Chapter 3 - The Guardian Angel
Clara reached up and gently tugged the hem of Evan’s linen shirt.
"Daddy," she murmured. "Aunt Sarah said to give you this."
She reached into the pockets of her blue birthday dress and pulled out a small, folded legal envelope that had been protected from the buttercream.
Evan took it with trembling hands. *Aunt Sarah.*
His younger sister, Sarah Whitlock, was a senior forensic attorney two states over. Evan and Sarah had grown distant over the past three years—or rather, Vanessa had subtly and systematically cut Sarah out of their lives, claiming Sarah was "toxic" and "jealous of their lifestyle."
Evan unfolded the handwritten note inside:
> *Evan,*
> *Clara called me two weeks ago using her old tablet. She was terrified because she overheard Vanessa and Diane laughing about taking her away and leaving you with nothing. I hired an investigator to pull the business filings Julian submitted behind your back. It’s all real, Evan. The flash drive Clara has is a duplicate of the master file. Pack Clara’s things. Do not sign anything. I am already on a flight to you.*
> *Protect your girl.*
> *— Sarah*
Evan swallowed hard, a painful lump forming in his throat. His daughter hadn't just endured the emotional cruelty of a staged social media stunt; she had carried the burden of protecting her father all by herself.
"You knew," Evan whispered, dropping to his knees on the grass, heedless of the cake stains. He looked into Clara’s dark brown eyes. "You knew what they were planning today."
"Mommy told Grandma that if I ruined the party, everyone would see that you were a bad dad who couldn't control me," Clara said softly, a single tear finally breaking through the dried crust of lavender frosting. "I didn't cry, Daddy. I held it in."
Evan pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her small shoulder, uncaring that the sticky icing was smearing across his neck and shirt.
May you like
"You never have to hold it in again," he choked out. "Never again."
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