Vale's POV
"Papa, please don't," I whispered as my father's finger tightened on the trigger.
But his eyes stayed empty and glowing. Vincent's dark magic controlled him completely.
"Shoot her," Vincent commanded with a twisted smile.
My father's hand started to shake. Deep inside those horrible glowing eyes, I saw a flicker of the man who used to read me bedtime stories.
"Fight it, Papa," I begged. "I know you're in there."
For one heartbeat, his finger stopped moving. His real voice broke through Vincent's control.
"Vale... run..."
Then Vincent's magic snapped back into place. My father's face went blank again, and the gun barrel swung back toward me.
That's when something amazing happened.
Instead of making a shield or running away, I did something that surprised everyone—including me. I opened my arms wide and smiled at my controlled father.
"I love you, Papa," I said clearly. "No matter what happens, I love you."
The gun fired.
