CHAPTER 3 — HER LAST CHANCE
The next morning...
Emily returned to the mansion with tears in her eyes.
She begged the guards to let her inside.
"I just want to apologize."
Michael allowed her five minutes.
Nothing more.
Emily entered carrying a teddy bear.
"I'm sorry, Sophie."
"I wasn't myself."
The little girl hid behind her father.
She didn't move.
She didn't speak.
Michael watched silently.
Then Sophie whispered something that broke everyone's heart.
"When Daddy was gone..."
"...you said nobody would believe me."
Emily froze.
Michael stared at her.
"You threatened an eight-year-old?"
Emily burst into tears.
"I was angry!"
"I didn't mean it!"
Before Michael could respond...
The housekeeper stepped forward.
"I have something you should see."
She handed him a small notebook.
It belonged to Sophie.
Every page contained childish drawings.
Most showed a little girl crying alone.
Some showed Emily yelling.
One picture showed Sophie sitting at a table with an empty plate.
Beneath it, written in shaky handwriting, were five heartbreaking words.
"Maybe Daddy forgot about me."
Michael couldn't hold back his tears.
He hugged Sophie tightly.
"I will never leave you again."
That afternoon...
Emily was served with divorce papers.
The court also granted Michael temporary sole custody.
As she left the mansion...
May you like
She realized she hadn't lost a wealthy husband.
She had lost every chance to ever be part of Sophie's life again.
