Chapter 6
I returned to Father Eldridge’s church.
Back in the familiar place, breathing in the familiar scent, memories of the five years of suffering in my marriage overwhelmed me, and I couldn’t help but cry.
Glad it was over. I cried while lighting a candle for Anna, hoping to guide her soul to the next world.
Father Eldridge told me to rest in my old room. I sat on the wooden bed as my phone kept buzzing with notifications.
It turned out the notifications were from the security cameras in the Gibsons‘ villa, which I had installed to keep track of Anna’s daily growth.
I opened the surveillance feed, but when I tried to turn it off, my phone’s touchscreen broke.
On the monitor, Cyrus was still on his knees, his face full of grief, muttering in disbelief, “Anna is dead. I killed my daughter.”
Julia pulled Elise to approach Cyrus, looking at him sadly.
“Cyrus, the floor is cold. Your knees can’t take it. Get up, please! Didn’t you promise Elise you’d be her dad? It’s okay, you still have Elise as your daughter!
“Elise, help Daddy get up. Don’t let him catch a cold.”
Elise obediently called out “Daddy” and reached out to help Cyrus.
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Cyrus, however, pulled his arm away with a hint of disgust and asked her, “Elise, tell me. What did Anna say to you when she was holding that photo from the zoo?”
Elise answered nervously, “Anna showed me the photo and bragged, saying that Daddy took her to the zoo and bought her candy. Then she made fun of me for not having a dad. I cried, ran to find Mommy, and fell down.”
Cyrus noticed something was off, smirked, and asked, “Why is it different from what you said last time? Didn’t you tell me that Anna showed you the photo, bragged, and then pushed you, making you fall?”
Elise immediately panicked and threw herself into Julia’s arms, crying.
“Sobs… Daddy is so mean. Mommy, what did you tell me to say last time? Can you please teach me again, so I can tell Daddy?”
Julia panicked and patted Elise’s back, trying to calm her down and stop her from talking. She then nervously glanced at Cyrus.
“Cyrus, Elise still has a cold and pneumonia. She’s not fully recovered. That’s why she’s talking nonsense.
“Listen, I never taught Elise to slander Anna. I’ve always told her to treat Anna like an older sister, but the problem is that Anna is never fond of Elise. It must be Evelyn who instigated Anna to bully Elise.”
Cyrus glared at Julia and yelled, “Enough!” He rubbed his nose in annoyance.
Cyrus knew all along! So, where was he all this time?!
Elise cried even harder. Julia hugged her, asking Cyrus in disbelief, “How could you do this to me? Didn’t you say that once your five–year marriage
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agreement with Evelyn ended, you’d marry me? You also promised to treat Elise like your own.
“Now Anna is dead, and Evelyn is gone, you have no more worries. Doesn’t that make it easier for you to be with us?”
Cyrus remained on the ground, his eyes empty, as if he hadn’t heard a single word of Julia’s questioning.
Julia didn’t give up. She reminisced about all the moments she and Cyrus had shared and his promises, trying to reignite his love for her and Elise.
But Cyrus just spoke in a daze, “Anna is dead.
“Evelyn has truly left me.”
