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.

still be tough, but he seemed to have gotten used to calling Abby his

already out,

sitting alone, watching

felt a pang in her heart and quickly walked

eyes lit

but stopped halfway when

clear, but now her "Daddy" was

heard Abby and came over with a smile. "First time I've seen Abby's

felt a bit

knelt next to Abby and gently said, "Abby, why don't you go play on the slide with the other teacher?

nodded and was led

out two chairs for Sophie and Richard. "Have a seat. I want to discuss Abby's situation with you. I'm sure you want to know

uneasy, wondering if Abby

should play, cry, make mistakes, and fight over toys, but she doesn't. She's so mature for

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

couldn't help but look at

simple,

a bridge, with a small figure falling from it,

reaching out to catch

"Abby titled this drawing

recalling the scene when

thrown down. He didn't

teacher pointed at the drawing, smiling. "Abby told me this is her, and this is her dad. She said her Mommy told her that

blankly at

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hadn't expected Abby to draw

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

drawing depicted

her hands, playing on

Daddy never played with her and Mommy. This is her dream,

This sentence

him Daddy, he was actually blank to her, without

she had kept all

Richard stood up and looked outside. Abby was playing on

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

Abby, tears welling up

and guilty. As a mother, she

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

again, she saw Sophie and Richard standing by the slide. She ran to Sophie,

tried a few times to hold

suddenly said, "Let's not go home

"Abby, how about

burger?"

immediately; she looked at

made Sophie feel

to you,