Belle’s Pov

Not able to hold it in any longer, the tears spilled over my made up face. As I cried, I heard footsteps approaching, and I looked up to see my father standing in front of me. His face was filled with concern, but also with a frustration that he didn’t bother to hide.

“Belle,” he said softly, sitting down beside me. “I didn’t mean to bring up the past. I just wanted you to see and understand what’s at stake here. Everything the Scott family did for you—they did it because they wanted you to be their daughter-in-law. They didn’t have to, but they did it because they...