Daniel leaned down, gripping my hair and forcing me to look at him.
“Listen carefully,” he said quietly. “I’m a lawyer. I know how this works. If you accuse me of anything, I’ll say you’re unstable. I have connections everywhere.”
He smiled slightly.
“You told me you grew up without parents. Who do you think anyone will believe?”
The pain in my stomach burned like fire, but anger began replacing fear.
I looked directly into his eyes.
“You’re right, Daniel,” I said slowly. “You understand the law.”
I paused.
“But you don’t know who leads it.”
He frowned.
“Give me the phone,” I said calmly. “Call my father.”
Daniel laughed loudly and grabbed his phone.
“Oh, this I have to hear,” he said mockingly as he dialed the number I gave him.
He put the call on speaker so everyone in the dining room could hear.
The phone rang twice before a deep voice answered.
“Identify yourself.”
Daniel smirked.
“This is Daniel Parker, husband of Emma Parker. Your daughter is making a scene in my home.”
There was a long pause.
Then the voice spoke again.
“Did you say… Emma Parker?”
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
“Yes.”
The reply came slowly, each word heavy with authority.
“This is Robert Bennett, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.”
The room went completely silent.
Someone dropped a glass.
Margaret’s face turned white.
And Daniel…
For the first time since I had met him, he looked terrified.
“W-what?” he stammered.
My father’s voice remained calm but cold.
“Why is my daughter crying?”
Daniel swallowed hard.
“I… there was just a misunderstanding.”
My father didn’t respond immediately.
Then he said something that froze everyone in the room.
“I know your law firm.”
Daniel blinked.
“You do?”
“Yes,” my father said. “In fact, I’m meeting one of your senior partners tomorrow.”
Daniel’s face lost all color.
I lay on the floor, barely conscious, clutching my stomach.
Then my father spoke again.
“Emma.”
His voice softened instantly.
“Dad…” I whispered weakly.
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m bleeding,” I said through tears. “I think I’m losing the baby.”
The silence that followed was terrifying.
When my father spoke again, his tone was calm but deadly serious.
“Listen carefully, Mr. Parker.”
Daniel didn’t respond.
“An ambulance will arrive at that house in less than five minutes.”
“That’s not necessary,” Daniel said quickly.
“The police will arrive as well.”
Margaret exploded.
“This is ridiculous!”
My father replied with one sentence.