Chapter 3

Right then, the police officer came out. I ran to her, my voice breaking. "My grandpa wants to kick me and my dad out. He hit my dad too… Grandma just died, and he's already brought home a new wife. What am I going to do? Am I going to have to starve?"

Tears streamed down my face.

The officer's face turned stone cold. "Mr. Smith, is this true?"

Grandpa, who was about to slap, quickly put his hand down. He wiped his forehead and gave a nervous smile. "The kid's just joking. Sorry to bother you. We're heading home now."

I got what I wanted, so I wiped my tears and hugged Dad's leg. I looked up at him and asked, "Dad, you're not going to leave me behind, right?"

He froze, then lifted me into his arms. He was awkward but so warm, "I'm sorry. I've never been a dad before, but you're my kid, so I'll take care of you."

He asked me, "Do you have a name?"

Before I could say anything, he whispered, "Let's call you Remy, for remembrance. Even middle-login me must've missed you."

My heart felt like a kitten was tickling it. It was a funny feeling and not painful, but it made me want to cry. No matter if it was 20 years ago or in 20 years, he always called me Remy. Did he really miss me? If he did, why hadn't he ever hugged me?

He gave me lots of money but never came close to me. Every time I tried to hug him, he would push me away and say with disgust, "If it weren't for you, Zara would have accepted me!"

I was the one in the way of Dad's happiness.

The system explained to me that Dad had been blinded by darkness.

"Your dad was forced into doing the most humiliating thing in his life, and he was almost beaten to death. Zara Stone, the heroine, saved him. That was his chance to start over. He wanted to be with the heroine, but she said it wasn't possible because of you.

"Listen, kiddo. It's not your fault. The grown-ups are just too scared. They won't confront their true feelings... However, you've got to believe that your dad loves you for sure.]

I did not really get it. However, I was totally sure that Dad loved me.

I waited and waited. At last, Dad's hug came. I hugged his neck tight and planted a big kiss on him.

Dad's hand shook and got so warm. Even his ears turned red.

"You can't go around kissing guys, got it?! Especially guys with bleached hair!"

I blinked. "But Dad, your hair is bleached too."

Dad went quiet, then took me straight to a salon. "I'm gonna dye my hair black!"

For months after, Dad did not take me back to the Smiths. He was worried they might pick on me. He was worried he might lose his temper and scare me. He found us an apartment near my school. He bought a whole bunch of parenting books.

Every morning, he was in the kitchen learning to make food for children. Soon enough, he became a great cook. He even started learning how to style hair and could even tie my hair into cute little ponytails.