---- Chapter 8 I heard the sounds of water dripping onto the floor. Preston had actually wet himself. Pinching my nose, I shot him a disgusted look and motioned at my bodyguards to bring him down. Meanwhile, Tara screamed and begged for mercy. Her shrill voice woke Emma up from sleep. Without hesitation, Emma broke free from the bodyguard's arms and jogged over to Preston. She pleaded with me, "Mommy, please forgive Daddy. I want us to live as a family." "He's not your father. He lied to Mommy and hurt Mommy. Look-he even beat me up. Do you still want to take his side?" I crouched and directed the question at the young Emma while staring into her eyes. This was the last chance I extended to Emma. If she picked me, I would guarantee that she would not see Preston again, and that she would live a ---- comfortable life. If she chose Preston, I would show her no mercy. Her eyes darted between me and Preston. Finally, she said sweetly, "I want Daddy!" My expression crumpled. I replied sternly, "I got it." With a wave of my hand, I instructed the bodyguards to take Preston and Tara away. Emma cried so hard that she was out of breath. She reached out to me for a hug, but I steeled myself and left her with the nanny who had taken care of her since she was a baby. Preston and Tara's screams continued into the night. They were hospitalized for a month after the torture. The first thing on my list after I got home was to reveal Emma's paternity to Victor's dad, Greg Harlan, and Victor's mom, Kelly Callister. ---- They fell into a short silence before deciding. " We'll respect your decision." Greg and Kelly had long been aware of Emma's paternity, but they allowed me to raise her, as she was my flesh and blood. They had no reason to object to my decision to give Emma up. "Dad, Mom, I have given this some serious thought. Preston Whitmore is not a good man, and his daughter is no better than him. I raised Emma for five years, but she still watched without helping me as I got beaten up. I lost hope in her from that moment onward." Kelly patted me on the shoulder to comfort me. " We're a huge family. You can reach out to any distant relatives and have your pick. Adopt any kid that you like. I'm sure they'll be fine with that." The child I picked to raise would be the heir of the Harlan Group. I took Kelly's advice and selected a pair of twins