Chapter 7

“I, I don’t just want to take wedding photos with Caleb. This time, I want a grand wedding.”

That day in the hospital room, Seraphina left those words and walked out, supporting Caleb.

In the desolate hospital room, only I remained.

I sat in quiet contemplation for a long time, until my tears had dried, and then I made a firm decision.

At dawn, a taxi pulled up to a luxurious villa. Wearing only a thin hospital gown, I stepped out of the car. I looked up at the house that had been Seraphina’s and my marital home, gripped the lighter in my palm, and walked inside.

The house was filled with traces of our family of three.

Daisy's favorite doll still lay on the carpet, the crayon drawings on the walls hadn’t been cleaned yet, and Seraphina's shawl was draped casually over the back of the sofa. The mother and daughter had been playing pretend in the living room just a few days ago.

My throat tightened. I averted my gaze and went upstairs.

I headed straight for the master bedroom’s walk-in closet. Among a sea of designer suits, I pinpointed a plain, inexpensive white suit jacket. This was the one Seraphina and I had bought on our honeymoon in Las Vegas, the year we got married.

That night was a mass wedding event in Las Vegas. The streets were brilliantly lit, and I bought a random white suit jacket from a small roadside shop, then pulled Seraphina along to join the fun.

We were both drunk that night, dancing wildly in the crowd.

After one dance, Seraphina’s hand, resting on my waist, was slow to let go.

Her bright, intoxicated eyes looked at me with a tenderness that felt like it could drown me.

She said she thought she was truly falling in love with me.

I didn't understand it then.

Now, I finally understood what those words meant.

It was also that night that Seraphina became pregnant with Daisy.

People often say children born from parents deeply in love are especially beautiful. Daisy, as a child, had a round face, fair skin, and big, expressive eyes like grapes—cute and lively.

She was indeed a beautiful child.

But just like her mother, her heart and eyes were always fixed on Caleb.

I took the suit jacket and our wedding photo album to the garden. These two items, once infinitely precious to me, were instantly devoured by flames the moment I flicked my lighter.

When the fire died down, a gust of wind scattered the ashes.

My connection with Seraphina and her daughter was also over.

Just as I was about to leave, there was a sound at the door, followed by joyful laughter.

“Daisy, your mom and dad are getting divorced. How about Uncle Caleb becomes your dad now?”

His gentle voice, to my ears, felt like a knife hanging over my heart.

The next second, Daisy happily shouted, “Okay!”

“Daisy hates Dad, Daisy likes Uncle Caleb!”

“Daisy wants Uncle Caleb to be her dad!”

Caleb, triumphant, his voice grew even softer. “Good girl. Go take a bath, sweetie. After your bath, you’ll get a chocolate treat.”

His tone was like someone training a dog.

Daisy, oblivious to anything amiss, her small figure no taller than the doorknob, walked into the bathroom alone to run her bath.

I hid in the guest room, feeling a strange pang in my heart.

Seraphina, having parked the car, walked in and was immediately embraced.

Caleb wrapped his arms around her slender waist, his voice coaxing, “Seraphina, I’ve finally waited for this day.”

With that, he eagerly moved to undo Seraphina’s buttons, whispering seductively.

“I have a surprise for you tonight.”

Seraphina’s cheeks flushed slightly, but she pressed down on my hand, gently reminding me, “Daisy isn’t asleep yet. Let’s not let her see.”

“Daisy’s been very good. She just volunteered to take a bath herself,” Caleb said, his eyes burning. “How about we go to our room and continue?”

Caleb wrapped his arms around Seraphina’s neck, and the two, entwined, kissed their way to the master bedroom.

After the master bedroom door clicked shut, I waited a while longer before emerging from the guest room.

My pale face looked even more haggard than it had in the hospital.

I looked up at the master bedroom on the second floor, my eyes filled with disgust. Just as I was about to leave, Daisy’s scream suddenly pierced through the bathroom door.

“Ah—!”

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