Chapter 3

Coming every day. Staying all night. Running around for her.

These words were like fine grains of salt scattered on my heart.

I remembered my appendectomy, how I cried out in pain, wanting Dad to hold me.

But he was away on a "project inspection," and it was Mom and Uncle who stayed with me for three days.

When I was struggling with insomnia due to stress during my final exams in high school, he would only say, "Don't overthink it, just do your best," and then go back to his work in the study.

He wasn't incapable of giving, nor did he lack time.

I decided to get one step closer to that other family.

I put on casual clothes and a beanie, covering most of my face.

In my hand, I carried a stack of prepared survey forms and brochures.

She saw me and paused, startled. "You are...?"

"Hello, sorry to bother you." I tried to make my voice sound steady, even a little shy, like a student. "I'm a volunteer from the local Red Cross chapter. Excuse me, is this where Zoe Davies lives?"

Hearing Zoe Davies' name, her guarded look softened slightly. "We've received information about some families in need from the City Children's Hospital's Hematology Department. We're very concerned about Zoe Davies' situation."

She hesitated for a few seconds, then stepped aside.

I took a deep breath and walked into another home.

My gaze was immediately drawn to a large framed photo hanging on the central wall of the living room.

"That's my husband and daughter."

I dug my nails into my palm, forcing myself to stay clear-headed and maintain my expression.

Just as I was about to probe further, the sound of a key turning in the lock suddenly echoed from the front door!

David Miller stood at the doorway, carrying an insulated food container. "Grace, I made some fish soup for Zoe to help her get her strength back..."

I sprang to my feet, pulling up my mask, and made to leave. "Sorry, something urgent just came up! I'll leave these materials with you. You can call the number on them if you have any questions!"

I pulled down my beanie, stumbled out of the complex, and gasped for air.

After some time, my phone vibrated in my pocket. "Alice, your shift must be almost over, right? What do you want for dinner tonight? Your dad just called and said he might be late again tonight, has an unavoidable engagement. Shall we just eat something simple, just the two of us?"

"Late again!" My last nerve snapped. "Mom! Dad is seeing someone else!"

Mom didn't say anything, just told me to come home.

When I got home, Mom was sitting on the sofa, as calm as if nothing had happened.

She pulled out her phone and showed me a SnapChat message.

"Your husband has another home at Willow Creek Residences; his daughter is six years old."

"I didn't want to believe it," Mom's voice trembled slightly, as if she were talking about someone else's life. "Your dad, he has many flaws. He's lazy, stubborn, sometimes he doesn't keep his word. But... for twenty years, I thought, at least he had a bottom line. I secretly checked his phone, the lock screen password was still your birthday, the chat history was clean, and the bank statements showed nothing unusual. I even wondered if someone sent it by mistake or if it was malicious slander."

My last emotional defense collapsed. I pulled out the consent form from my pocket.

Then I took out my phone and showed her the pictures. "Mom! Look closely, Dad is seeing someone else!"

I took Mom and hailed a taxi to that hospital room.

But from inside, suppressed sobs from a woman and a man's low growl could be heard.

Just as I was about to push the door open, it was suddenly pulled open.

Dad, his face ashen, walked out and collided with me.

When he saw me, his pupils constricted, and a flash of panic crossed his face, quickly replaced by feigned anger. "What are you doing here?"

"That's what I should be asking you, Dad. Didn't you say you had an important meeting at the office today?"

The murmuring patients, family members, and medical staff around us all turned their gazes our way.

Dad's face flushed crimson, then turned ashen again. He grabbed my arm, his grip surprisingly strong, almost dragging me into the nearby fire escape stairwell.

"Alice Miller! What are you trying to do?!" he snarled, a vein throbbing in his temple.

I pulled out my phone, opened my gallery, and swiped through the intimate photos of him and Grace Davies, one by one.