Chapter 1 - The Recognition
Dad stares at the screen, his face completely pale. I stand in the doorway, my graduation gown still draped over my arm. Tyler is clutching his ankle on the couch, glaring at the television.
Dad hits pause on the remote, freezing Daniel Pierce's face on our living room TV. He turns to me with a look I have never seen before. It is not anger, but absolute, trembling fear.
Daniel Pierce is the CEO of Vanguard Holdings. He is also the man who holds the primary contract for my father's entire logistics company. Dad has spent the last three years trying to get a five-minute meeting with him.
I just stood on a stage and told millions of people that my father was a negligent parent, right in front of Daniel Pierce.
"Emma, what did you just do?" Dad whispers.
"I told the truth," I reply calmly.
Mom stands up, her phone buzzing frantically in her hand. "Your brother lost his game because he tore a ligament in his knee, Emma," she snaps. "His basketball career is over, and now you are trying to ruin your father's career too."
I feel a brief flash of pity for Tyler, but it fades when he sneers at me.
"Make her delete it, Dad," Tyler demands.
Dad shakes his head, staring at the view counter that is rapidly climbing past two million. "It is too late for that," Dad says.
He walks toward me, his fists clenched tight at his sides. "You are going to log into your account right now and post an apology video saying you made it all up for attention."
"I will do no such thing," I say, stepping back.
Dad grabs my wrist hard. "You live under my roof, which means you follow my rules."
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Suddenly, a massive knock echoes from our front door, shaking the entire frame. Tyler limps over to open it, expecting a neighbor complaining about the noise.
Instead, two men in dark suits flash silver badges and ask to speak with the parents of Emma Whitaker.
