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Chapter 3

Author: Goodtale
Dad heard the noise and rushed out of the bedroom.

I held up my arm for Dad to see.

A bruise had already appeared on the inside of my arm.

“She pinched me and threatened me! She said she’d kill me if I told you! It was exactly like my dream!”

Dad’s face changed instantly.

Yvonne had not expected me to react so quickly. She forced an innocent smile.

“I didn’t. Ryan must have hurt himself by accident.”

Dad pressed his lips into a thin line.

“Yvonne, you should go home.”

Yvonne stood up. Her smile faded.

“Let me explain. He just—”

Dad opened the front door. “Get out.”

Yvonne froze for a second. When she spoke again, her voice was soft.

“My mom is very sick. The doctor said she probably won’t make it through the next two days.

“Her only wish is to see me get married.

“I was going to take you to the hospital after we got married so she could see you.

“Could you really let an old woman die with that regret?”

Yvonne knew Dad had a soft heart, so she used her mother’s situation to pressure him.

When Dad started to waver, I immediately dropped to the floor and cried out in pain.

“You should go, Yvonne. I’ll think about getting married another time.”

Dad did not look at Yvonne again.

Yvonne lowered her head. Her voice was full of disappointment.

“Okay. I respect your decision.

“I’ll always be here. Just call me when you’ve made up your mind.”

She turned and walked out.

Dad crouched down and pulled me into his arms.

“Ryan, I think something is wrong with her too.

“I’m staying home today. I’m not going anywhere.”

I nodded, but I still could not relax.

Something was very wrong.

Yvonne had given up far too easily.

In my past life, she spent more than six months pretending to be a good person just to win Dad over.

But she had uncharacteristically walked away without a fight after Dad kicked her out.

Suddenly, Dad’s phone rang.

The screen showed “Cecilia”. She was Yvonne’s best friend.

In my past life, every time Yvonne beat Dad, Cecilia Clark was the one who dragged him into the bedroom and locked the door.

Dad answered the call and put it on speaker.

“Henry, come quick!

“Yvonne just left your place. She was so upset that she got into a car accident!

“She lost a lot of blood. She probably won’t make it!”

Dad’s chest heaved.

He hung up and rushed toward the door.

“Dad!” I ran over and grabbed him. “You can’t go!”

“Ryan, let go! Yvonne was in a car accident!”

“Even if something happened to her, there are doctors!

“The ambulance can get there faster than you can! Dad, you can’t go!”

Dad stopped.

“You’re right.”

I was still shaking.

“Dad, this place isn’t safe anymore.”

I tried to think of what to do.

Then, I called Grandpa.

Grandpa lived in military housing. It was the safest place for us.

Dad had divorced Mom despite Grandpa’s objections.

After that, Grandpa stopped speaking to Dad.

But I was the only one who knew the truth. Grandpa was worried that we were struggling, so he secretly sent us money every month.

“Dear boy, why are you calling me today—”

I quickly cut him off.

“Grandpa, have someone meet Dad and me at the west gate of the complex in ten minutes.

“I’ll explain everything when we get there.”

I hung up. Dad looked like he was about to ask something.

“We don’t have time! Let’s go!”

For once, Dad did not ask why.

He rushed into the bedroom and changed into his sneakers.

“Dad, let’s take the side entrance.”

We took the elevator down to the basement. We went around the garden and slipped out through a side entrance that hardly anyone knew about.

The metal gate creaked shut behind us.

The alley was empty. The main road was just around the corner.

Once we got into the car Grandpa sent for us, we would be safe.

I held Dad’s hand as we walked.

The suitcase wheels bumped over the uneven pavement.

We turned the corner.

Two people stood at the end of the alley.

Yvonne stood in front.

Cecilia stood beside her with a cigarette in her mouth.

A slow smile dawned on Yvonne’s face.

She lifted the cake box in her hand and gave it a little shake.

“Ryan, I bought you another piece of cake.

“Once your dad and I get married, you can take your time eating it.”

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