Her expression changed.
She photographed the red mark around Sophie’s wrist and asked several more questions.
Then she told Sophie something I would remember for years.
“You did the right thing by telling your mom.”
Sophie looked at me.
I squeezed her hand.
When we returned downstairs, Vanessa stood near the front door.
One officer spoke calmly.
“For tonight, you need to leave the residence and have no contact with the child while this matter is being reviewed.”
Vanessa’s mouth fell open.
“This is Derek’s house.”
The officer looked toward Derek.
Derek said nothing.
Vanessa turned to him.
“You’re just going to let them throw me out?”
Derek finally looked at her.
“You lied about Sophie.”
“I explained that.”
“No. You lied.”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“And suddenly you’re Father of the Year?”
The words hit exactly where she intended.
Derek flinched.
Vanessa grabbed her coat.
Then she looked at me.
“This isn’t over.”
Daniel stood.
“Yes, it is.”
She stared at him.
Daniel’s voice remained perfectly calm.
“You will not contact Claire or Sophie directly. Any necessary communication goes through counsel.”
Vanessa rolled her eyes, but she left.
The door shut behind her.
Silence filled the house.
Derek rubbed both hands over his face.
Then he turned toward me.
“She’s gone.”
I said nothing.
“We can fix this.”
Daniel glanced at me but didn’t interrupt.
Derek stepped closer.
“Claire, I know tonight got out of control.”
I nearly laughed.
“Out of control?”
“I was angry.”
“You told an eight-year-old girl you would send her away.”
“My daughter.”
I looked at him.
“You called her my daughter twenty minutes ago.”
His face tightened.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Yes, you did.”
He stepped closer again.
Luke shifted slightly, but I raised one hand.
I no longer needed anyone standing between us.
Derek lowered his voice.
“Vanessa lied to me.”
“That changes nothing.”
“How can you say that?”
“Because she didn’t force you to believe her.”
His jaw tightened.
“She manipulated me.”
“And Sophie begged you to listen.”
He looked toward the staircase.
“She’s my daughter too.”
“Then you should have acted like her father.”
The room fell quiet again.
Daniel opened his folder.
He removed the divorce petition and placed it on the table.
Derek stared at it.
“You’re really doing this?”
“Yes.”
“Tonight?”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“I decided weeks ago.”
He looked up sharply.
“You were going to leave me anyway?”
“I was preparing for the possibility.”
His expression hardened.
Then he looked around the room.
“Fine.”
He pointed toward the door.
“Then leave.”
