I unfolded the piece of paper with trembling hands. Written in my oldest daughter’s neat, cursive handwriting was a chillingly precise list.
It wasn’t a threat. It was a dossier.
The note contained Daniel’s full home address, his social security number, the name of his ex-wife, and a detailed log of his financial debts. At the very bottom, in bold letters, it read:
“We know who you really are. If you hurt our mother, or take her focus away from us, everyone will know too. Run.”
I stared at Daniel, completely bewildered. “I don’t understand,” I stammered. “How do they even know this? And why would this make the other men block me?”
Daniel looked terrified. “It’s not just the note, Clara. When you went to the garage, the atmosphere in the room dropped to below freezing. Your youngest daughter looked me dead in the eye and told me exactly how the first three guys tried to scam you. The first guy was still married. The second had a history of domestic violence. The third was drowning in gambling debt.”
He took a deep breath. “Your daughters aren’t monsters, Clara. They’re protectors. They are running background checks on every single man you bring home.”
