The line went silent for a few seconds, filled only with the faint crackle of static. Then Hugo's voice erupted again, louder and sharper, boiling with disbelief.
"What did you just say? Come again!"
Anna inhaled deeply, her pulse pounding so hard it echoed in her ears. But this time, she didn't falter. She refused to. Her voice, though calm, carried a quiet steel.
"I said—what if I say no, Dad?" she repeated, each word deliberate and unshakable.
For years, she had been the meek one, the obedient daughter who bowed her head, swallowed her words, and molded herself to fit the image they demanded. But not anymore. Not after everything she had endured.
If he had finally discovered her secret, the one dream that gave her life meaning then so be it. She would face it head-on.
"Anna, do you even realize what you're saying?" Hugo's tone rose, the controlled edge of his voice barely hiding his fury. "How can you disobey your father like this?"
