Chapter 2

2

I stared at my phone screen, and everything became clear.

Even in the face of death, the needs of her first love’s daughter were always more important than Cece.

The police officer came over to tell me that the driver who hit her had a good attitude and tried to help after the crash.

The driver’s family might come to discuss a settlement later, so he told me to be prepared.

I just nodded numbly.

A doctor told me I had to stay strong because I was the only one who could handle the funeral arrangements.

When I watched Cece being cremated, I lost it again.

My once-bouncy daughter was now sitting in a small, quiet box.

I carried her ashes back to our house.

Everywhere I looked, I saw traces of her life.

There were her dance shoes in the hallway, the ballet barre I installed in the living room.

A whole cabinet was filled with photos of her winning dance competitions.

The grief washed over me in waves.

Cece had inherited Vivian’s beauty and long legs. She was a natural-born dancer.

Vivian was a professional dance instructor, but she was always incredibly strict with Cece.

She always told her, “Even if you have talent, you have to work harder than everyone else.”

So Cece worked her heart out. She wanted to be number one in everything.

She just wanted her mother’s approval.

But Vivian was always stingy with her praise.

When Cece showed her a first-place trophy, Vivian would just say, “Keep it up.”

“Try to be more like Winnie. She doesn’t get arrogant when she wins.”

In reality, Vivian was obsessed with Winnie Miller.

Ever since Gavin and his daughter moved nearby and Winnie joined Vivian’s studio, Vivian had changed.

She taught Winnie personally. She gave her private lessons after hours.

She never gave Cece that kind of treatment.

When I had asked her to teach Cece years ago, she said she was afraid she couldn’t be objective.

She had Cece train with the harshest teacher in the studio instead.

Vivian’s excuse was always the same. “Cece has talent. I don’t need to worry about her.”

“But Winnie lost her mom early. Her dad doesn’t know anything about dance.”

“As Gavin’s friend and Winnie’s teacher, I have to go the extra mile for her.”

As they grew up, Cece noticed the difference.

Many times, she would look at me with such sadness.

“Daddy, I feel like in Mom’s heart, Winnie is her real child.”

I could only comfort her with lies, telling her that Mom loved her but just didn't know how to show it.

Thinking about it now, I could barely breathe from the pain.