Chapter 2

2

"Annie Campbell, you barely got caught in a blast! Do you really have to pretend to be unconscious like this? Get your ass up and come home right now!"

"Why did you call an ambulance? Are you trying to make sure everyone knows something went wrong on Landon's set?"

"Seth, after all these years, why are you still so selfish? How many times do I have to tell you that Landon and I aren't doing anything wrong? Why do you always have to compete with him and try to ruin him!"

Annie coughed twice, spitting out a large mouthful of blood that stained the ground a blinding, horrifying red.

Vivian acted as if she didn't see a thing. She kept rambling on and on, her spit spraying all over my face.

Unable to take it any longer, I swung my arm and slapped her across the face.

She collapsed onto the ground, staring up at me in utter shock.

All these years, she was always the one striking me, while I never even raised my voice at her. That was what gave her the audacity to walk all over me.

Snapping out of her stupor, Vivian shrieked at the top of her lungs.

"Seth, you dare hit me? Who gave you the guts? Aren't you afraid I'll divorce you?"

"Vivian, you better pray to God that Annie survives. Because if she doesn't, I won't just divorce you―I'll send you and Landon straight to the grave together!"

I glared at her with icy contempt, then turned around to carry Annie into the ambulance.

I didn't miss the smug, amused smirk on Landon's face as he watched the drama unfold.

Seeing no obvious open fractures, I had foolishly hoped that Annie opening her eyes was a sign of recovery.

I never imagined that within twenty short minutes, her heart would stop beating twice.

Electrodes covered almost her entire little body, and the defibrillator was applied again and again.

The paramedics' expressions grew increasingly grim. The moment we arrived at the hospital, they rushed my daughter straight into the trauma bay without stopping for a single second.

Heavy tears rolled down my cheeks. I gritted my teeth, trying desperately to hold them back.

She will be fine. She has to be fine.

The red light above the operating room flickered.

The door swung open, and I practically crawled to the doctor's feet.

"Go inside and say your final goodbyes."

The doctor shook his head, delivering my daughter's death sentence.

My teeth chattered violently as I forced out a trembling whisper.

"Is there really... nothing else you can do..."

"The child suffered extensive blast injuries, especially to her face. Diagnosis shows severe internal organ rupture caused by the impact of a high fall. The intense heat cauterized her wounds, which is why her external injuries didn't look as severe on the surface."

"Go in now. If you wait any longer, there won't be time."

I immediately wiped away my tears.

I knew I couldn't break down in front of her right now, so I forced a gentle smile as I looked at Annie's pale little face on the hospital bed.

The blood in the room had been wiped clean, but the metallic stench lingered in the air.

Annie spoke in a faint, raspy whisper. "Daddy, am I going to die?"

"It doesn't hurt at all anymore."

"No, baby. Annie is the sweetest little girl in the whole world. Annie is going to live a long, happy life."

"Daddy, don't lie to me. On TV, people who get better are wheeled out, but I'm staying here."

"That's just make-believe on TV, sweetie."

"Daddy, where is Mommy?"

Annie smiled weakly and struggled to lift her tiny hand to touch my cheek.

I abruptly turned my head away, my vision blurring completely in an instant.

"Be a good girl, okay? You have to stay strong for Daddy. I'll call Mommy right now, and she'll be here soon."

"Okay..."

My hands shook as I dialed Vivian's number, only to have the call rejected over and over again.

The only reply I got was a text message from Landon:

"Hush, cuckold. Your wife is busy seducing me right now."

Attached was a photo of Vivian kneeling on a bed in sheer black lace, exposing a scandalous amount of bare skin.

I tried calling again, but the screen showed only a red exclamation mark. She had blocked me.

"Daddy, is Mommy not coming? If she doesn't want to come, that's okay. She's always so busy."

Annie stared blankly at the ceiling, her tiny body already growing cold to the touch.

She struggled to part her lips, her gaze drifting toward my phone.

Tucked inside the clear phone case was the only photo Vivian and I had ever taken together in our five years of marriage―a copy of our marriage license picture.

Annie held the little picture with both hands. Tears dripped down onto the pillow, carrying all the longing she had left in her tiny heart.

A faint, broken sob seemed to echo from far away, and before I could even react, Annie closed her eyes forever.

All that remained in the air was a soft whisper:

"Goodbye, Daddy. Goodbye, Mommy."

My daughter was murdered by the woman I had loved with all my heart!