Chapter 3

"Mommy, why are we being cut off from the photo?"

A week later, I returned from the dance studio. Beatrice was sitting in the living room with Dakota and Xander. Next to her was a stack of old photo albums from the Anderson family home.

Those photos were developed from film.

When Sadie was three, we took a family portrait using an old film camera. After the photography studio was moved, the film negatives were lost. This was the only photo we had left.

I asked why they were here.

Beatrice tossed her spare key onto the table.

"This is my son's house. Do I have to get your permission to take a few photos?"

Jasper walked out of his study.

"Dakota wants to make a birthday album. She'll leave in thirty minutes."

Sadie ran out from the kitchen as she held two cut-up photos.

There was half of my face in one torn photo, and another one of Sadie wearing a white dress while holding Jasper's hand. However, she was cut off at her shoulder.

This was our only formal family portrait.

After Sadie was discharged from the hospital after having pneumonia, Jasper surprisingly pushed back one of his meetings to go to the photography studio with us.

She kept saying that Jasper felt like her true father that day.

However, the photo frame was empty.

Xander was about to turn eight.

Dakota wanted to make a father-son photo album, but she only had photos of Jasper and Xander for the past few years.

In order to recreate every single year of Xander's childhood, Beatrice cut Jasper off our photos and pasted him into Xander's photobook.

Sadie's first birthday party. Jasper was carrying her in the photo, yet it had changed to a photo of Xander as a baby.

Our first vacation photo was cut out. Jasper and Dakota were left standing on the beach.

Even the photo of Beatrice's birthday was changed to a photo of her and Xander.

They were making up a fake history for Xander, as if he had a father around when he grew up.

Xander showed us another photo that he had pasted together.

"Mommy said that on my birthday, we'll show this to everyone. Then, everyone will know that I grew up with Daddy."

Dakota quickly covered his mouth.

"Xander's being silly. Lilian, please don't take it to heart."

I looked at Jasper.

"Did I give you permission to touch my photos?"

"These are just some old photos. I'll get someone to recover these and give you a new set of photos."

"Why can't you be the only one that's cut out?"

Sadie squatted next to the trash can and tried to piece the pieces of photos of us back together.

Jasper did not answer me.

He kept thinking that everything could be recovered, and that he would be able to go for another performance when he missed the previous one.

He thought he would be able to recover these damaged photos with money. People who were hurt by him should recover after his apology.

Beatrice scolded Sadie.

"Xander just wanted to create a photo album.

"Why are you acting like your photos are some treasure?"

She looked at Xander and said without thinking, "When Xander smiles, he looks exactly like Jasper when he was younger."

After she said that, she immediately hung her head.

Beatrice asked the helpers to clear out the dance studio for them to take a photo for their album cover.

Sadie hugged the empty photo frame.

"That's my room. I don't want to lend it to anyone."

Jasper crouched down to persuade her.

"Xander is only using it for a night.

"You're always very understanding. Why are you being so petty now?"

Xander thought the photo frame was needed for his photo shoot, so he reached out to take it from Sadie.

As they were tugging, the photo frame fell and the glass smashed.

Sadie subconsciously wanted to pick up the pieces, but Jasper pushed her aside.

"Don't touch Xander!"

Her back hit against the wall, and her palm was cut open by the shards.

Jasper examined Xander to make sure he was fine before he grabbed Sadie's hand.

"Why are you so careless?"

He treated Sadie's wound, and he was very gentle with it.

"I care about you. That's why I hope you'll be understanding.

"Xander doesn't have a complete family. It doesn't hurt you to share with him."

Sadie retracted her bleeding hand and picked up the photo as she hung her head.

"I want to stick Mom back."

Jasper cleared his throat.

"I'll find the best editor to restore this photo. I promise you won't even be able to tell that it was torn up."

Sadie shook her head. "But it still got cut out in the first place."

Xander urged Jasper to write a message for his photo album.

Jasper hesitated for a second before writing: Daddy will be here whenever you look back.

Sadie took out her homework that needed Jasper's signature, which she failed to get for two weeks, and tore it into pieces before him.

"Mommy, let's go out.

"I don't want to see Daddy writing this message for someone else anymore."