Chapter 2

I had been wrestling with how to explain everything to our daughter, yet the first obstacle came from Elizabeth instead.

Gently, I said, "It's alright. You don't need to worry about me. I let go of everything eighteen years ago."

Elizabeth froze, as if seeing my true stance for the first time.

"You don't need to worry about our daughter either. I'll talk to her. You're free now, Elizabeth."

I lifted my head and met her eyes. "So… It's time to honor the promise we made eighteen years ago."

She sighed, guilt softening her voice. "I'm the one who wronged you. If you or our daughter ever need anything, I'll still take responsibility."

Then, almost trembling, she picked up her phone and dialed the long-forgotten number.

That night was the first time we ever slept in separate rooms.

For eighteen years, even though our hearts weren't aligned, we still fulfilled each other's needs.

I always felt guilty—felt like I was stealing another man's woman—but Elizabeth didn't seem to mind. In time, she even seemed to take quiet comfort in it.

No matter. Tonight marked the true end of whatever we were.

The next morning, just after my daughter Destiny finished a phone call with Harden University, I told her I was divorcing her mother.

Before I could even begin my carefully crafted explanation, she cut me off.

"Dad, you don't have to lie to me. I know everything that happened back then. I know you don't love Mom. She wronged you. Dad, I'll stay by your side from now on."

A dull ache spread through my chest. So she had known all along.

It was my fault—my acting had never been good enough. I had let a child carry the weight of things she should never have had to understand.

Once she accepted it, everything became easier. Elizabeth and I filed for divorce, then traveled abroad with our daughter to Arment for her university enrollment.

While there, Elizabeth would also meet Lucas. They could decide whether he would return with her or whether they would stay abroad together.

After the thirty-day cooling-off period, we would finalize the divorce completely.

The moment we landed in Arment, Elizabeth rushed off to find Lucas.

Destiny insisted on going too.

"Dad, I want to see what that man even looks like."

I could see she still held resentment toward her mother. "Don't act on impulse. For eighteen years, your mom has repaid everything she owed us."

But Destiny didn't listen. She followed her mother anyway.

And by midnight, she still hadn't come back.

…

When I called, the background on her end was loud—like a party.

"Dad, I'm not coming home tonight."

I asked why. She hesitated, then mumbled, "I don't want to kill Lucas's mood.

"He did nothing wrong back then. He's been alone here for so long… he must've been so lonely."

She paused, then added softly, "Dad, you're the one who said it—no one owes anyone anything now. But don't worry, I still love you."

In just a few hours, her tone had completely changed.

She was right—none of us were wrong. But her words made the eighteen years I had fought for feel like a joke.

If I had divorced back then and left her with Elizabeth, would the three of them have been happier?

But I had given her all my love. I'd been afraid she would be mocked for not having a mother. I had swallowed my pride and begged Elizabeth to stay.

I wanted Destiny to rise above everyone, supported by both the Connerty family and mine.

Now that I was divorcing Elizabeth, Destiny was all I had left. I'd already planned everything—how to choose a good husband for her, how to raise my future grandchildren.

I couldn't accept this. I had spent a year loving Elizabeth, then eighteen years learning to let her go. But my daughter? I could never let her go.

I tried to coax her home. "Destiny, I made your favorite teddy-shaped cookies. No matter how late it is, I'll wait for you."

She came home around midnight. When she saw I was still awake, she hurried over and pushed me toward the bed.

"Dad, the cookies were great. Go to sleep now."

I let out a breath in relief. Maybe she was just being overly sympathetic. I would accept that kindness. I was selfish, but she still loved me—that was enough.

I closed my eyes.

But then I heard her stifled giggle.

I didn't open my eyes. I couldn't face the truth. I didn't want to face the fact that my daughter had already fallen under Lucas's spell.

When we accompanied her to university registration later, Lucas came too.

It was my first time meeting him. He was far more lively in person than in photos, brimming with a youthful energy rare for his age.

When he saw me, he greeted me with warmth and kept a respectful distance, giving me space to fuss over my daughter.

But she kept glancing his way, unable to hide her interest.

Then she asked, "Lucas, do you have anything you want to say to me?"

He stepped forward and ruffled her hair. "Don't stress yourself out. If studying makes you anxious, just eat more. Being healthy and happy is what matters most!"

Of course he believed in "happy education." No wonder she liked him so much.

He wore a tracksuit, his right hand strong and steady. I'd heard that years ago, Elizabeth had someone build a badminton court for him behind his villa—it suited his cheerful temperament perfectly.

Our daughter nodded obediently and waved goodbye to us.

I asked Elizabeth and Lucas whether they planned to stay abroad or return to our country.

Elizabeth replied, "These next four years, we'll stay here with Destiny. After that… we'll see what she wants."