Chapter 231

Dalton Vasquez's hands were shaking as he clenched them tightly, his head bowed low and his voice heavy with bitterness. "Even if you're gonna fire me, I've still gotta say it. Mr. Simpson… you've lost yourself. Everything you've been doing lately— it's not about making up for what happened to Madeleine anymore. This… this thing you call love, it's become an obsession." Alex's chest heaved, rage brewing as he grabbed Dalton by the collar, raising a fist in fury. But the punch never landed. Rationality won out over anger. Slowly letting go of Dalton, Alex took a step back. He had to admit it—he'd been desperate to break Madeleine's will, to make her yield. Whether it was six years ago or now, it hadn't changed. "You're right…" Alex said quietly, voice deep and resigned. "Claiming to be Chris's father— that was my first mistake." He sat heavily on the couch, his face dark with emotion. "Madeleine can't even look at me because, in her eyes, I'm the one who… who hurt her that night six yea