Chapter 4 - A Promise in the Dark
The heavy silence of the kitchen was suddenly shattered.
"Sophia! Get back in here right now!"
Elisa’s sharp, shrill voice cut through the air from the dining room like a whip cracking. The sound echoed off the hard kitchen tiles, sharp, aggressive, and dripping with impatience.
Sophia flinched so hard her whole body violently jerked. A gasp of pure panic escaped her lips, her face turning entirely ghost-white. She grabbed her stuffed rabbit off the counter, clutching it against her chest so tightly her small arms shook.
"He's going to know," Sophia panicked, her small voice squeaking in terror as she looked toward the doorway. "He's going to know I talked to you!"
"Hey, hey, look at me," Michael commanded softly, reaching out with absolute gentleness. He didn't grab her bruised wrists; instead, he gently took her small hands in his, wrapping his large, warm palms around her tiny fingers.
Sophia’s terrified hazel eyes snapped back to his face.
"Listen to me very carefully," Michael whispered urgently, his eyes locked onto hers with absolute focus. "I am not going to let anyone hurt you ever again. Do you understand me? I am going to help you."
Sophia looked at him through her tears, her small chest heaving with fast, shallow breaths.
"Promise?" she whispered, her voice trembling with the fragile hope of a child who had been repeatedly let down by the adults meant to protect her.
"I promise," Michael said without a second of hesitation. "On my life, Sophia. I promise."
"Sophia!" Elisa’s footsteps echoed against the hardwood floor of the hallway, drawing closer. "Where did that girl go?"
"Go back to the table," Michael whispered quickly, releasing her hands gently. "Act like normal. Don't look at me, don't say anything. Just sit down. I’ll handle everything."
Sophia nodded frantically. She squeezed her stuffed rabbit tightly against her heart, turned around, and hurriedly walked out of the kitchen, her head low, her small red velvet dress disappearing through the archway just a second before Elisa appeared at the other end of the corridor.
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Michael remained on one knee on the kitchen floor for three seconds, closing his eyes. He took three deep, controlled breaths, forcing his racing pulse down, locking his fury deep inside his chest. He had to be smart. He was dealing with a wealthy, powerful executive who had the resources, the connections, and the legal power to cover up anything. If Michael acted recklessly—if he confronted Marcus right now without rock-solid evidence—Marcus would simply lock the gates, hire top-tier legal teams, and isolate Sophia completely.
Michael stood up smoothly, adjusted the lapels of his dark cardigan, picked up his glass of water, and walked calmly back toward the dining room.
