At the mention of my parents, Patrick's composure cracked—just for a second, but I saw it.
He quickly suppressed the smirk tugging at his lips and lowered his voice. "They said they were going abroad to relax five years ago. Funny how they never came back."
"You think I haven't figured it out?"
I didn't understand what he meant. He continued, "I've known for a long time. They weren't on vacation—they were running."
"Think about it. Langford Holdings is massive. You really believe your father built that empire alone?" He scoffed. "Please. There had to be dirty money involved."
"The way I see it, spending the money he left you on Louise and her son is practically charity. I'm helping ease their guilty consciences."
It finally clicked.
This was why he dared treat me this way. He thought my parents had fled the country because they'd committed some crime.
What he didn't know was that my parents had spent the past five years building the company's overseas divisions.
Their foreign assets alone were now worth hundreds of millions.
And today was the day they were coming home.
I'd sent them my location before I even left the house. They'd be here any minute.
The thought steadied me. I took Denise's hand. "Sweetie, Mommy's taking you home. If Daddy wants to be someone else's father so badly, let him."
Denise couldn't process it. Until today, Patrick and Evelyn had showered her with affection at home.
Tears streamed down her face as she looked at Patrick, shaking her head stubbornly. "Daddy..."
The next second, Louise lunged at my daughter like a woman possessed, shoving her toward the street. "What are you, a beggar? Crying at someone else's door!"
Denise was small for her age. She went down hard, tumbling onto the road.
A car was coming.
I didn't think. I just moved, throwing myself toward her. "Denise!"
Seeing Denise nearly get hit, Patrick and Evelyn's faces went pale.
Patrick took a step forward—but Louise grabbed his arm. "Honey... my stomach hurts so much... I think the wound might have torn open..."
He stopped. His expression softened as he steadied her. "Don't worry. I'll take you to the hospital right now."
Denise and I lay crumpled on the asphalt, inches from the car's screeching tires. Patrick cradled Louise in his arms like she was made of glass.
I couldn't hold back anymore. "Patrick! You're going to regret this!"
He paused, then turned to look at me. "Louise can't handle pain, and you made her wound reopen. I haven't even settled that score with you yet."
"You'd better pray she's okay." His voice turned cold. "Otherwise, you and your daughter are going to kneel and apologize to her."
"You don't get to leave until she forgives you."
The words had barely left his mouth when the car door behind me swung open.
My father's voice thundered across the scene. "Kneel? The only one who should be kneeling is you."
