“You are completely finished, Rosamund,” Sabina declared triumphantly. “You will not just be fired today; I will personally ensure your name is blacklisted across every domestic agency in the entire country so you can never work again.”
Lorelai was holding Gemma tightly, both girls sobbing quietly behind Rosamund’s back.
Rosamund stood her ground firmly, offering the frightened children a small, reassuring smile over her shoulder.
“Everything is going to be alright, my sweet girls. Do not be afraid, I am right here with you.”
“They should be terrified!” Sabina barked loudly. “They need to learn who is going to be ruling this household from now on. Your father does not have time for you, and he certainly does not care about a pair of ungrateful little—”
“Finish that exact sentence,” a deep, booming voice echoed through the high-ceilinged archway of the room.
The living room froze instantly.
Sabina’s smartphone nearly slipped out of her fingers as she spun around, the color draining completely from her face.
Walking slowly out of the hallway shadows was Chadworth Prescott.
He had removed his formal blazer, rolling the sleeves of his white dress shirt up to his forearms.
His expression was completely blank, but his dark eyes burned with a terrifying combination of anger, heart-wrenching grief, and absolute clarity.
“Chadworth?” Sabina stammered out, her voice instantly dropping into the soft, sweet tone she always used to manipulate him. “What are you doing here? Your flight… you were supposed to be halfway to Canada by now…”
Chadworth did not offer her a single word in response.
He did not even look at her as he walked directly past her, treating her presence as if she were made of empty air.
He walked straight toward Rosamund and his two small daughters, dropping down onto both knees directly on the hardwood floor.
The powerful billionaire knelt humbly before his trembling children, holding his hands out with his palms facing upward so he would not startle them.
“Lorelai… Gemma…” he said, his voice cracking slightly under the weight of his emotions. “I am so deeply sorry. God, I am so sorry for everything.”
Lorelai looked at him with wide, confused eyes, flinching slightly before taking a hesitant step forward.
“Daddy? Are you… are you mad at us?”
“Mad at you?” Chadworth felt tears burning behind his eyes, but he forced himself to stay strong for them. “Why on earth would I ever be mad at my precious girls?”
