14
The day after Lily’s discharge was her
birthday.
Lily and I lived in the small apartment Mom
had bought for us.
The candles were halfway lit, Lily was filming
the food I made, when we heard a knock.
Knock knock-
My body froze, Lily was terrified.
I hugged her. “It’s okay, I’ll see.”
Through the intercom, I saw who was at the
door.
<
Dad.
I opened the door.
“Sarah.” He smiled, somewhat ingratiating.
I was calm. “What do you want?”
He held up a cake, looking at me pleadingly. “It’s Lily’s birthday, I ordered her favorite
cake. Sarah, can I come in…”
“We…are still father and daughter.‘
I went outside, closing the door.
“”
“A few hundred dollar cake, and you think
we’ll forgive you? Uncle Steven, you’re
dreaming.”
This seemed to give him hope, he waved his
hands.
“No! I have two cards, two million each, for
you…
“Sarah, you’re my most capable child, I’ll
leave the company to you…
“”
I sneered. “No, thank you. I don’t need it.”
“Oh, right. I didn’t tell you, Lily and I changed
our last names. We’re using Mom’s name,
Song.”
After two lifetimes, I didn’t want any
connection with him!
Dad was stunned. He seemed to lose
strength.
“Sarah, I didn’t expect it to be this serious.
Dad does love you…”
وو
“I just wanted you to accept Tiffany…I didn’t
know she was so vicious.”
I was impatient, crossing my arms, sneering.
“Love us?”
“Love is not ignoring the truth after Tiffany
died, stubbornly thinking we killed her.”
“Then throwing us into a dog pound,
watching us get eaten alive?”
“No, thank you. I don’t need that kind of
love!”
Dad’s face was pale. He stumbled back,
stammering.
<
“Sarah, you…you also…”
“Yes, I was reborn too.”
I knew he’d been reborn when I first called
him.
“Take your cake and leave. Lily and I will
never forgive you.”
Dad was speechless.
“Thump!” The cake box fell to the ground.
As I closed the door, he cried, repeatedly
saying.
“I’m a monster, I’m sorry…”
وو
15
He never came again.
With the help of Officer Fu, who had helped
us, Lily and I changed our names.
Lily continued school, I found a new job, away
from the family company.
Six months later, the company collapsed due
to problems Tiffany had caused.
Dad was heavily in debt.
L
He sold everything, living in a cheap
apartment.
Three years later, I married Officer Fu.
He was kind, just, and good to me.
He treated Lily like his own sister.
Our wedding was on a sunny day, in a church.
No one from the Shen family was invited, not
even Dad.
At the reception, a little girl approached with
a box.
She softly said, “Sister, sister, an uncle asked
me to give you this!”
Opening the box, I saw a dazzling diamond
necklace.
I knew who sent it.
As kids, playing house with Ethan.
I wore a toy necklace, telling him.
“Ethan, when I get married, I’ll wear a
beautiful diamond necklace like this.”
I smiled, giving the necklace to Lily.
く
“Sell it, it’s worth at least two million.”
Fu put a shawl around me, softly saying.
“It’s cold, don’t catch a cold.”
His phone vibrated.
He frowned, looked at me, hesitant.
“What’s wrong?”
He finally spoke.
“Your father…no, Mr. Shen, passed away.”
He died at Mom’s grave.
He left a note.
It simply stated he had late–stage cancer and
had committed suicide, leaving a final
message.
[I’m sorry to my daughters.]
He also left two bank cards.
My heart was a mix of emotions, a hint of
sadness.
“Sis! Group photo!”
Lily held up a sunflower bouquet. “Let’s go!”
The sadness vanished.
I smiled at Fu, softly agreeing, “Let’s go!” Taking the sunflowers, my steps were light. I’d found hope and a new beginning, free from the past.
