“Daniel? Emily?” Alice’s voice, though restrained, carried an unmistakable undercurrent of disappointment.
Daniel and Emily turned, their gazes meeting Alice’s sharp stare. Emily felt her heart race. She immediately realized how foolish she had been to forget that Daniel was already dating Alice.
“Do you two already know each other?” Alice inquired.
“I’m sorry, Alice. I think I should go home,” Emily replied, her voice trembling with emotion. Her eyes, filled with guilt as she left them standing there in silence.
Daniel rubbed his furrowed brow, Emily’s words had unsettled his defenses. He felt indebted to Alice for preventing him from running to embrace and kiss Emily. His longing for her felt suffocating.
Daniel turned to walk away from Alice, but her hand swiftly reached out, grasping his arm.
“Daniel, we need to talk,” Alice said.
Daniel freed his arm from Alice’s hold, his gaze empty. “Alice, I’m tired. Can we talk some other time?”
“I…” Alice wanted to ask Daniel many things, to understand what had truly happened. But the words seemed stuck in her throat. Confusion clouded her mind, rendering her speechless.
“Fine,” Alice finally replied, her voice sounding weak.
Daniel turned and walked away, leaving Alice standing there, stunned.
“If that’s the case, I’ll leave too,” Richard bid farewell, his voice gentle. However, Alice did not respond, her eyes vacant, fixed on Daniel’s retreating figure.
Daniel’s car left the party venue, carrying Daniel and Richard in silence. Richard drove, his hands gripping the steering wheel, while Daniel sat beside him, his eyes staring blankly at the twinkling city lights outside the window.
“Do you believe in fate?” Daniel murmured, his voice almost a whisper.
Richard turned to look at Daniel’s somber face. “Fate?” he inquired, his tone filled with curiosity.
“A fate that’s terribly unfair,” Daniel replied, his smile bitter. Richard furrowed his brow, not understanding Daniel’s words.
***
Meanwhile, Emily’s tears continued to flow, wetting her cheeks. Pain and disappointment filled her heart. She felt so foolish for forgetting that Daniel already had a girlfriend.
A few moments later, Emily’s car stopped in front of her house. She wiped her tears roughly, trying to hide her sadness before stepping out of the car.
“Back already?” Fred asked, his voice gentle as he saw Emily.
Emily just nodded, her eyes still teary. She wanted to go straight to her room, out of Fred’s sight. However, Fred’s words halted her steps. “Is something wrong?”
Fred’s footsteps approached, and seeing Emily’s swollen face, he knew she had been crying. “Can you tell me what happened?”
Emily’s hand holding the doorknob trembled.
“Em,” Fred called, his voice soft and caring. He turned his daughter around, making Emily face him.
Emily’s tears welled up again, streaming down her cheeks. Fred knew his daughter was not in a good state.
“Em, what’s wrong?” he asked, his voice full of concern.
“Dad, it seems like I’m beyond help. I’m so foolish. I’m foolish,” Emily said, her voice quivering. She embraced her father tightly, seeking protection and comfort in his warm embrace.
Her sobs broke out, wetting Fred’s shirt. Fred gently stroked his daughter’s hair, letting Emily release all her sadness in his arms.
Fred finally managed to lead Emily to sit on the living room sofa, helping her lean back gently. He then handed her a glass of water, hoping it would calm her a little.
“I actually met Daniel again a few days ago,” Emily said, her voice still trembling, but slightly calmer.
“Then what happened? Did he hurt you again?” Fred asked, his voice full of worry.
Emily shook her head softly, tears falling again. “He didn’t hurt me. Before, when I wasn’t seeing him, I could control myself. I thought maybe I could slowly forget him. But it seems I really can’t be helped anymore. Seven years have passed, but I still can’t forget him. I still love him. I miss him,” Emily whispered, full of sadness.
Hearing Emily’s words, Fred’s heart ached. He understood the hidden pain in his daughter’s heart.
“I’m sorry, Dad, if all this time I’ve lied to you by showing that I’ve already forgotten him and that I’m fine. But it seems I’m still hurt and hoping for him. I’m not okay,” Emily explained.
“I know I am the daughter of a murderer. But am I not entitled to happiness in my love life?” Emily asked, her voice whispering, full of despair. Her smile was melancholic, like a withered flower in the scorching sun.
“Stop saying you’re the daughter of a murderer, Em. It’s not your fault. It’s purely your biological father’s fault. No, it’s also my fault because I couldn’t stop your biological father’s actions,” Fred said, his voice trembling with emotion.
Emily shook her head, “It’s not your fault, Dad. The fact is, it’s true. My biological father has killed the parents of the man I love.” Her voice whispered, full of pain. The pain, like a never-healing wound, continued to haunt her.
“Daniel has also managed to avenge his parents’ deaths on you. He managed to toy with your love and left you when you were pregnant with Grace. He has managed to hurt you like this,” Fred said, his voice sounding bitter. Pain and anger mixed in his heart.
“Please, Emily, try to let him go,” Fred pleaded, his voice full of concern.
“I’m trying, Dad. But… it’s so hard.”
Fred fell silent, his gaze fixed on his daughter’s pained expression. “I don’t know if I should say this, but… seeing you blame yourself, calling yourself the daughter of a murderer, it feels like I have to tell you the truth.”
Emily furrowed her brow, confused by her father’s words. “What do you mean, Dad?”
Fred fell silent, his gaze drifting back to the past. His mind wandered to the events of a few years ago, when he couldn’t bear to see his daughter’s suffering after being left alone by Daniel when she was pregnant. His love for Emily, priceless as it was, made him unable to stand idly by. He finally decided to seek out Daniel at his residence.
“I want to meet with Daniel. Where is that scoundrel?” Fred’s voice was full of anger, echoing in the room. The household assistants standing there could only remain silent, fearful.
Daniel emerged from the staircase, his face calm, seemingly undisturbed by the raging anger before him. “What’s going on?”
“Scoundrel!” Fred growled, his body trembling with rage. He stepped forward, his steps filled with vengeance. His fist clenched, ready to unleash his anger. With a powerful blow, Fred struck Daniel’s jaw.
The household assistants stood frozen, their faces pale. “Master!” they cried out.
Daniel, with calm demeanor, raised his hands. “Leave us,” he commanded, his voice still flat and unwavering.