Chapter 1

Chapter 1

After my daughter passed away, I became the most perfect wife Landon Chase could ever ask for.

When he spent time with Sierra Young, I smiled and told him to have fun.

When he stayed out late into the night, I never called or texted to disturb him.

I even booked the flights and hotel when he took Sierra to the tropical resort he and I had once promised to visit together.

Everyone praised me for finally growing up and being sensible, including Landon.

So, on the day of our daughter's funeral, I did not bother notifying him.

It was only when he rushed into the memorial hall, breathless and travel-worn, that he confronted me with bloodshot eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me? I am still her father!"

I looked at him calmly.

"It's fine. Daisy and I are already used to your absence."

He panicked completely, grabbing my wrist as he pleaded.

"Please, yell at me. Hit me, just like you used to! Don't treat me like this..."

"I already apologized. Can you please stop looking at me like I'm a corpse?"

Landon watched me as I quietly arranged white lilies for our little girl, a profound sense of helplessness washing over him.

I did not answer. Instead, I forced a faint, bitter smile.

"I'm sorry. My daughter just died, so I really can't smile properly."

He stepped forward and gripped my hands tightly.

"Daisy's death was an accident! It had nothing to do with me or Sierra!"

I pulled my hands out of his grip and nodded gently.

"I understand. I don't blame either of you."

"Then can you please act normal for once?!"

Landon raised his voice, his brow furrowed as he glared at me with pure irritation.

It made no sense to me.

I had done everything he asked of me. I smiled, held no grudges, handled our daughter's funeral entirely on my own, and became his ideal, obedient wife.

Why was he still unhappy?

Before he could say another word, his phone rang loudly.

Sierra's tearful voice drifted through the speaker.

"Seven suddenly collapsed and started foaming at the mouth. He might have eaten something toxic. Landon, I don't know what to do. Can you please come home and check on him?"

Seven was the border collie Sierra owned.

Landon answered without hesitation.

"Hang on, I'm coming right now!"

He hung up and rushed toward the door. Halfway there, he stopped and tried to justify himself.

"Seven is Sierra's only family. I'm just going to check on the dog, and I'll come straight back."

I quietly tossed the memorial paper into the burning brazier.

"It's okay. Daisy and I understand. After all, Sierra saved your life years ago, so you have to look after her."

Landon choked on his words.

In the end, he simply repeated himself.

"I really will come back. Just wait for me a little while."

At the doorway, he paused to add one last thing.

"If I run late, make dinner and wait for me at home. Don't dwell on Daisy's death too much. You need to move on."

I nodded, saying nothing more.

His shoulders relaxed, and he walked away without looking back.

Yet I knew deep down.

He was never coming back tonight.

So, when the dinner on the dining table went completely cold, I didn't reheat it over and over until he walked in the door.

Instead, I tossed everything straight into the trash can.

After cleaning up the kitchen, I opened social media and saw Sierra's latest post.

In the photo, the supposedly dying border collie was happily panting at the camera, held securely in a pair of familiar, large hands.

The location tag showed the premier dog park in the city center.

"With Mommy and Daddy by his side, Seven's illness vanished completely!"

Down in the comments, she had added a note herself.

"Actually, I just made up an excuse because I missed him, but he believed every word. Tee-hee."

I quietly closed the app.

Then, I sent a message to the senior professor who had always mentored me.

"Professor, about that classified research project you mentioned before―I'm ready to join."

"I've already signed the ten-year non-disclosure and total isolation agreement and emailed it back to you."