Your Remorse Is Five Years Too Late

"Hasn't Zachary Chapman been missing for years now? Could this be some prank he's pulling?"

"After all his wrongdoings, I bet he wouldn't dare show up! My dad says people like him are criminals and should be arrested by the police!"

Upon hearing my classmates' voices, I slowly opened my eyes.

Teachers and students were crowded around the school's large display screen, chattering and discussing among themselves.

Curious, I moved closer to look, but was startled by the sight of my own face on the screen.

"Zachary?"

When I heard the familiar voice, I turned to look. It was Dad!

I excitedly ran toward my dad, Lewis Chapman.

Dad was holding hands with Phoebe Chapman, my younger sister, as he entered the school. He looked somewhat angry.

Having not seen Dad for so long, I felt slightly resentful when I saw him again. But why wasn't Dad happy when he saw me on the big screen?

Phoebe reached out and tugged at Dad's sleeve. "Dad, it's all my fault. If only I hadn't made my brother angry that day… Then he wouldn't have gone missing, and you and Mom wouldn't have gotten divorced because of him."

I stared intently at Dad, whose brows were tightly furrowed. "Listen here! That good-for-nothing is not your brother! I don't have a son like him!"

Dad's yells scared Phoebe into tears. Distraught, he hugged her and gently comforted her, saying, "Fifi, I'm not angry with you. It's all because of Zachary! He never treated you like a real sister. He's the one who should apologize for doing such inhumane things!"

When I heard Dad scolding me, I immediately started crying.

Mom told me that once people became stars in the sky, they wouldn't feel pain anymore. But why did my heart still hurt so much?

I drifted toward Dad and Phoebe, unable to resist defending myself in a soft voice. "No, Dad. I didn't do those things…"

I called out for Dad over and over again, hoping he would hug me too. But Dad's doting gaze passed right through me and landed on Phoebe.

I paced around anxiously. My nose stung, and I pouted, feeling the urge to cry again.

The school principal hurried over to Dad's side.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Chapman! The school's display screen has been hacked. Our technical staff said it might be someone using the latest technology.

"They've extracted… memories from your son's brain. We can't restore it for a while."

I saw Dad's expression shift through different emotions, but he finally said with a frown, "Then why are you still standing here? Go and find out who did it!"

My classmates pointed at my photo on the screen, discussing in low voices.

"Zachary and Phoebe are clearly twins. Phoebe's grades are good, while Zachary defies the teachers every day!"

"Exactly! He clearly stole the class fund yet dared to call the police. He almost got Ms. Lily fired!"

"Zachary even deliberately abandoned Phoebe, resulting in her getting kidnapped by traffickers! She was almost sold to a family in the countryside!"

"My dad said Zachary even helped the traffickers kidnap children! He's utterly wicked!"

I shook my head, choking up. When did my classmates, who usually got along so well with me, all start to hate me so much?

Upon hearing those words, a murderous look flashed through Dad's eyes.

"If I had known that Zachary would turn out like this, I would have strangled him at birth!"

I felt like crying again.

Once, Dad clearly said I was the best gift heaven had given him. How could he say such things about me?

Suddenly, I felt an intense pain course through my entire body. It felt as though I was just like that car toy Phoebe had crushed.

Even breathing became difficult, and I felt like I was dying. I kept softly calling for Dad, hoping he would hold me like he used to.

I didn't know how long passed before I finally had the strength to get up from the ground.

Just then, the school's display screen lit up. When Dad looked at it, he couldn't help but get teary-eyed.

"What is this?"