CHAPTER 2 The Rules Sophie Was Forced To Follow
Richard did not sleep that night.
He sat beside Sophie's bed for hours.
Watching.
Listening.
Trying to understand how he missed everything.
The expensive clothes.
The private school.
The beautiful mansion.
None of it mattered.
Because his daughter had been suffering right in front of him.
And he never saw it.
At midnight, Sophie suddenly opened her eyes.
"Daddy?"
Richard immediately leaned forward.
"I'm here."
She looked confused.
"You stayed?"
Richard frowned.
"Of course I stayed."
Sophie looked down.
"Usually... people leave."
Those words destroyed him.
"Who leaves?"
She didn't answer.
Instead, she pulled the blanket closer.
Richard noticed something.
She was waiting for permission.
Even to speak.
"Sophie."
She looked up.
"You can tell me anything."
The little girl hesitated.
Then slowly whispered:
"Miss Vanessa has rules."
Richard felt his stomach tighten.
"What rules?"
Sophie counted on her fingers.
"Don't ask for snacks."
"Don't eat unless she says."
"Don't talk when adults are talking."
"Don't tell Daddy things that make him worried."
Richard became completely still.
"Anything else?"
Sophie looked away.
"Don't cry."
"Why?"
"Because she said crying makes people tired of you."
Richard stood up.
His anger was rising.
But he controlled it.
He couldn't let Sophie see anger.
She already had enough fear.
The next morning, Richard called their family doctor.
Dr. Emily Carter arrived within an hour.
She examined Sophie carefully.
The results were devastating.
Signs of poor nutrition.
Weight loss.
Stress symptoms.
A child living under constant emotional pressure.
"Richard..."
The doctor looked serious.
"This isn't a one-time situation."
His heart sank.
"What do you mean?"
Emily lowered her voice.
"These signs suggest this has been happening for a long time."
Richard looked toward Sophie.
She was sitting quietly, drawing.
But the drawing wasn't a happy one.
It showed a little girl standing alone in a huge house.
Behind her was a locked door.
Richard walked closer.
"Sophie..."
She quickly covered the picture.
"Sorry."
Richard felt tears forming.
"Why are you sorry?"
She whispered:
"I didn't draw it right."
"No."
Richard shook his head.
"You drew exactly what you felt."
Later that day, Richard contacted Sophie's school.
The principal looked uncomfortable.
"We were actually planning to speak with you."
Richard's expression hardened.
"About what?"
The principal sighed.
"Sophie has been hiding food."
Richard froze.
"Why?"
"She takes extra snacks and puts them in her backpack."
Richard closed his eyes.
Because suddenly everything made sense.
A child who wasn't sure when she would eat again learned to save food.
A child who feared asking learned to prepare for hunger.
When Richard returned home...
Vanessa was waiting.
"You embarrassed me today."
Richard looked at her.
"What?"
"The doctor visit. The school calls. Everyone is acting like I'm some monster."
Richard stared.
"You made my daughter afraid."
Vanessa laughed softly.
"She's always been sensitive."
Richard stepped closer.
"No."
His voice became colder.
"She was trained to be afraid."
For the first time...
Vanessa's expression changed.
Only for a second.
But Richard saw it.
Fear.
Not his.
Hers.
May you like
And he knew.
There was much more she was hiding.
