Sawyer didn’t flinch. He only gripped his daughter tighter. “Do not ever speak about my daughter like that again,” he said, his voice dropping to a low, warning growl.

Carolina let out a sharp, hollow laugh that sounded almost unhinged. “Oh, your daughter now, is she?” she spat. “Funny how you suddenly turn into the perfect father, even though you leave me here to handle every single problem for weeks at a time while you play business mogul—only to come home and judge me for a simple childhood accident.”

“A simple accident isn’t something you try to hide from the rest of the world,” Sawyer fired back.

“You are not taking her out of this house just to make me look like a criminal in front of the neighbors,” she threatened, stepping between them and the front door.

Sawyer didn’t bother arguing. He simply reached into his pocket and produced his car keys with a steady hand. “Move out of my way, Carolina.”

“If you walk out that door with her, Sawyer, don’t even think about coming back to this home,” she warned, her eyes flashing with malice.