Refuse, enraging Serrano

Isabella did not move, her mind reeling. Serrano's words echoed in her ears, his threats lingering in the air.

She knew that if she refused, he would not hesitate to seize power. His dedication to her father's legacy was too great, and he would not allow even his daughter to stand in the way.

And yet, she could not submit. She could not give him what he wanted. To do so would mean admitting defeat, conceding to his authority, and she was not ready to give up.

"No."

She did not recognize her own voice. It was barely a whisper, but it was filled with a conviction she did not know she possessed.

"What did you say?" Serrano's eyes narrowed, his tone dangerous.

"I said no. I will not give in. I will not bend. You are not the only one to uphold my father's legacy, General."

Isabella's voice grew louder, her determination rising with every word.

"You speak of sacrifice, yet you would betray my father's legacy. You speak of love, yet you would use his **** as an excuse to take power. You speak of loyalty, yet you would turn the very men who fight for this country against me, his heir. You would not just break my father's trust—you would use his **** as justification!"

Isabella's words pierced the air, cutting through the tension. Serrano stood up, his eyes flashing with anger.

"Do not lecture me, girl! You are a child. A spoiled, pampered child. You have no idea what it takes to run this country. You have no idea the sacrifices your father made, the pain and suffering he endured. The blood and the dirt and the screaming."

Serrano's voice cracked, and he closed his eyes, as if reliving a painful memory.

"You can't even comprehend the hell he walked through. The things he had to do, the decisions he had to make. Legacy." He spat. "You are not him. You will never be him. You are weak, Isabella. A pathetic, worthless, useless little girl."

His words struck her like a slap in the face, and her anger flared. She clenched her fists, her fingernails digging into her palms. She rushed at him, swinging clumsily.