Chapter 4

On the other end of the phone, her voice was cold and vicious.

"What did I do?"

"I just called your dad and told him I was going to abort the child in my belly!"

"That the Simon family will be without descendants forever!!!"

I was so angry my whole body shook. I roared into the phone:

"Doman, are you insane! Don't you know my dad is sick? Don't you know he can't handle shock?"

"Get over here right now! Come tell my dad you were joking!"

Doman laughed coldly:

"Who told you to post that stuff on Twitter? Do you know how upset Judson was when he saw it?"

"Do you know how much determination it took for him to come back?!"

"Samuel, this is the price of speaking carelessly!"

With that, she hung up directly.

After that, no matter how many times I called, no one answered.

Twenty minutes later, the light in the emergency room went out.

The doctor came out, removed his mask, and shook his head at me.

"There's not much time left. Go in and see him."

All the strength in my body seemed to drain away. I staggered into the room and held my dad's icy cold hand.

He could no longer speak. He just looked at me weakly, his lips moving slightly.

I understood from his lip movements.

"Doman... child..."

Tears burst from my eyes. I choked out:

"Dad, don't worry, the child is still there!"

"She's just mad at me, talking nonsense. Don't take it seriously."

In my dad's cloudy eyes, there seemed to be a glimmer of light.

He struggled, as if wanting to say something.

I leaned my ear closer and heard him use his last bit of strength to say:

"Want... to see... Doman... and the child..."

He wanted to see Doman. He wanted to see that unborn child.

"Okay, okay, I'll call her. I'll call her right now!"

With trembling hands, I took out my phone and called Doman's number over and over, called Andrew's house... all went unanswered.

"Dad, wait, she'll come soon, very soon..."

I held my father's increasingly cold hand, tears falling in large drops onto the back of his hand.

I kept calling and texting, but there was never a response.

My dad kept looking toward the doorway, the light in his eyes dimming bit by bit, little by little.

Finally, I could only watch as my dad's hand slowly dropped, watch as the line representing his heartbeat on the monitor became a flat line.

"Dad——!!!"

I knelt by the hospital bed, letting out a beast-like wail.

Over the next few days, I handled my father's funeral arrangements alone, without notifying anyone from Doman's family.

It wasn't until a week later that my phone screen lit up. It was a message from Doman.

[Tomorrow my parents are throwing a welcome party for Judson and announcing Jones's identity. We'll say Jones is our child to outsiders!]

I looked at the words on the screen, expressionless.

Seeing I didn't reply, she sent a few more messages.

[Alright, I know you're still angry.]

[Don't worry, after the party ends, I'll go with you to see Dad.]

[We'll bring Jones too, to make him happy.]

[Remember to come tomorrow!]

Seeing her mention my dad, a cold smile pulled at the corner of my mouth.

I picked up my phone and replied with three words:

[Got it.]

After sending the message, I looked at the document envelope on the table.

Doman, don't worry.

Not only will I come, I'll prepare an unforgettable gift for all of you.

The next afternoon, I appeared at the party on time.

The hotel banquet hall was crowded. All the guests were relatives and friends from Doman's side.

Andrew and Eve stood on stage, beaming.

"We've invited everyone here today to announce some great news!"

"Our adopted son Judson, after working overseas for seven years, has finally come home!"

Thunderous applause erupted below.

Judson stood to the side in a sharp suit, smiling and nodding.

Finally, Doman led Jones onto the stage.

She took the microphone, smiling gently and gracefully.

"There's one more thing we want to share with everyone. Actually, Jones is mine and Samuel's daughter."

She followed yesterday's script, relating Jones's "background" in detail. Finally, she looked at me with deep affection and said softly:

"Now, let my husband, Samuel, say a few words too!"

I was about to stand when Eve leaned close to my ear and whispered threateningly:

"Don't say anything crazy up there, or you'll regret it!"

I smiled, picked up the document envelope, and walked onto the stage. I took the microphone from Doman's hand.

Facing the crowd below, I said clearly, word by word:

"Thank you all for coming today to attend mine and Doman's—divorce party."

As soon as those words left my mouth, the entire room fell deathly silent.