---- Chapter 12 Back when Christopher kicked Gerard out, he thought it was just a slap on the wrist. So he didn't sweat it. Blew through his cash and played house with Peggy for a year like nothing had changed. But then the bomb dropped-Busch Corp had officially gone to Gerard's younger brother. That's when the panic set in. Suddenly, Gerard was dragging Peggy and their kid out to block Christopher's car, begging for a second chance, desperate to crawl his way back into the family and the money. But Christopher was done. As far as he was concerned, Gerard didn't exist. Gerard and Peggy tanked hard. ---- Poverty hit, and with it came the fights-loud, ugly, and nonstop. Even basic needs turned into warzones. Gerard started comparing Peggy to me. Day after day, he missed the way I used to do everything - quiet, efficient, loyal. But Peggy wasn't built for that. He spoiled her into being pampered and clueless, and now he wanted her to suddenly morph into the wife I used to be? Not happening. The resentment snowballed. They tore each other apart, and every shred of their rage got dumped on the kid. The abuse broke the kid down. She grew quiet. Numb. ---- And that just made Gerard hate her more. That's when he started thinking about me. He began lurking outside Astor Corp, tracking my schedule, waiting to make some big, teary comeback. But Peggy beat him to it. Desperate to hold their mess of a family together, she dropped to her knees in front of me and begged. Gerard lost it-her pathetic stunt ruined his dramatic entrance. "Danielle, don't be mad," he stammered. "I didn't tell her to do that. I'll get her out of here." I watched him drag her away. But I couldn't stop thinking about the girl. I called my assistant.