Chapter 2

His emotional detachment disorder wasn't a blanket diagnosis. It was selective.

Vanessa and Chloe didn't have to lift a finger to get his undivided affection. But Lily and I had spent six years bleeding for him, and the scales never tipped in our favor for a single day.

The corner of Adrian's study was piled high with gifts Lily and I had given him over the years. He never glanced at them. He just let them gather dust.

But Chloe's braided string? He placed it front and center, treating it like a priceless artifact.

I didn't want to lie to Lily, but as I struggled to find words that wouldn't shatter her, she seemed to understand. She just hugged me in silence.

I tallied it in my head.

Two chances left, Adrian.

After that night, Lily never took another step toward his study.

On the surface, she stopped hovering around him, but whenever he walked through the door, her eyes still instinctively tracked him. If Adrian even looked like he was about to speak to her, her shoulders would hunch in defense. Seeing this, Adrian would just swallow his words and walk away.

Until her birthday approached. She finally mustered the courage to ask.

"Dad? Are you coming to my birthday?"

Adrian, who was currently admiring the string knot on his shelf, frowned.

"When is it?"

He didn't even remember.

Lily didn't cry. She just answered earnestly, "Friday. Will you be there?"

Adrian thought for a second, then shook his head. "I'm busy."

Lily lowered her head, already making excuses for him. "Dad's just busy. It's okay."

She looked up at me. "Mom, let's just celebrate with Grandma Margaret."

Seeing her try so hard to be mature broke me. I pulled her into my arms. "Okay, sweetie. We'll celebrate with Grandma."

On the day of the party, Lily tried her best to hide her disappointment, but Margaret Reed noticed immediately.

"What's with the long face, Lily-bug? Who upset you?"

Lily shook her head so hard her pigtails flew. "I'm not upset."

Margaret stroked her hair, feigning a guess. "Is it because Dad isn't here? Do you miss him?"

Caught, Lily still defended him. "Dad is just really busy. Don't be mad at him, Grandma."

"How could he miss my good girl's birthday?" Margaret chuckled. "I'll text him right now."

She pulled out her phone and pretended to type a message. She didn't actually send anything.

Lily didn't notice. The color slowly returned to her cheeks.

"Don't worry," Margaret lied smoothly. "Your Dad says he's on his way."

The light sparked back in Lily's eyes. "Really? He's really coming?"

"Of course," Margaret smiled.

I didn't expose the lie. I just wanted Lily to have one happy day.

"Isn't the Regional Children's Art Competition next week? I bet she'll take first place again," Margaret beamed proudly. "Our Lily is so talented!"

"Adrian's company is looking for a child art prodigy right now. Lily would be perfect for it."

Lily had never received a word of validation from Adrian. Hearing this, she looked at me. "Mom, can I do it?"

"Of course you can."

After cake, Lily went to use the bathroom. Margaret went with her.

Less than two minutes later, I heard Lily scream.

"I'm Dad's daughter! You're not!"