Chapter 6

The police soon took Esme away.

Mom and Dad sat in the living room, sobbing uncontrollably, while Edwin stared in silence out the window.

Then, his gaze shifted to the box in the corner—the same one everyone had scorned before. Now it was treated like a sacred relic.

He walked over and carefully opened it. Inside was a signed divorce agreement, with a yellowed diamond ring tucked between the pages.

Beneath it lay a family portrait. My part had been scratched out, leaving only the three of them smiling together. At the very bottom was a small chip.

Edwin played the video.

On screen, I sat in front of the camera. My face was pale, and my eyes were swollen from crying. My frail, tender voice filled the room. "If you're watching this, I'm probably already gone. The doctors say I have cancer, and I've got seven days left at most.

"I thought about saying a lot, but then I realized there's no point. You've never had the patience to listen to me anyway. In your eyes, there's only Esme.