Phoebe's POV
As the call ended, Sergio's last glimmer of hope shattered. The way he looked at me was a twisted blend of complexity and venom, completely stripped of any fatherly pretense. "Phoebe, you're still part of the Hale family," he snarled through gritted teeth.
I had no doubt that if Sergio could overpower me, he'd beat me to a pulp.
"Oh, you think I want to be part of the Hale family?" I shrugged with complete indifference. "If I wanted, I could change my last name to Lorenzo anytime. Phoebe Lorenzo sounds way better than Phoebe Hale."
The surname "Lorenzo" was what haunted Sergio with shame.
No matter how successful he became, it remained a humiliation he could never escape.
It was also his greatest weakness, the one thing others could weaponize against him.
