I walk into my father’s study, and I know immediately that this is going to be a fight.
He’s standing behind his desk, his face red, his eyes blazing.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m taking a leave of absence.
I’m going to be with my daughter.”
“Your daughter?” He spits the word.
“That child is a mistake.
A liability.
She’s not an Albert.”
“She’s my daughter.
And she’s an Albert, whether you like it or not.”
“She’s a bastard.
And so is her mother.”
I grab him by the collar.
“Don’t you ever, ever, talk about Lily like that again.”
He laughs.
“You think you scare me?
You’re a coward, Alexander.
You always have been.
You let her go once.
You’ll let her go again.”
I let go of him.
I step back.
I’m shaking.
“You’re wrong,” I say quietly.
“I’m not going to let her go again.
I’m going to fight for her.
For Sophie.
“Then you’ll lose everything.
The company.
The inheritance.
Everything.”
“Then I lose everything.
But I won’t lose them.”
I turn and walk out.
My father screams after me, but I don’t stop.
I’m done being afraid.
I step outside and breathe in the fresh air.
I’m free.
For the first time in my life, I’m free.