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.

seemed to have gotten used to calling Abby

already out, and most of the kids had been

window, Sophie saw Abby sitting alone, watching the door eagerly, her little face

in her heart

lit

ran towards Sophie but stopped halfway when she saw

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

and came over with a smile. "First time I've

felt a bit

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

nodded and was led away

and Richard. "Have a seat. I want to

request made Sophie uneasy, wondering if Abby

said, "Abby is very well-behaved and sensible, but she's too quiet. At her age, she shouldn't have any worries. They should play, cry, make mistakes, and fight over toys, but she

teacher pulled out two drawings from a stack and handed them over. "Look, these are Abby's drawings. Richard, you're in a lot of

couldn't help but look at the

child's drawing style was simple, but

first drawing's background was a bridge, with a small figure falling

reaching out to catch

"Abby titled this drawing 'Daddy is

the scene when

was under the bridge and saw Abby being thrown down. He didn't have time to think; catching her was

teacher pointed at the drawing, smiling. "Abby told me this is her, and this is her dad. She said her Mommy told her that her Daddy got hurt saving her, so she

blankly at the

enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively

Abby to draw

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

depicted Daddy,

playing on a green lawn. Everything was colored

teacher said, "I asked Abby why she didn't color Daddy. She said because Daddy never

This sentence struck Richard's

him Daddy, he was actually blank to her, without warmth. Sophie

but it turned out she had kept all this

outside. Abby was playing on

smiling, but her smile lacks the vitality that children her

tears welling

and guilty. As a mother, she hadn't realized Abby

"Don't worry, 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 spend more time

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

Richard tried a few times

a bit, Richard suddenly

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

burger?"

didn't answer immediately; she

reaction made Sophie feel heartbroken. She

you, why don't you