Chapter 2
"Lucas already admitted it himself. Just quit trying to argue," someone said.
"No father would ever hurt his own kid. He must've been totally let down before he finally decided to spill the truth," another person added.
What followed were the sneers and scorn of friends, the gossip of neighbors…
Erica even lost the hard-earned spot she'd secured for grad school.
The family of the deceased was convinced Erica was the culprit, showing up at our door every day and causing a ruckus.
They sent her dead rats and splashed reeking dog blood at our doorstep.
The endless harassment meant Erica couldn't catch a break.
No matter how hard I tried to shield Erica, she still faded away, like a flower wilting overnight.
"Mom, I just don't get it. Why would Dad lie and hurt me? But I'm his daughter..." Erica said, her voice full of confusion.
When I saw the blank, pain-filled look in her eyes, it felt like someone was stabbing me in the chest. I just couldn't say a word.
Erica just couldn't hold it together anymore. She finally hit her breaking point.
She was the kind of girl who'd act all cute and playful, even when taking her medicine.
Yet she swallowed a whole bottle of sleeping pills... How much pain, how much despair did she suffer?
Finally, the call went through.
But before I could even get a word out, Lucas's voice came on the phone, full of anger and impatience.
"Is Erica acting up again? When is she ever going to stop? Didn't we agree I'd send her abroad once things quiet down? Don't get greedy," he snapped.
He continued, "She threatens to kill herself just because people say a couple of nasty things? How did I get stuck with such a spineless daughter?"
Looking at Erica, who was barely conscious and on the brink of collapse, I felt my heart shatter.
"Lucas, I'm not trying to fight with you. Erica's in the hospital. She's in critical condition. You need to come right now..." I pleaded.
Before I could finish, a woman's voice interrupted from the other end.
"Lucas, the awards ceremony is about to start. Come here, let me fix your tie," she said.
She added, "If it weren't for you these past few days, Maisy and I would be completely lost..."
I instantly recognized Candice's voice, and Lucas's attention immediately shifted to her.
The next second, the call was abruptly cut off.
The monotonous beeping of the machines echoed coldly through the ER.
I felt most of my soul freeze. I stood there for a long moment, then instinctively reached to cover Erica's ears.
But now, dark blood kept oozing from her ears. She looked so fragile, like a shattered porcelain doll.
I was too scared to even lay a finger on her.
I tried my best to hold back, but the tears just kept coming, no matter how hard I tried.
"Mom, don't cry... I'm not hurting. I'll be free soon... Mom, you should be happy for me..." Erica whispered, her voice barely above a breath.
On the hospital bed, Erica's face was so pale it was almost transparent. She managed a comforting smile for me, but her eyes were already starting to fade.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I can't be with you anymore. And... please don't call Dad, okay? I hate him... He's no father to me... In my next life... all I want is for you to be with me..." she murmured, her voice fading away.
Seeing her hand drop lifelessly, I lost it completely.
I didn't even remember being shoved out of the ER.
I couldn't recall how many people walked past me.
Day turned into night. Finally, the surgeon stepped out, his face filled with sorrow.
In that moment, my mind just shattered.
I clapped my hands over my ears, desperate to block out every sound from the world around me.
I dropped to my knees, my voice raw and hoarse as I let out a gut-wrenching wail. Despair crashed over me, leaving me utterly broken.
But just then, a jarring announcement blasted through my mind.
Suddenly, the hospital's big screen lit up with footage of Lucas being interviewed.
All because of his so-called selfless deed, he'd been exceptionally named one of the Top Ten Model Fathers of the City.
He faced the camera in a crisp suit, looking every bit the picture of success and pride.
Behind him stood Candice and Maisy, both dressed to the nines.
They stood there together, posing as one big happy family.
A tidal wave of hatred crashed over me. I wanted to rip those executioners to shreds with my bare hands.
As the reporter started asking questions, Lucas stood protectively in front of Candice and Maisy, then began publicly condemning Erica with a self-righteous speech.
He said, "I'm Erica's father, but above all, I'm a responsible member of society. If a child goes astray, the father must bear the blame for not teaching well. She did wrong, and she must face the consequences."
He continued, "From now on, I'll make sure she changes for the better. Please, everyone, trust me!"
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause.
Everyone was going wild for Lucas, praising him as the perfect dad and the ultimate role model.
"If I had a dad like Lucas, I'd be so happy I'd wake up laughing in my sleep!" someone shouted.
"How does a guy like him end up with a daughter who'd run someone over and flee? What a shame!" another added.
At the very end of her life, when Erica was hanging on by a thread, she was still being shamelessly used by Lucas.
He turned her suffering into his own springboard, draining her dry just to boost his reputation. He would've stripped her to the bone if he could.
Erica was right. Someone like him never deserved to call himself her father.
I was barely holding myself together, forcing down the heartbreak that threatened to tear me apart.
With trembling hands, I bent down and gave Erica one last kiss on her cold, pale cheek.
"Erica, don't be scared. No one will ever hurt you again. Don't worry, baby. I promise you, I'll drag every last one of those monsters to hell. They'll pay for their sins," I whispered, my voice thick with grief.
Lucas, Candice, and Maisy. I swore I would make them pay in blood for what they had done!