Chapter 4

After returning home, Mark slammed the door shut, but his first reaction wasn't to apologize to Lily. Instead, he walked over anxiously to Grace, who was lying on the couch sobbing softly.

"Grace just got to this home and lacks a sense of security. She was just terrified of losing attention!" Mark turned around, shouting at me righteously.

"Elena, since Lily didn't take it, what's wrong with taking a little unfair treatment? Did you really have to make such a scene at school just now?"

"Now Grace is terrified into having a panic attack, and I need to take her to the hospital!"

Watching him stand there, flinging blame without a second thought, the last ember of affection I had for him died out.

"Mark." My voice was flat, like a pool of dead water. "She accused your biological daughter of being a thief. You let the entire school's teachers and students interrogate Lily like a criminal."

"Isn't Lily completely fine!" Mark waved his hand in annoyance, grabbing his car keys and turning to leave.

"Grace is shaking! I don't have time to waste talking to you. I'm staying at the hospital with Grace tonight, so you two don't need to wait up for me."

The moment the door slammed shut, the entire room fell dead quiet.

Lily walked silently to her desk, pulling out that old scrapbook once again.

Her tears fell onto it, drop by drop.

The 30th black butterfly sticker was stuck onto it.

The entire scrapbook was completely full.

Watching Lily do this, I couldn't endure it any longer.

I could not let my daughter live in a family like this.

I knelt down, gently wiped away her tears, and kissed her forehead.

"Sweetie, Mommy is taking you away from here. This kind of thing will never happen again."

In the time that followed, I swiftly completed all the preparations.

Taking our passports, birth certificates, and other documents for Lily and me.

Packing up Lily's favorite clothes and books.

I placed the Divorce and Custody Agreement, drafted with the help of my lawyer, on Mark's desk.

Beside the desk lay that old scrapbook, filled with 30 black butterfly stickers.

I wanted Mark to know just how much damage he had inflicted on his own daughter, and that Lily was completely disappointed in him.

At one in the morning, the wind and rain outside howled in.

I carried two suitcases to the entryway. Lily was fully dressed, holding my hand quietly.

My phone screen suddenly lit up. It was a text from Mark.

Grace and I are resting at the hospital. Remember to make some light oatmeal for Grace tomorrow morning, and stop dwelling on what happened today.

Looking at this text message, a sarcastic curve touched the corner of my lips.

I didn't reply.

I popped the SIM card out of my phone, snapped it in half, and casually tossed it into the trash can.

In the pitch-black night, a pre-booked taxi was parked by the curb.

I took Lily's small hand, pushed the door open, and then closed that front door that had once carried our happiness.