“Help! There’s a child in there!”
Ethan’s face paled. Fear flickered, but Sarah
spoke.
“Sister, weren’t you going to give Timmy a big
doll? It’s probably burnt now, such a shame!”
Ethan readily believed her.
He remained by Sarah’s side.
“Chelsea, you’re cleverer than I thought! You
bribed my men to act with you, using a doll!
But I’m not fooled! You wanted me to rush to
the car and cry with you?”
“You disgust me!”
I looked at Sarah. Her smile was undeniable
く
She’d mouthed a word when the rescuer
shouted.
“Serves you right.”
Two rescuers approached, panicked.
“Captain! There was a child! The fire… we
couldn’t save her!”
My heart shattered. I collapsed, sobbing
uncontrollably.
Ethan, holding Sarah’s son, kicked me.
“Ignore her, it was a life–sized doll, a gift she
was giving my godson, and it’s burned. Don’t
make a fuss.”
“But…but the child moved!”
Ethan was stunned, but Sarah said,
“It’s normal; sister said the doll’s joints
moved! The fire melted it, making it seem like
it moved! Here’s a picture, I took it off of
your social media last night!”
She showed them a picture of the doll I’d
posted – I’d promised Timmy one after
く
Sarah’s son bombarded me with messages.
The rescuers hesitated, then mostly believed
her. One remained doubtful.
“But Captain, it could be your child…”
Ethan interrupted.
“You care about this child, are you her
father? When did you get with my wife?
You’re both adulterers! That’s why you helped
her, right? She gave you money, and… slept
with you all?”
“Chelsea, you’re spending so much on this
charade just to compete with Sarah! No
wonder Grandma wanted me to marry you-
you used underhanded tactics!”
I was numb. I had no strength to defend
myself. A bitter smile touched my lips. My
tears flowed silently.
Ethan, you don’t know our daughter is dead-
dead because of your indifference!
The rescuers dared not speak, restraining
く
themselves from attacking Ethan. They pitied
- me.
I didn’t care. I sat there, filled with despair
and grief.
“Ethan, let’s divorce.”
Ethan was shocked.
“Why? You’re playing hard to get! You think
this will win me back? You’re ruining the
family name over a burnt doll!”
“If you wanted me to attend our daughter’s birthday, you just had to tell me! I would’ve
gotten her more dolls!”
My heart died. I looked up at him and laughed
bitterly.
“Ethan, you knew it was our daughter’s
birthday today…”
Ethan’s face changed. He avoided my gaze.
Every birthday, he’d claimed an emergency. I
–
finally understood he deliberately avoided
her.
L
Our daughter, understanding, had wiped my
tears.
“Mommy, don’t cry. I don’t need Daddy for
birthdays anymore, I just want to be with
Mommy.”
I turned off my phone, holding my daughter.
On the screen, Ethan was celebrating Sarah’s
son’s birthday…days before.
Someone extinguished the fire. My daughter’s
remains were ash.
Ethan glanced, then scoffed.
“Chelsea, what do you have to say now?
There’s nothing there! When will you stop
lying!”
A rescuer pointed.
“Captain, that looks like…burnt human
tissue…”
