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.

could still be tough, but he seemed to

of the earlier delay, school was already out, and most of the kids had been picked

saw Abby sitting alone, watching the door

pang in her heart and quickly walked

lit

towards Sophie but stopped halfway when she

and clear, but now

Abby and came over with

felt a bit

on the slide with the other teacher? I need to

led

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

Sophie uneasy, wondering if Abby

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 me

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

but look at

was simple, but the meaning was

bridge, with a small

out to

smiled. "Abby titled this drawing 'Daddy is

recalling the scene when it

thrown down. He didn't have time to think;

this is her dad. She said her Mommy told

stared blankly

reading? Ensure you're on 5s.com for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively available on our

hadn't expected Abby to draw

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

second drawing depicted Daddy,

holding her hands, playing

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

blank!" This sentence struck

though Abby called him Daddy, he was actually blank to her, without

out she had kept all this inside. The teacher pointed outside the window. "Come

outside. Abby was

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

tears welling

guilty. As a mother, she hadn't

she's still young, and there's time to change things. For children, no toy is more important than the company of their parents. I hope you can

Sophie and Richard standing by the slide. She ran to Sophie, holding her hand.

tried a few times

walking a bit, Richard suddenly said,

said to Abby, "Abby, how about Daddy takes you

burger?"

immediately; she looked at

reaction made Sophie feel heartbroken.

talking to you, why