“Watch me,” James replied, his eyes never leaving hers. “If you ever come near my daughter again, I will make sure there are consequences.”

With that, the confrontation was over. Caroline, realizing she had lost, hurriedly gathered her belongings, her protests fading under the weight of James’s resolve. As she left the house, slamming the door behind her, the tension in the room seemed to lift.

James turned back to Emily, kneeling down to her level. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I should have been here to protect you.”

Emily shook her head, the shadow of a smile playing on her lips. “You’re here now, Daddy. That’s all that matters.”