Page 47 of Her Courage

But my eyes held something else too.

Determination.

No more running. No more letting Patrice manipulate me through guilt and fear.

After showering and dressing in a crisp navy suit—armor for the battle ahead—I made my way downstairs to the kitchen. The house was silent. Colby and Andrei must still be sleeping after their late-night vigil.

Good. This was something I needed to do alone.

I poured myself coffee and settled at the breakfast bar, my laptop already waiting where I'd left it the night before. The cursor blinked at me from the blank email screen.

Marshall Caine, Esq.

My fingers hovered over the keys for a moment before I started typing.

Marshall,

Effective immediately, I'm cutting off all financial support to Patrice Wulf-Huntington and Rupert Huntington. No more monthly allowances. No more emergency funds. No more covering their debts.

I want trusts established for my sisters, Monica and Sierra, as well as my niece Keeley. With strict language that ensures Patrice cannot access these funds in any capacity. Not as a co-trustee. Not through loans against the trusts. Nothing.

I'll pay off the house they're currently living in and sign it over to Patrice as a final settlement. After that, no further contact. No further financial entanglement.

Please draft all necessary paperwork and restraining orders to prevent future contact with myself and Charlotte Alexander.

I'll be in your office this afternoon to sign everything.

-KW

My finger hovered over the send button.

This was it. The final severance. Once I hit send, there'd be no going back.

"Do it."

I turned to find Lottie standing in the doorway, wrapped in one of my oversized hoodies. Her hair was messy from sleep, her eyes still heavy with exhaustion.

But her gaze was steady. Sure.

"You were listening?" I asked.

She crossed the room, bare feet padding on the tile. "Heard you typing from upstairs." She slid onto the stool beside mine, tucking herself against my side. "You should do it, Daddy K. She doesn't deserve your kindness anymore."

I stared down at the screen, then at her. "What if I'm making a mistake? What if she⁠—"

"She what?" Lottie's hand covered mine on the keyboard. "Gets angry? Threatens you again? Daddy, she's already done those things. She's already shown you who she is. Believe her."

The simple logic cut through my spiraling thoughts.

"You're right." I pulled her onto my lap, needing her closeness. "You're always right, baby girl."

"Not always." She grinned up at me through her tears. "But I'm right about this."

Together, our fingers moved over the keyboard. She hit send.

The whoosh of the email leaving felt like chains breaking.

"There." I let out a shuddering breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "It's done."