Chapter 1 - The Father Who Chose His Mistress
Sophie was already crying on the living-room floor when Claire opened the front door.
The eight-year-old still wore her school uniform. A torn silver dress lay across her knees.
Vanessa stood over her.
“MY TEN-THOUSAND-DOLLAR DRESS, YOU BRAT!”
She snatched the dress from Sophie’s hands, threw it back into the little girl’s lap, then planted herself in front of Sophie so she couldn’t stand.
Derek remained on the sofa.
Claire waited for her husband to defend his daughter.
Instead, Derek looked at Sophie with open contempt.
“USELESS FOR ANYTHING EXCEPT DESTROYING THINGS.”
Sophie’s face changed.
The tears remained, but something worse entered her expression.
Disbelief.
Her own father had chosen Vanessa.
Claire dropped her handbag.
She crossed the room before either adult could react and drove one hard side kick into Vanessa’s upper body.
Vanessa crashed backward onto the padded sofa.
Claire immediately pulled Sophie behind her.
“Two pieces of trash intimidating an eight-year-old child over your cheap affair.”
Derek moved beside Vanessa.
Not Sophie.
Vanessa.
He placed himself between his mistress and Claire as though Vanessa were the person who needed protection.
Vanessa pushed herself upright, sneering.
Claire’s anger suddenly disappeared.
She became completely calm.
She reached into Sophie’s school bag and raised the small phone Sophie used to call home after classes.
“Keep defending her, Derek. YOUR COMPANY WILL GO BANKRUPT TONIGHT, JUST YOU WAIT.”
Derek froze.
Vanessa’s smirk vanished.
They looked at each other.
Not confused.
Terrified.
Sophie gripped the back of Claire’s coat.
Claire noticed the look passing between them.
May you like
And immediately understood one thing.
Whatever Sophie had accidentally captured on that phone mattered far more than Vanessa’s ruined dress.
