Chapter 12 - The Broken Prodigal’s Return
The heavy glass doors of the Bennett Tower lobby swung open,
and a figure stepped into the marble foyer.
It was Daniel.
He looked unrecognizable compared to the polished,
arrogant executive I had once married.
His hands were calloused,
his expensive coat replaced by a cheap navy jacket,
and his posture slumped under the weight of exhaustion.
He had taken the train from Indiana to attend the mandatory pre-trial deposition for Marcus Croft.
As I walked toward the private executive elevator,
our eyes met across the crowded lobby.
He froze,
holding a battered leather folder against his chest.
"Emily,"
he called out,
his voice scratchy and trembling.
I stopped,
allowing him to approach,
though my expression remained cool and distant.
"Hello,
Daniel,"
I said softly.
He stared at my sharp designer suit,
my flawless makeup,
and the quiet authority I exuded.
"You look... incredible,"
he whispered,
a bittersweet smile touching his lips.
"The warehouse job is hard,"
he added,
looking down at his worn boots.
"I wake up at four every morning,"
"I haul heavy crates,"
"and my back aches every single night."
"It gives you perspective,"
I remarked,
feeling neither joy nor sadness for his predicament.
"It does,"
he admitted,
tears brimming in his eyes.
"I was a foolish,
ungrateful monster to you,
Emily."
"I lost the best thing that ever happened to me because of my own pathetic ego."
"I didn't come here to talk about our past,"
I interrupted gently.
"I came to protect this company."
Daniel wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve and stepped closer.
"That’s why I came early,"
he whispered,
glancing nervously around the lobby.
"Marcus tried to contact me from prison last night through a third party."
My eyes narrowed.
"What did he say?"
"He said Julian Cross is going to offer Father a buyout today,"
Daniel revealed,
his breath ragged.
"And if Father refuses,"
"Julian is going to leak fabricated documents claiming you were complicit in Vanessa’s fraud."
My hands clenched into tight fists at my sides,
the fire of anger igniting in my core.
"They think they can intimidate me?"
I asked,
May you like
a dark smile spreading across my lips.
"They don't know who they're dealing with."
