Chapter 1

The word hit me like a bolt, freezing me in place.In an instant, I leaped up, snatched the card from her hands, and warily scanned the room.Despite the silence around us, my pulse refused to slow. My hands tightened on her arms."Ouch!" Stephanie Moody cried out. "Dad, you're hurting me!""Quiet!" I snapped, terror overwhelming me.My second wife, Florence Moody, rushed out of the bedroom, alarmed by the noise. She pulled Stephanie into her arms and glared at me. "Have you lost your mind? Why are you scaring her?"Sweat beading on my skin, I stammered, "Did you hear what she called me?"Before Florence could respond, Stephanie sobbed, "Why can't I call you that? Aren't I your daughter? The kids at school say I'm not."I tried to explain, but words died in my throat. I'd lost three children before, all dying moments after calling me Dad.Each death was different. My eldest child convulsed, foaming at the mouth; my second collapsed, unconscious.They all died instantly, and a

Chapter 2

I stood paralyzed as Florence desperately clutched Stephanie, sobbing uncontrollably.Paramedics arrived, confirming Stephanie had no vital signs."No! She was healthy. How could she just die?" Florence screamed, collapsing in grief.The doctor's heavy gaze fell on me. Before he could say anything, Florence's rage flared. "I don't believe she died just from saying Dad. I demand an autopsy. I need to know what killed her!"The autopsy room's lights dimmed. The doctor came out, sighing, "We couldn't identify the sudden illness that took her."Inside, Stephanie's body was marred with incisions. Overcome with grief, Florence glared at me. "Why? Why did she die right after calling you Dad? What did you do?"I could only shake my head. "I don't know. She was my child, too. I'd never hurt her."I sank to my knees, broken, but the crowd showed no sympathy."I pitied him before, but now he deserves this. He knows kids die around him, yet he keeps trying.""His ex-wife gets remarried an

Chapter 3

Florence's words drew every eye to me."There's a truth here. These deaths are too strange.""What's the real story?"The crowd turned to Florence, but her accusing stare pinned me."You want the truth?" I smiled bitterly. "I'm desperate to find out. I loved them more than anyone else, but I don't know why they died after saying Dad.""You're lying!" Florence slapped me, pointing at Stephanie's body, covered by a sheet. "That's not Stephanie. She's alive, isn't she? Where are you hiding her? Give her back!"The room froze.With the body lying there, they believed Florence's grief had broken her. But then, she showed a live video feed. In it, Stephanie was at preschool, alive and well.All eyes shifted to the corpse, whose identity was now questionable."Why are you doing this?" Florence pressed. "Give me my daughter back. Which school is she at? When did you switch her?""I didn't," I started, but Dora cut me off. "Kurt, stop lying!"She went over to Florence, tears streamin

Chapter 4

My heart raced as I faced Florence's despair and my parents' crocodile tears.The realization hit me like a bolt. I laughed bitterly, but someone kicked me. "Still laughing, you bastard?"Another echoed, "We have witnesses. Confess how you killed those kids!"I took a shaky breath. "Who are you to judge me? If you think I'm guilty, call the police. Let them decide."The crowd wasn't impressed. "They let you walk away because there was no evidence. You won't be so lucky this time. Your parents will put you away."Soon, officers pushed through. "Who reported a murderer?"Multiple voices answered. They had called 911 the moment my parents accused me.The leading officer frowned. "We ruled those deaths sudden. Why is he a killer now?""His parents spilled the truth!" someone replied."Yeah. They saw him do it!" another echoed.The officers turned to my parents, who wiped tears and sighed. "Officers, we covered for him before. That's our sin. We thought he'd change, but watching h

Chapter 5

The detective leaned in. "Absolutely.""I have one condition. I need to see my wife," I said.They hesitated, exchanging looks.Florence, consumed by hatred, demanded my punishment and refused to talk.Her therapist advised against a meeting. The detective mulled it over and approached her.When we met, Florence was gaunt, broken.Guilt overwhelmed me. I was a terrible father and husband.She asked coldly, "What do you want?"I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for our loss. Do you remember the video you got the day Stephanie died?"Her eyes narrowed. "How did you know someone sent it to me?""I arranged it," I replied.She froze, confused. "What? Why? Who's the girl? Is it Stephanie? What is going on? Tell me the truth."I shook my head. "It's not Stephanie. But if you like her, take her and leave town.""What do you mean?" she asked, frowning. "If she's not Stephanie, why would I take her? Her parents wouldn't allow it. Make it clear."She pounded the glass, but I ended th

Chapter 6

My parents paled.Before they could respond, a juror shouted, "You're using their love to make them take the fall? That's low!"The crowd piled on, and my parents relaxed."I've spoiled him too long," Dora declared. "I'm guilty, but I won't take the blame this time. It'd dishonor those children."She sounded so righteous, but I didn't argue with her. Instead, I turned to the judge and claimed, "I have proof they killed my kids."My parents froze, and the room buzzed.I produced an audio recording. The judge had it played, and everyone was stunned.My parents' voices echoed."Kurt is breaking down. He'll stop having kids.""Don't worry. I've contacted a top therapist. We'll keep him trying forever. As long as the cause stays hidden, we'll call it an accident."Dora's voice shook. "What if it comes out?""There is no proof," Henry Moody laughed. "We'll say he killed them. If he suspects anything, we'll spin it as him exploiting our love. Either way, he'll take the fall."The

Chapter 7

"How could those old folks do it? Why?""With this evidence, it's undeniable.""Killing their grandkids is sick. Why target a girl they just suspected? What's the grudge?""They acted so lovingly but nearly drove their son mad.""Why did they do that?"My parents frantically shook their heads. "Those were our grandkids. We'd never harm them. You're all crazy!"The crowd wasn't convinced. "This couple has lost it, biting at us like this."My parents retorted, "Everyone knows those kids died strangely. How could we pull that off in public?"The crowd wondered what could cause such instant deaths, while my heart ached with the truth.I took a deep breath and revealed, "I never thought you'd do this. Their symptoms varied, but the cause was one: fright-induced heart attacks."Our family had a genetic heart condition, known to my ex-wife and me. The doctor said it was mild and manageable with care, so we went on with the kids.My parents deliberately stressed the kids when they l

All Chapters of Father's Day Deadly Gift: Chapter 1 - Chapter 7