“But there’s one condition.”
“What condition?” Emma asked.
Lauren smiled wider.
“It’s simple, darling. You can have all of this… the gowns, the money, everything. But you have to choose ME over your father.”
The air turned heavy.
“You have to acknowledge publicly that he failed you,” she continued. “That he kept you in poverty while I was out working to build a better future. That you’re choosing to come live with me because I can ACTUALLY provide for you.”
My fists clenched.
“You’re insane.”
“Am I?” she shot back. “I’m offering them an opportunity. What have you given them?”
Emma reached for the contract.
“Dad, what does it say?”
I read it aloud.
A legal document.
A betrayal in ink.
“She wants you to sign away your relationship with me… in exchange for money.”
Clara whispered, “That’s sick.”
“That’s business,” Lauren said.
Emma stood.
Holding the envelope.
“This is a lot of money.”
My heart cracked.
“Emma…”
“Let me finish, Dad.”
She faced Lauren.
“This is a lot of money. Probably more than we’ve ever had at once.”
Lauren smiled.
“But you know what’s funny?” Emma continued. “We’ve never needed it. We’ve had everything that actually matters.”
Clara stepped beside her.
“We’ve had a father who stayed.”
“Who made sure we never felt broken.”
Lauren’s smile faded.
“We don’t want your money,” Clara said. “We don’t want your gowns. And we don’t want YOU.”
Emma tore the envelope open.
Money scattered into the air.
“You can keep it. We’re not for sale.”
Lauren exploded.
“You ungrateful… Do you have any idea what I’m offering you? I’m famous!”
“For yourself,” I said.
“And now you want to use us,” Clara added, “as your redemption story.”
