Chapter 6 - The Choice Rachel Never Expected
Three weeks later, Adrian stood outside Sophie’s school holding a purple backpack.
Rachel stopped beside him.
“What are you doing?”
“Waiting.”
“For?”
“My daughter.”
Rachel looked at the backpack.
“Why do you have that?”
“She forgot it in my car.”
“You bought her a car?”
“No.”
Rachel stared.
Adrian corrected himself.
“I bought a safer vehicle for when she is with me.”
“Adrian.”
“It has airbags.”
“So does a Honda.”
He looked offended.
“I am not putting my daughter in a Honda.”
Rachel laughed.
Adrian looked at her.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You laughed.”
“No.”
“You did.”
Rachel shook her head.
The school doors opened.
Sophie ran outside.
“Dad!”
Adrian’s entire face changed.
He crouched.
Sophie jumped into his arms.
Rachel watched.
Three weeks.
That was all it had taken.
Adrian had attended a parent-teacher conference.
He had learned how to braid hair badly.
He had been banned from buying Sophie more stuffed animals after he filled half her bedroom.
And most importantly—
He had kept every promise.
No men outside the school.
No threats.
No attempts to control Rachel.
Adrian placed Sophie down.
“How was school?”
“Emma said her dad can beat you up.”
Adrian looked toward Rachel.
Rachel immediately said, “No.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
Sophie continued.
“I told her you probably wouldn’t fight him.”
Adrian nodded.
“Smart.”
“Because Mom says fighting is stupid.”
“Your mother says many things.”
Rachel gave him a look.
Sophie took Adrian’s hand.
“Can Dad eat dinner with us?”
Rachel hesitated.
Sophie noticed.
“Please?”
Adrian said, “If your mother says no, it’s no.”
That surprised Rachel.
She looked at him.
“Dinner is fine.”
Sophie cheered.
That evening, Adrian stood in Rachel’s tiny kitchen wearing an apron Sophie had given him.
It said WORLD’S BEST DAD.
Rachel leaned against the doorway.
“You realize you’ve known her less than a month.”
Adrian looked at the apron.
“She selected it.”
“Clearly unbiased.”
Adrian returned to stirring pasta.
Rachel walked closer.
“You’re terrible at this.”
“I’m improving.”
“The sauce is burning.”
Adrian immediately lowered the heat.
Rachel laughed again.
He looked at her.
“You do that more now.”
“What?”
“Laugh.”
Rachel became quiet.
Adrian lowered his voice.
“I missed that.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Rachel finally said, “I missed you too.”
Adrian stopped moving.
Rachel immediately continued.
“That doesn’t mean everything is fixed.”
“I know.”
“I still don’t trust your world.”
“I’m leaving most of it.”
She stared at him.
“What?”
“I’m selling the casinos.”
“You love those businesses.”
“No.”
“You built them.”
“That’s different.”
Rachel folded her arms.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want Sophie growing up thinking fear is power.”
Rachel said nothing.
Adrian continued.
“I’m keeping the legitimate companies. Hotels. Shipping. Construction.”
“And the rest?”
“Gone.”
Rachel stared.
“You’re serious.”
“Yes.”
“Because of Sophie?”
He looked at her.
“Because of both of you.”
The kitchen went silent.
Then Sophie yelled from the living room.
“Something smells burned!”
Rachel smiled.
Adrian closed his eyes.
May you like
“I heard that.”
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