Chapter 3

After Vivian and Nancy left, I called my mom. I told her I was coming home for New Year's Day.

My mom, Melody, asked excitedly, "Did you get custody of Nancy?"

I froze for a moment before I found my voice and said, "I withdrew the case. I don't want custody anymore."

She didn't ask why. All she could offer was a sigh. "Come home. This year, I made plenty of the smoked sausages you like."

I suddenly wanted to cry.

All these years, I hadn't had time to go home to my parents' for the New Year's Day because I had been fighting for custody of my daughter.

Every time my mom called and asked if I was coming home, I turned her down by saying I had a court hearing.

Although she never said anything, I knew many of my relatives were laughing at me behind my back for not letting things go. They said I insisted on dragging things to court until New Year's Eve and left Mom alone for the holidays.

So, this time, I gave up on wanting my daughter anymore.

I wanted to go home.

-

The next day, I started packing my things in the apartment I had been renting.

All these years, I had built my life around Vivian and Nancy to the point that everything I owned fit into a single luggage.

Just as I got into the car, I received a call from the hospital.

"Excuse me, are you Nancy's father? She accidentally ate peanuts and went into anaphylactic shock. Please come to the hospital as soon as possible."

I checked the time on my plane ticket and called Vivian, but she didn't answer.

Maybe there was still a hint of fatherly love inside me, because I immediately told the driver to turn around and head to the hospital instead.

But… When I arrived outside the ward, I heard laughter inside when I touched the doorknob.

It was Jason.

"Nancy, let's make a bet. Let's see whether your dad rushes over," Jason said.

Nancy's voice came from the other side of the door without a hint of weakness, much less an anaphylactic shock. "I don't think he will. He already said he doesn't care about me anymore."

"Then I bet he will. Your dad fought six years off in the courts for your custody after all. He won't give up on you that easily," Jason said.

I stood outside the door, listening to them making a bet on what I would do. It felt as if an interposing hand had closed around my heart. Even my fingertips started to tremble from the pain.

Fury surged in my chest.

I shoved the hospital room door open. Nancy was so startled that she covered her mouth, embarrassment plain on her face now that she had been caught.

"Aren't you in shock? Why did you lie?" I yelled, my voice filled with anger.

I had never imagined that my daughter would one day play a trick like this on me.

Nancy's face flushed bright red. She showed me the red marks from the allergic reaction on the back of her hand and muttered, "I didn't lie."

Jason stepped in front of her and said, "Landon, don't lose your temper to a child."

I stared at Jason. All these years, I hadn't gone after him only because Vivian had hidden him so well. The scenes of him cheating with Vivian played through my mind again and again.

I never could have imagined that my childhood friend would steal my wife.

And now, he had stolen my daughter too.

My resentment intensified, and I hit him in the face.

"That's for teaching her to lie."

When Nancy saw me hit Jason, she jumped down from the bed and she sank her teeth into my arm, her fists beating against my hand. "Daddy! Don't hurt Jason!"

Jason held his cheek, his eyes reddened and his voice filled with guilt.

"I'm sorry, Landon. This was all my fault. I just wanted Nancy to spend more time with you. I couldn't find a reason to make you come, so I had Nancy lie and say she was having a serious allergic reaction. I should've stayed out of this."

As soon as he finished speaking, the hospital room door opened.

It was Vivian.

She had heard him too, and her eyes were full of torment when she looked at Jason. When she turned to me, however, her eyes were filled with anger.

"Landon, are you mad?"