She leaned in, voice low, wicked—“You must come live with ME. Leave your father. Permanently.”
Silence.
A cold, suffocating silence.
Emma’s hand tightened around Clara’s.
I felt my world tilt.
Lauren crossed her arms triumphantly. “I can give you what he never could. Connections, wealth, a REAL home. He held you back. I’ll take you forward.”
Clara’s voice trembled. “But… Dad taught us everything.”
Lauren laughed. “Exactly my point.”
Emma was the first to stand.
