Vivian rushed in defensively. “You don’t understand how expensive life is. Mark had to maintain his professional image. If people thought he was struggling—”
“Struggling?” Grandpa roared. “You stole more than eight million dollars. Eight million!”
Mark finally exploded. “Fine! I took it! I deserved it! Claire would never understand what real success looks like—she’s always been—”
“Enough,” Grandpa said sharply, his voice suddenly terrifyingly calm. “You will pack your belongings today. Claire and the baby are leaving with me. And you—” he pointed at Mark—“will repay every dollar. My lawyers are already prepared.”
Vivian’s face drained of color. “Edward, please—”
“No,” he said flatly. “You nearly destroyed her life.”
Tears spilled down my cheeks—not from sadness alone, but from rage, betrayal, and an overwhelming sense of release. Mark looked at me now, panic replacing his earlier arrogance.
“Claire… please,” he whispered. “You wouldn’t take our daughter away from me, would you?”
The question stunned me. I hadn’t even allowed myself to think that far ahead.
But in that moment—holding my baby, surrounded by shattered trust—I knew my answer would reshape everything.
