hapter 2 

Isaac White hung up immediately after saying that. Not once did he ask how our daughter was doing. 

I couldn’t stand it, so I tried to call him back, only to realize he had already blocked me. 

Tine. There’s no need for him to know about our daughter’s death, then. 

1handled the funeral arrangements like a soulless shell, moving through the motions. The hospital staff, sympathetic to what had happened to my daughter, fast tracked everything. 

The cemetery was fully booked, so I couldn’t get a plot right away. I had no choice but to bring my daughter’s ashes back home. 

Isaac still hadn’t returned.] 

The house, without her, felt so empty. I 

I opened her bedroom door and sat numbly on her little bed. I could almost hear her innocent voice calling for me, “Mommy..” ]] 

Tears flowed again. I don’t know how long I cried. 

When no more tears would come, I slowly stood up. 

This house, without my daughter, I no longer wanted it. 

As I printed out the divorce papers, Isaac finally returned. 

He stormed in with a face full of anger, and the first thing he said was, 

1 

“Get that little brat Lily out here right now! She almost crippled Mary’s Dobby. She’s only five, but how can she be so heartless?” | 

I could only laugh coldly at his words. 

So, he knows she’s only five, huh? 

But when he sent her out into the storm to get medicine for Mary Taylor’s dog, he sure didn’t seem to remember that. 

The mocking smile on my face seemed to trigger him. Isaac yanked off his tie, threw his jacket angrily onto the couch, and pointed a finger at me. 

“And you’re still laughing? Over–indulgent mothers raise wayward children! Lily is so spoiled, and it’s all because of you!” 

“Where is she? Get her out here to call Mary and apologize! Mary is such a kind person for not holding a grudge. Dobby’s leg is injured, almost crippled, and Mary even pleaded on behalf of your daughter! It’s all your fault as a mother for not teaching her properly. That’s why Lily has no manners!” ] 

“Sophie, I’m telling you now–if you try to protect her today, we’re finished!” 

My daughter was gone, and I had nothing left to say to Isaac. 

0 

I tossed the divorce papers at him. 

“Just sign these and go to your Mary. My daughter doesn’t need anyone else to discipline herr 

I expected Isaac to be thrilled to sign. 

But instead, he exploded like a firecracker, grabbing the divorce papers and ripping them to shreds without even looking at them. 

“Divorce? Are you out of your mind? How many times do I have to tell you, Mary and I are neighbors, we’re like siblings” 

“No wonder Lily doesn’t like Mary or her dog. Dobby. She’s been influenced by you.” 

“She promised to get the medicine, but she didn’t come back. She did it on purpose, trying to cripple Dobby. Such a young child, yet already so full of malice. If I don’t step in, who knows what kind of trouble she’ll cause in the future?” | 

His words were like knives, stabbing me deep into my flesh, suffocating me with pain. 

I clutched my chest, gasping for breath, feeling like I was going to collapse from the agony. 

I swayed a bit, struggling to steady myself, then asked, 

“How can you say she’s full of malice? She’s only five years old. How could you, as her father, use such harsh words to describe a child? Don’t you think that’s too much?” 

“You sent a five year–old out in a storm to buy medicine, didn’t care about her safety, and now you blame her for not coming back. Isaac, don’t you know that our daughter…” 

“I don’t know, and I don’t care!” 

Isaac cut me off, his face full of irritation. 

“What’s the big deal about the rain? The pharmacy is right across the street. What could possibly happen? She’s five, she should learn to be independent by now. The fact that she caused so much trouble and involved you shows that she’s just spoiled and can’t handle any hardship!” 

-0 

As he spoke, he rubbed his temples like he was being driven mad. 

“I’m done talking about this. Just get her out here and have her call Mary to apologize, Otherwise, Mary will feel guilty and won’t sleep well tonight.” [] 

Looking at Isaac’s face, I suddenly found him completely unfamiliar. 

He wasn’t worried about our daughter not returning in the storm, but he was concerned about his Mary not sleeping 

well. 

So, in his eyes, my daughter’s life was worth less than Mary’s good night’s rest. 

In that moment, I made up my mind. 

Isaac didn’t need to attend our daughter’s funeral. 

Not that he even cared whether she lived or died. [ 

Having made this decision, I coldly refused. [ 

“My daughter will not apologize to Mary.” 

Isaac’s face darkened, and he snapped angrily, 

Let’s 

“Sophic, keep spoiling her. Let’s see what kind of monster you raise!” 

With that, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him. 

Isaac left the house in a rage. [] 

Every time we had an argument before, he would storm out like this, like a kite with its string cut. 

I was always the one to swallow my pride, give in for the sake of love, and beg for reconciliation. 

He thought this time would be no different. 

But he didn’t know, this time was different. 

I printed out another set of divorce papers and signed my name. [] 

Then I took my daughter’s ashes and walked out without looking back.]