My Husband Got My Daughter Killed

On the day of my daughter Candy Stoppard’s physics competition, I had to represent my clients in a court overseas and couldn't get home in time to be with her.

At first, I assumed I was receiving good news about her being successfully admitted into Prirose University after the court was adjourned.

Unexpectedly, what I received instead was the news of her death.

I hurried back home and found her body in the morgue. She was covered with bruises and even marks left behind by teeth.

I collapsed to the ground and could not stop crying. It was as if someone had shut out all the lights in the world.

The officer next to me sighed emphatically.

“You must be the girl's mother.

“We had to contact you because we couldn’t get in touch with the father.

“I’m sorry for your loss. We have arrested the scumbag who did this.”

The officer told me about what happened. Candy had booked a room in a hotel in the city center last night so she could be ready for the physics competition the following morning.

An old man in his fifties barged into the room and assaulted her. After that, he used all kinds of torture devices to torment her.

Every word I heard from the officer sliced into me like a scalpel.

My daughter was young and beautiful. She had a life ahead of her! Yet, she was ruined by a human filth!

I cried so hard that my lungs felt like they would tear. After I calmed down, another thought came across my mind.

How could this even happen in the first place?

I remember telling my husband, Julius Stoppard, that he had to be with Candy until the competition ended. I was worried about her safety.

Where was he when Candy was in danger?

With this in mind, I reached for my phone, my hands trembling as I called Julius.

The call went through, but nobody picked up.

It took more than a dozen calls to get to him. When he finally answered, he was grumbling.

“Why won’t you stop calling? I’m busy!

“Did you think I have as much free time as you do?”

I could hear the chaotic blare of music and the sound of an emcee coming from the background.

The emcee’s voice was enthusiastic. “Congratulations to Ronald Leigh for claiming first place in our physics competition today! You will be admitted to Prirose University!”

Then, I heard Ronald’s voice, “I would like to thank Uncle Stoppard and my mother. Their support is the reason I am here today.”

I froze in place and felt a shudder run through me.

While Candy was lying dead in the morgue, Julius was at the ceremony for his first love’s son.

“Julius, didn’t I tell you to look after Candy? Why are you with another woman’s son?”

Rage made my voice tremble.

“What? Am I not allowed to have any kind of freedom? Who says I have to be with Candy all the time?

“Besides, Ronald just won first place in the physics competition. I’m the principal, so I should celebrate, too. Do you have any problem with that?”

“Candy is dead!”

Suddenly, Julius fell silent. After several seconds of droning silence, he sneered, “I know you’ve always hated Ronald and his mother.

“Still, how could you use Candy’s death as an excuse to guilt me into coming back home?

“That is completely inhumane!”

With that, he hung up on me.

I stared blankly at the display, feeling a burst of anger and sadness swelling inside me. I could not take it.