Chapter 17
He walked over slowly, stopping a respectful ten feet away to ensure Clara and Lily felt completely safe and in control. "Hello, Clara... Hello, Lily," Daniel said, his voice soft and devoid of any old arrogance or entitlement.
"I didn't mean to intrude; I just moved down here to take a bridge engineering job with the state department." "Are you still working for your mother's company?" Clara asked, testing his sincerity with a sharp, direct gaze.
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"That company doesn't exist anymore, Clara," Daniel answered evenly. "The federal government liquidated every asset to pay restitution." "Good," Clara stated plainly, maintaining her firm boundaries while acknowledging his radical transformation.
"I don't expect forgiveness, and I don't expect a place in your lives right away," Daniel added quietly, looking down at his shoes. "I just wanted to see my daughter smile in person, even if it's just this once."
