Chapter 7

“I’ve already apologized to Joseph, but he still seems to be bearing a grudge against me for taking his pills.”

Stephen’s voice of indignation rang from the end of the corridor.

“He… He and those people from the TV station ganged up to pick on me. My articulation was clearly fine, but they kept nitpicking and finding fault with me. My throat was almost burning up.”

Joseph didn’t know what Chloe said in response to him, but he heard Stephen exclaim in shock, “R-Really?”

Joseph wasn’t interested to hear any more of the conversation and turned to leave.

He returned home at night only to find Chloe in a sullen mood.

She walked toward him.

“Joseph, you shouldn’t be bullying Stephen as a newbie. Forming cliques to bully others is nothing to be proud of. I take Stephen as an elder brother and as his family. I can't stand idly by watching him get bullied by others. I was the one who gave him the pills. Come at me if you’re mad.”

Joseph listened to her before saying, “Then transfer me 10 million dollars to appease my anger.”

Chloe looked surprised.

Joseph had never been a materialistic man. No matter how expensive the gift she gave him, he never seemed all that fond of it.

"Okay." Chloe nodded. "If 10 million makes you happy, it's worth it."

In just two days, more than half of the post-production staff at New Sights had been dismissed. The newly-hired employees were all respectful to Stephen and did his every bidding.

Percy watched the criticism of the show pile up online. He was so furious, he ended up in the hospital.

Joseph couldn't care less. He had already formalized his resignation, anyway.

Before he knew it, the day of Rachel’s kindergarten graduation celebration came around.

Joseph personally put the graduation hat on Rachel’s head and headed out with her.

"Daddy, I forgot my watch. Can you get it for me?" Rachel suddenly said.

She usually wore her kids' smartwatch before leaving the house.

"Sure."

Joseph put his bag in the car and turned back toward the villa.

He walked into Rachel’s bedroom. He searched around for a while before finally spotting the kids' watch which had fallen by the head of her bed.

He picked it up and was about to leave when the door slammed shut with a bang.

He thought it was the wind, but when he went to pull the door open, it wouldn't budge no matter what he did.

Bang, bang, bang!

Joseph pounded hard on the door.

"Is anyone there? Rachel? Are you out there?"

No one responded to him.

Lydia was usually out at this time to buy groceries.

Joseph wanted to make a call, but realized his phone was still in the car. He remembered that calls could be made with kids' watches too.

Just as he was about to do it, he found that Rachel’s watch was out of battery. There wasn't a single charging cable in the entire room, either.

An ominous feeling crept over him.

Did he just get locked in by a child?

But why would Rachel do that?

Joseph slowly sank down onto the floor and chuckled, almost unable to believe it.

He gazed at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window, his heart feeling completely numb. He simply waited there, letting the time slip away bit by bit.

-

"Rachel, why do you have a new daddy?" a little boy dressed in a superhero costume asked curiously.

"Hmph! You're jealous, aren't you?" Rachel said with a proud tilt of her chin.

"I'm not jealous," the little boy said, shaking his head. "I know that kind of daddy is called a stepdad. Drey Wilson’s daddy is a stepdad, and he says his stepdad hits him when he drinks."

"That's not true!" Rachel stamped her foot in anger. "Daddy Stephen would never hit me! He's really nice to me!"

"Then where did your real daddy go? Does he not want you anymore?"

"No!" Rachel grew even angrier, her little face flushing red.