Chapter 4 - Echoes of the Past
The divorce proceedings were finalized with brutal efficiency. Vanessa, stripped of her access to Richard’s fortune and the protection of the Sterling name, began to unravel.
She attempted to contact Richard through aggressive emails and late-night calls. He redirected them all to his legal team, who filed a swift, permanent restraining order.
One afternoon, a letter arrived. It was handwritten, smelling of Vanessa’s signature perfume—a scent that made Richard’s stomach churn.
You think you’ve won, but you’re just raising a broken girl. She’ll never be normal.
Richard burned the letter in the kitchen sink. He wouldn't let those words exist in their house.
Later that evening, he found Sophie standing in the hallway, staring at the empty spot where he had tossed the letter.
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"She’s gone, Sophie. She can't reach us anymore."
Sophie didn't speak, but she took his hand. Her grip was tight, desperate. She was learning that he was a wall she could lean against.
