Chapter 2

Lily’s facial scars hadn’t faded yet.

She turned her head, holding back tears, and said, “Daddy’s gone.”

“Unbelievable!” Chloe scoffed. “Marcus really went to great lengths, having you put on this act. Those scars on your face, they’re just makeup, aren’t they?”

Lily shook her head. “Daddy really…”

Julian suddenly pulled Chloe’s arm. “Oh, my head hurts so much. My old problem is flaring up again.”

Chloe’s attention was drawn to Julian, and she didn’t hear the ‘died’ at the end of Lily’s sentence.

Of course. Chloe only ever cared about Julian.

To Lily and me, she was worse than a stranger. No, even strangers wouldn't evoke such hatred from her.

When she got pregnant with Lily, she didn’t want the baby. But the doctor told her that her body wasn’t strong, and if she had an abortion, she might never be able to have children again.

So, she gave birth to Lily.

Making Lily and me bear the brunt of her resentment.

Lily stood in the empty hallway, looking up and wiping her tears. “Daddy’s dead, and Mommy doesn’t want me either.”

I reached out to wipe her tears, but my hand passed straight through her face.

I almost forgot, I was just a soul now.

As Chloe left, she didn’t forget to turn back and tell Lily, “Tell your dad to come back quickly. Some games just aren’t fun after a while.”

Lily clutched the hem of her shirt. “Daddy can’t come back.”

Chloe returned home and found I still wasn't there.

Normally, I would have prepared her favorite dessert, like almond and lotus seed soup, waiting for her return.

We had fought side-by-side for three years.

The trophies we won together were countless.

Then she was drugged, and we spent that night together, and later, Lily came along.

So, all these years, I’ve been trying to make it up to her.

In the end, I even gave my life.

It’s laughable. My efforts at compensation meant nothing to her.

On their way back.

Perhaps fate truly intervened, because Julian got into a car accident.

His car crashed into the guardrail, and shattered glass embedded itself in his arm and body.

“The patient has RH-negative blood, and the hospital blood bank doesn’t have enough!”

“I know someone with the same blood type. Wait for me.”

I knew she was thinking of me.

Because Julian and I both had RH-negative blood.

Chloe Miller sat by the operating room door, calling me endlessly.

My phone, though, had long been buried under that heavy snow.

Then, she seemed to remember something.

Chloe sent me a SnapChat: “Marcus, if you don't show up, I'll drain Lily’s blood for Julian. How much do you think she has to spare?”

Chloe actually found Lily.

She picked Lily up from daycare.

“Tell me quickly, where is Marcus hiding?”

Lily gritted her teeth. “Mommy, why won’t you believe me? Daddy’s dead.”

“Dead?” Chloe clearly didn’t believe it. “To avoid donating blood for Julian, you’re using this kind of excuse? You’re as malicious as ever.”

Lily grabbed Chloe’s arm, crying almost hysterically. “Mommy! You sent him to the snowy mountains, that’s why he froze to death there!”

“Liar!” Chloe flung Lily’s hand away. “If he doesn't show up, I’ll have the doctors drain your blood.”

“Even if you drain me dry, Daddy won’t appear!” Lily cried, feeling I wasn't worth this.

“Fine, then we’ll take your blood!” Chloe waved her hand dismissively. “We'll stop when Marcus decides to show up.”