Sarah’s chest tightened painfully. “Daniel—”
“No!” he shouted suddenly, standing up so fast the chair behind him tipped and hit the floor. “You’re just saying that! You’ll forget me again!”
“Daniel, listen—”
But he didn’t. He turned and bolted up the stairs, his small footsteps pounding against the wooden floor. His door slammed shut with a thud that echoed through the house.
Sarah stood frozen, tears spilling freely. She turned helplessly toward her father. “Dad, I didn’t mean to upset him. I just want to do things right. There are legal boundaries, travel issues—”
Ben raised a calming hand. “Don’t worry, my darling. I’ll go talk to him.”
But Sarah shook her head. “No. He needs to hear it from me.”
Ben nodded silently, his eyes filled with quiet understanding.
A few minutes later,
