Her face was twisted with something ugly—something raw and vicious.
On the floor in front of her—
was his daughter.
Emma.
Curled into herself. Trembling. Covering her head with her tiny hands.
“Please… stop…” she whispered through sobs. “Please, Mommy… no more…”
Something inside Daniel shattered.
He had seen ugly things in his life.
Deals gone wrong. Betrayal. Violence.
But nothing—
nothing compared to hearing his child beg like that.
“What… are you doing?”
His voice came out low.
Cold.
Dangerous.
Lauren turned instantly.
And just like that—
she changed.
Her face softened. Her voice turned sweet.
“Daniel! Thank God you’re home. She’s been impossible today. Look at the mess she made—”
But he wasn’t listening.
He was looking at Emma.
At the bruises forming on her wrists.
At the fear in her eyes.
At the way she avoided his gaze—
like she was afraid of him too.
That wasn’t new.
That wasn’t one bad day.
That was something else.
Something worse.
“Daddy…”
Her voice was barely there.
Daniel dropped to his knees.
“I’m here, sweetheart… I’ve got you…”
Emma threw herself into his arms like she was holding onto life itself.
“I’m sorry, Daddy… I tried to be good… I promise…”
His chest tightened.
Sorry?