Chapter 4

I didn't answer directly. Instead, I frowned and asked:

"How did you know I was here?"

Julian's voice was hoarse.

"I checked your bank card transaction history."

It suddenly hit me. Not long after we got married, Julian had taken sole control of our finances, strictly managing my and Lily's expenses. All the bank cards were in his name.

Looks like I couldn't use this bank card anymore either.

But what puzzled me was why he was here. Shouldn't he be at home taking care of Cassidy?

Julian, uncharacteristically, gently took my hand. His voice was soft.

"I know you're still angry about last night."

"So this morning, as soon as Cassidy felt a little better, I sent her home immediately. Don't worry, I made her sleep on the couch."

I looked at him, astonished.

He never used to explain these things to me. Whenever I argued with him about them, he'd call me petty, saying a malicious person sees malice everywhere.

But now that I wasn't asking, he was babbling on and on.

I found it irritating. I pushed him away, expressionless. "Are you done? Because if you are, I have a job interview to get to."

I'd sent out several resumes recently, and a few big companies had already extended offers.

But as I was about to leave, Julian grabbed my arm, tears welling in his eyes. His voice trembled.

"Claire, do you have to be so cruel?"

"Cassidy and I grew up together. I just wanted her to have a good life. Am I wrong for that?"

"Besides, haven't I been good to you and Lily?"

"All these years, every bit of your food, clothes, and expenses—didn't I pay for it all?"

"How can you do this to me after all my efforts?"

Seeing his self-righteousness, I felt utterly disgusted.

Because he only gave Lily and me two hundred dollars a month. It wasn't even enough for food, let alone school or transportation…

To ensure Lily had enough to eat, I worked three part-time jobs after my main job. That's why, in the end, I couldn't even scrape together the $100,000 for her surgery. I could only watch helplessly as she died on the operating table.

Julian spoke softly now.

"Claire, stop this. Just take Lily and come home with me. Let's be a happy family of three, okay?"

He looked at me with a pathetic, pleading gaze, but all I felt was scorn.

Why should I have to be like a dog, doing whatever he wanted?

Seeing my grim face, my silence, he grudgingly relented.

"Okay… I'll increase your and Lily's allowance to five hundred dollars a month!"

"Didn't Lily say she wanted to go to the beach? We can leave today. Is that good enough?"

"Look, I even bought her the swimsuit she's been dreaming of."

He finished, looking at me expectantly.

He believed the offer he'd made was enticing enough that I'd have no reason to refuse.

But I gave a cold laugh. "You want to take Lily to the beach, do you?"

"Then come with me."

Julian had no idea what was about to happen. He thought I'd forgiven him. Even after I drove him to the car, he was still grinning.

"We're not exactly newlyweds, and you're still planning surprises for me?"

"Alright, I'll humor you. I'll reluctantly come with you to see."

But when I pulled the car up next to Lily's grave, Julian looked utterly confused.

"Claire, weren't you taking me to see Lily at your mom's house?"

"What are we doing in a place like this?"

But the next second, when Julian saw our daughter's photo on the gravestone in front of him, the swimsuit he'd bought for her immediately slipped from his hands and fell to the ground.