Chapter 1

I was away on a business trip when my husband lied to my father, saying our house was on fire and I was trapped inside.

My father, a retired firefighter, rushed over immediately. But he was met with an accident on the way.

By the time I reached the emergency room, his pupils were unfocused, his face mangled beyond recognition.

He said weakly, "I'm glad that you're safe, my girl… From now on, I can't protect you anymore…"

Even as he drew his final breath, he kept repeating that I should live well with Murray Howell.

Through my tears, I called Murray to confront him.

But what came through the phone was the sobbing voice of his first love, Elsa Ramos. "I'm sorry, Alice… it was my fault. I lost a game, and Murray couldn't bear to see me punished, so he played a prank and lied to your dad. If you must blame someone, blame me!"

Feeling completely numb, I signed my dad's death certificate and said coldly, "Tell Murray to meet me at the city hall tomorrow morning. We're getting divorced!"

On the other end, Murray gently comforted Elsa before saying impatiently, "Fine, we can divorce. But first, apologize to Elsa. She's easily frightened. You really scared her."

*****

I waited from morning till night, but Murray never showed up at the city hall.

Even after I'd laid my dad to rest, I still didn't catch a glimpse of him.

It wasn't until a week later that he finally came home.

He startled when he saw me sitting quietly on the couch. He barked with a frown, "Why is it dark in here? Are you trying to scare me?"

The sound snapped me out of my daze, and I numbly lifted my gaze.

Murray was decked out in a custom black suit, the overpowering scent of jasmine clinging to him.

I'd caught that same jasmine scent on Elsa before.

Just how close were they for her scent to cling to him so stubbornly?

Seeing me sit there in silence, Murray's expression instantly soured.

He snapped, "You're not still making a fuss over that trivial thing, are you?"

At his words, my hand tightened around the death notice.

He continued, "Elsa lost a game, and everyone started egging her on. As her friend, what's the big deal if I helped her out? You're a woman too, Alice. Can't you at least try to understand what she's going through?"

Murray looked irritated, his voice sharp. "Whatever, I'll buy something for your dad to make up for it. Quit making a fuss!"

He acted like he was totally justified, standing on some moral high ground. But it was already too late.

My dad had stopped breathing a week ago. His injuries were too severe.

He was a single father who did everything he could to raise me, but he never got to enjoy a single day of peace before he was taken from me for good.

Even as he lay dying, he held my hand tight, struggling for every breath.

He said weakly, "Alice... I'm just glad you're safe. I'm sorry, sweetheart... I can't protect you anymore..."

He added, "Try to live well with Murray, okay? Don't cry... it breaks my heart to see you like this..."

Looking at his face, battered beyond recognition, I couldn't stop the tears streaming down my cheeks.

No matter how desperately I begged on my knees, Dad still left me for good.

When his aged hand suddenly slipped from my grasp, a deafening silence filled my head.

Despair sliced through my heart like a razor, breaking me apart inside. "Dad, please open your eyes! Don't leave me..."

None of this should've ever happened to him.

I swallowed my fury, eyes red and glaring at Murray. "Why did you lie to my dad? Why did you make me the butt of your joke? Murray, you're just scum!"

Dad was nearly sixty.

He was a retired firefighter. He should've been enjoying a peaceful retirement.

But because he loved me so much, he got tricked by a fake call... and it cost him his life! And the person who did this to him was someone he loved like family! How was that even fair?

The pain was so intense I could barely breathe.

Murray yelled, "Enough, Alice! I've explained myself. Why are you still making a scene?"

He frowned, then tossed a gift box at me. "I bought this for you. Be satisfied already."

It was a delicate, beautiful platinum necklace.

I let out a cold laugh, picked it up, and tore it apart without a second thought.

The tiny beads were scattered all over the floor, leaving chaos in their wake.

"Alice, are you insane?" Murray's face darkened instantly, looking absolutely furious.

I lifted my chin and shot him a frosty glare. "You actually gave your own wife a knockoff, Murray? You've got some nerve."

Murray was caught off guard, clearly not expecting me to call him out like that.