As I flipped through the folder, the reality of Brenda’s life unfolded in black and white before me. The Sutton family business was indeed lucrative, but it was steeped in legal gray areas and questionable practices. Robert, her husband, was not the dream partner I had envisioned for my daughter. There were allegations of domestic negligence, emotional manipulation, and financial control. He had transformed my vibrant, independent Brenda into a shadow of her former self.
Returning to my hotel, I felt a fire within me that had been extinguished for too long. I realized Brenda needed her mother, not the distant woman I had become. I couldn’t let another day pass with her trapped in this gilded cage.
The following morning, I dialed Brenda’s number. My heart ached with every ring, fearing she might not answer. After a long pause, she picked up. Her voice was hesitant, almost as if she was bracing for reprimand.
