Chapter 11:Paternal Confrontation

(Scarlett's POV) The knock at my door came just after midnight. I knew who it was before I even reached for the handle—Marcus Winters' distinct Alpha scent permeated the air outside my apartment, strong and imposing, just like the man himself. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the confrontation to come. Cora stirred within me, alert and ready. When I opened the door, Marcus stood there in all his Alpha glory, his towering figure silhouetted against the moonlit night. His broad shoulders filled the doorframe, and his steely gray eyes—so unlike my emerald ones—assessed me with that calculating look I knew all too well. "Scarlett," he said, no warmth in his tone despite the attempt. I noted with some satisfaction that he didn't mention my earlier blocking of his mind link. Perhaps he realized how futile that approach had been. "Marcus," I replied coolly, deliberately using his name rather than calling him father. I stepped aside, my movements cold and deliberate, allowing h