Chapter 2: The Ticket on the Counter
Sophie's voice was barely a whisper.
"Daddy…
Diana said if I told you anything, she'd send me away."
Richard couldn't breathe.
Diana.
His wife of three years.
The woman he had trusted completely while he built his empire from boardrooms across the country.
"She said I wasn't a real Sterling," Sophie continued.
"She said you'd choose her and the new baby.
And that I should eat what the dog eats because that's all I deserve."
Richard's hands were shaking.
He stood up slowly and looked around the kitchen.
The housekeeper was gone.
The nanny was gone.
Every staff member who should have been there — gone.
Then he noticed something on the counter.
A plane ticket.
One way.
A child's name printed at the top.
Sophie's name.
He picked it up.
His eyes moved to the date.
Tomorrow.
His throat tightened.
He turned back to Sophie, who was watching him with those huge gray eyes — terrified he wouldn't believe her.
"Daddy…
are you going to send me away?"
Before Richard could answer, he heard heels on the marble behind him.
"Richard." Diana's voice was calm.
Almost too calm.
"You're home early."
May you like
He turned around slowly, the ticket still in his hand.
Her eyes dropped to it — and for just one second, her expression cracked.
