“I’m so sorry,” Richard murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “I should have seen it sooner. I promise I won’t let her hurt you again.”

He pulled back to look at them, meeting their eyes with sincerity. “You two are the most important people in my life. I’m going to fix this, I swear.”

Emily nodded, a flicker of hope igniting in her heart. She had always trusted her father, despite the recent challenges. Now, she felt reassured that things might finally change for the better.