Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 282 Warm Interactions

Sophie shot a warning, "Hey, what do you guys want? Try anything funny, and I'll scream for help."

The thug just grinned, totally unfazed. "Relax, we don't want anything. Just wanna buy you a coffee."

Two guys moved in to grab her, following his lead.

Sophie took a couple of steps back, her voice shaky. "I'm not alone. My husband will be here any second."

They clearly didn't buy it and kept closing in on her.

"Honey."

Just when Sophie was freaking out, a familiar voice came from behind.

She spun around, almost relieved, and saw Richard standing a few feet away, hands in his pockets, looking all chill.

His "Honey" was like a lifeline, and she dashed over to him, grabbing his arm.

"Honey, what's going on? These your friends?" Richard asked, his eyes sweeping over the group, sounding totally indifferent.

Sophie shook her head.

The guys hadn't expected anyone to show up, especially not a man. It was broad daylight, and they weren't dumb enough to cause a scene. With her "husband" there, the thug waved them off.

As they walked away, Sophie let out a sigh of relief.

Richard's teasing voice snapped her back to reality. "I'm curious, if I hadn't shown up, who were you planning to have pretend to be your husband?"

The word "pretend" made Sophie reluctantly let go of his arm.

She'd almost gotten swept up in his earlier "Honey."

How could she forget Richard had nothing to do with her? He only played along to help her out.

"I need to pick up the kids," Sophie mumbled, heading quickly towards the kindergarten just ahead.

After a bit, Richard caught up with her.

Sophie looked at him, surprised.

Wasn't he just passing by?

Richard glanced at her. "Why are you looking at me like that? I'm the kid's dad. Can't I pick up my daughter?"

Of course, he could! Sophie was surprised but also pleased.

She remembered when he first got out, he wouldn't go near Abby, refusing to admit she was his daughter.

He used to be so harsh whenever he saw Sophie and Abby, and Abby was terrified of him.

But in the past six months, Richard had changed a bit.

be tough, but he seemed to have gotten used

school was already out, and most of the kids had

saw Abby sitting alone, watching the door

a pang in her heart

eyes lit up.

halfway when she saw

earlier "Mommy" was joyful and clear, but now her "Daddy" was timid and

over with a smile. "First

felt a

Abby and gently said, "Abby, why don't you go play on the slide with

nodded and was led away by

for Sophie and Richard. "Have a seat. I want to discuss Abby's situation with

Sophie uneasy, wondering

age, she shouldn't have any worries. They should play, cry, make mistakes, and fight over toys, but she doesn't. She's so mature for her age that it makes

from a stack and handed them over. "Look, these are Abby's drawings. Richard, you're in a

help but look at the

child's drawing style was simple, but

a bridge, with a small

reaching out to

"Abby titled this

the scene when

bridge and saw Abby being thrown down. He didn't have time to

"Abby told me this is her, and this is her dad. She

blankly

reading? Ensure you're on 5s.com for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just

expected Abby to draw

story to help her understand that Richard loved her, hoping it would make her feel less distant

depicted Daddy,

her hands, playing on a green lawn. Everything was colored

Abby why she didn't color Daddy. She said because Daddy never played with her and Mommy. This is her dream, not reality, so Daddy is

This sentence struck

even though Abby called him Daddy, he was actually blank to her, without warmth. Sophie felt

didn't understand, but it turned out she had kept all this inside.

Abby was

smiling, but her smile lacks the vitality that children her age should have. This isn't the state she should be in," the

tears welling up in

a mother, she

there's time to change things. For children, no toy is more important than the company

the slide. She ran to Sophie,

walked out of the kindergarten together, Richard tried a few

bit, Richard suddenly said, "Let's not

Abby, "Abby, how

burger?"

immediately; she looked

overly sensible reaction made Sophie feel heartbroken.

to you, why don't