Lahat ng Kabanata ng Farewell, Dad: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

"Take the remains back and confirm the victim's identity."Dad's face stayed set in its usual grim lines. He was still dressed in the sharp suit he'd worn to Angeline's coming-of-age ceremony.I'd once dreamed about my own ceremony, walking onto a stage with my hand tucked into the crook of his arm. In the dream, when he turned his face away, his expression twisted into something monstrous, and his hands clamped around my throat, choking the life out of me while he screamed."You're a murderer. Why are you even still alive?"I'd woken from that nightmare in a cold sweat, already certain of one thing: Dad would never do anything for me. He wouldn't even give me a simple birthday.That was because, his most beloved son had died in front of me on my birthday. Dad had held my brother's body with bloodshot eyes and hurled curses at me."Why did you have to go out for a cake? Why wasn't it you who died instead?"I'd been too stunned to even open my mouth in my own defense.Maybe it r

Everyone else was still caught up in the noise and laughter. I was the only one who noticed the sudden, razor-sharp look that crossed the new housekeeper's face.All at once, it hit me. Wasn't this the very woman who had killed me?I recognized the mole on her neck. I'd never forget it. That night, she'd covered herself head to toe, but when she bent over me in a frenzy, hacking my body apart, her neck had briefly been exposed for just a moment.I cried out and ran to Dad, trying to grab his arm. "Dad, run! She's here for revenge!"But my hand passed straight through him. He kept right on eating his lunch, oblivious, a happy smile spread across his face.I nearly broke down. I'd almost forgotten I was only a soul now. Even with my own killer standing right in front of me, there was nothing I could do about it.But I couldn't make sense of it. When had Dad caused this woman’s son to die?While I was still racking my brain over it, someone burst into the station, shouting. "We've

My birthday ten years ago was probably the most unforgettable day of my life. It was also the day Angeline came to live with us. She was the daughter of one of Dad's old comrades from the army, and after both her parents died, she'd been entrusted to his care.Actually, Angeline's birthday wasn't the same day as mine. She was two months younger. But she'd said she wanted a fresh start, that coming to our family was like being reborn, so she'd simply decided to share my birthday from then on.I still remembered the quiet resilience in her eyes back then. I'd made a private vow to myself that I'd always treat her well.It took her almost no time at all to win over every heart in our family of three.Mom had died young, and for years, Dad had played both parents at once. My brother, Dennis Marlon, was already an adult by then, a police officer just like Dad.That year, on my birthday, I'd wanted to buy a cake for Angeline too, something to make her feel the warmth of a real family.

Dad's eyes had turned dark and dangerous. Every line of his face said he wanted to kill her right there, but some part of him was still waiting to hear what she'd say next.The housekeeper's lips curled, faintly triumphant. "I told her, if she died, I'd spare your life."Dad's grip went slack, and he sank to the floor, all the strength gone out of him.The housekeeper burst out laughing. "You absolute fool. All these years, I watched your family. I watched you convince yourself your own daughter was the one who got your son killed, while you doted on the real culprit!"I actually thought it was an act, that you were just protecting yourself in case I came for revenge. I refused to believe any parent could truly not love their own child. That's why I took your daughter."But what a shame. Turns out you really were that much of a fool. Do you even deserve to call yourself a detective?"I lowered my eyes, a mist of tears blurring my vision. She was right. Some parents really don't l