramatic exaggerations,” she snapped, rolling her eyes. “The girl tripped over her own two feet yesterday, and I already put some cream on it, so there’s no reason for this scene.”

Sawyer stared at her, his jaw locked tight enough to ache. “Gracie told me exactly what happened, Carolina.”

Carolina’s face hardened, shifting from irritation to a dangerous, defensive glare.

“Of course she told you,” she hissed, sneering at the child in his arms. “Every single time you finally decide to grace this house with your presence, she starts playing the victim just so you’ll spoil her and ignore your actual responsibilities.”