CHAPTER 3: THE WOMAN SOPHIE NEVER TRUSTED
Vanessa walked into the breakfast room the next morning wearing a perfect smile.
"Good morning, darling."
Daniel didn't smile back.
He placed the dismissal papers on the table.
Vanessa froze.
For just a second.
Then recovered.
"What's this?"
"You tell me."
The smile disappeared.
Daniel watched carefully.
"Why did you fire Anna?"
Vanessa sighed dramatically.
"Daniel, she's just a maid."
Wrong answer.
Daniel felt anger rising.
"Try again."
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"She's making Sophie dependent."
"She's helping Sophie."
"No."
Vanessa's voice hardened.
"She's replacing you."
The room went silent.
Daniel stared at her.
Then suddenly understood.
This had never been about Sophie.
It was jealousy.
Pure jealousy.
Vanessa couldn't stand seeing Sophie love someone else.
Especially someone who wasn't rich.
Someone who wasn't important.
At that moment, Sophie entered the room.
Holding Anna's hand.
Vanessa immediately forced a smile.
"Good morning, sweetheart."
Sophie moved behind Anna.
The little girl actually looked scared.
Daniel noticed.
Everything suddenly became clear.
"How long?" he asked.
Vanessa frowned.
"What?"
"How long has Sophie been afraid of you?"
Vanessa's face changed.
And that was all Daniel needed.
The engagement ring came off his finger.
Vanessa stared.
"Daniel..."
"We're done."
The words landed like a bomb.
"You can't be serious."
"I've never been more serious."
Vanessa stood.
Furious.
Humiliated.
"You'll regret this."
Then she stormed out.
Slamming the door behind her.
The mansion became silent.
Sophie looked at her father.
"Is Anna leaving?"
Daniel looked at his daughter.
Then at Anna.
For the first time in years, he realized how much he had missed.
How absent he had been.
How lonely his daughter had become.
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And he knew exactly what he had to do.
END OF CHAPTER 3
TO BE CONTINUED...
