Chapter 1 · New Year's Eve, Her Final Night

Chapter 1

My husband, Dylan Thompson, didn't love our daughter, Tanya Thompson. He wouldn't even acknowledge her in public, just because she was born deaf and mute.

On New Year's Eve, just because Chloe Summers, the woman Dylan could never forget, said she only wanted a burger made by his own hands, he brought Tanya along to deliver it.

But he should never have left Tanya alone in the car, not even for a minute.

That night was bitter cold. 22°F below zero, with a severe cold warning in effect.

I braved the blizzard, tracking down Dylan's car with my phone's GPS, and finally spotted it parked outside a five-star hotel.

As I got closer, I saw Tanya's delicate fingers had scratched at the door so desperately that her nails had been ripped away.

She wasn't breathing anymore.

At that moment, I collapsed into the snow, utterly shattered.

*****

By the time I got home, it was already one o'clock in the morning.

I turned on the lights and saw Barbie dolls scattered all over the floor. My heart ached.

These were the toys Tanya had been playing with just this morning before she went out.

Her photo was still hanging on the wall.

In it, her smile was radiant.

It was supposed to be New Year's Eve, a night for family reunions. But because of what Dylan had done, my whole world fell apart.

I dragged my exhausted body into Tanya's room, feeling like a walking corpse. I buried my face in the blankets that still held her scent.

Then I couldn't hold it in anymore and broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Tanya, it's all my fault. I deserve to die. Please, forgive me," I murmured.

If only I'd come back from my business trip a little earlier today, maybe none of this would've happened.

I hated myself so much that I wished I had died instead.

"Why are you bawling like someone died on New Year's Eve, Emma?" A harsh shout snapped me out of my sobs.

I turned toward the doorway.

Dylan was standing there, his face twisted with rage. He snatched the robot vacuum off the floor and slammed it down at my feet.

"Who the hell said you could just take my car? Do you have any idea how freezing it was out there? I nearly froze to death because of you!" he yelled.

I gave Chloe, who was standing behind him, a cold look.

I should've been furious, ready to rush over and tear them both apart.

But my heart felt hollow, completely numb.

Honestly, I almost wanted to thank Chloe.

If Chloe hadn't shown off on social media four hours ago, I never would've known Dylan left our five-year-old daughter alone in the car in minus 22°F weather just to make burgers with Chloe.

Just four hours—that was all it took for Dylan to destroy everything I had.

Dylan roared, "Say something! Are you mute or what?

"So that's why Tanya is deaf and mute. She must've gotten it from you."

My silence only sharpened his cruel words.

Yes, Tanya was deaf and mute, but she was gentle and sweet, always trying her best to make us happy. She adored us.

But because of her disability, Dylan refused to love her. He wouldn't even admit to others that she was his daughter.

I sat up, my eyes wandering blankly around Tanya's room. Everything felt unreal, like a bad dream I couldn't wake up from.

When Dylan saw I was ignoring him, he grabbed something, ready to hurl it at me again, but Chloe stepped in and stopped him.

She feigned concern, her voice syrupy sweet. "Emma, you're not mad at me, are you?"

She gave a delicate little smile and added, "I'm really sorry. I just got back here and barely know anyone. Honestly, I had no choice but to ask Dylan for help. Emma, you're always so understanding. You get where I'm coming from, don't you?"

I gave a cold, bitter laugh.

For the past two years, Dylan and Chloe had been glued together, out together night after night, rarely ever coming home.

Dylan wouldn't let me question it. If I tried, he'd blow up, call me petty, and insist Chloe was just his childhood friend, like a sister to him.

A sister? Yeah, right. More like his "special" friend.

The kind who shared his bed.

Honestly, the thought made me sick.

Chapter 1

My husband, Dylan Thompson, didn't love our daughter, Tanya Thompson. He wouldn't even acknowledge her in public, just because she was born deaf and mute.

On New Year's Eve, just because Chloe Summers, the woman Dylan could never forget, said she only wanted a burger made by his own hands, he brought Tanya along to deliver it.

But he should never have left Tanya alone in the car, not even for a minute.

That night was bitter cold. 22°F below zero, with a severe cold warning in effect.

I braved the blizzard, tracking down Dylan's car with my phone's GPS, and finally spotted it parked outside a five-star hotel.

As I got closer, I saw Tanya's delicate fingers had scratched at the door so desperately that her nails had been ripped away.

She wasn't breathing anymore.

At that moment, I collapsed into the snow, utterly shattered.

*****

By the time I got home, it was already one o'clock in the morning.

I turned on the lights and saw Barbie dolls scattered all over the floor. My heart ached.

These were the toys Tanya had been playing with just this morning before she went out.

Her photo was still hanging on the wall.

In it, her smile was radiant.

It was supposed to be New Year's Eve, a night for family reunions. But because of what Dylan had done, my whole world fell apart.

I dragged my exhausted body into Tanya's room, feeling like a walking corpse. I buried my face in the blankets that still held her scent.

Then I couldn't hold it in anymore and broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Tanya, it's all my fault. I deserve to die. Please, forgive me," I murmured.

If only I'd come back from my business trip a little earlier today, maybe none of this would've happened.

I hated myself so much that I wished I had died instead.

"Why are you bawling like someone died on New Year's Eve, Emma?" A harsh shout snapped me out of my sobs.

I turned toward the doorway.

Dylan was standing there, his face twisted with rage. He snatched the robot vacuum off the floor and slammed it down at my feet.

"Who the hell said you could just take my car? Do you have any idea how freezing it was out there? I nearly froze to death because of you!" he yelled.

I gave Chloe, who was standing behind him, a cold look.

I should've been furious, ready to rush over and tear them both apart.

But my heart felt hollow, completely numb.

Honestly, I almost wanted to thank Chloe.

If Chloe hadn't shown off on social media four hours ago, I never would've known Dylan left our five-year-old daughter alone in the car in minus 22°F weather just to make burgers with Chloe.

Just four hours—that was all it took for Dylan to destroy everything I had.

Dylan roared, "Say something! Are you mute or what?

"So that's why Tanya is deaf and mute. She must've gotten it from you."

My silence only sharpened his cruel words.

Yes, Tanya was deaf and mute, but she was gentle and sweet, always trying her best to make us happy. She adored us.

But because of her disability, Dylan refused to love her. He wouldn't even admit to others that she was his daughter.

I sat up, my eyes wandering blankly around Tanya's room. Everything felt unreal, like a bad dream I couldn't wake up from.

When Dylan saw I was ignoring him, he grabbed something, ready to hurl it at me again, but Chloe stepped in and stopped him.

She feigned concern, her voice syrupy sweet. "Emma, you're not mad at me, are you?"

I gave a cold, bitter laugh.

For the past two years, Dylan and Chloe had been glued together, out together night after night, rarely ever coming home.

Dylan wouldn't let me question it. If I tried, he'd blow up, call me petty, and insist Chloe was just his childhood friend, like a sister to him.

A sister? Yeah, right. More like his "special" friend.

The kind who shared his bed.

Honestly, the thought made me sick.