Chapter 2

2

Tristan had the power to cover up what he did to my mother easily. But he didn't hide it from my father.

He sat in his mansion, waiting, like a predator. The next day, my father, Arthur, knocked on Tristan's door.

He wanted justice for his wife. Instead, he was tackled to the floor the moment he entered the house.

"Where is she? Where is Dawn? Is she too scared to face me?" Tristan's voice was full of mockery.

I knelt and begged my father to tell the truth. I didn't care about my final wishes anymore. I just wanted my family to be safe.

Finally, my father broke down. He choked out the truth that had been buried for years.

"Tristan... you're waiting for a ghost. Dawn is dead!" The room went silent.

I saw the mockery in Tristan's eyes turn into shock, and then into pure rage. "Your family really is a bunch of liars."

"I gave you a day. And this is the best story you could come up with? I know her. She loves life too much to choose death."

My father tried to speak, but Tristan silenced him with a backhand strike. "Shut up! My patience is gone."

"Since Dawn refuses to show up, I don't have to be nice to you anymore. You love defending your daughter, right? Then you can pay for her sins."

It wasn't a question. It was a death sentence. Tristan was ruthless.

He grabbed a knife and sliced his own arm, then threw the bloody blade at my father's feet. "Attempted murder."

"I have the evidence and the witnesses. That's enough to put you away for the rest of your life."

My eyes widened. I couldn't believe he would go this far. My father was over fifty. He wouldn't survive a decade in prison.

When the police arrived, Tristan played the victim perfectly. He turned my father into a greedy, violent criminal.

My poor father had been honest his whole life. Now, he was being dragged away in handcuffs because of me.

I was helpless. I could only watch as they took him. His cries of "I'm innocent" broke my heart.

Tristan used his wealth to manipulate the system. My father was sentenced to fifteen years in prison.

When the verdict was read, my mother fainted in the courtroom. From then on, she spent her days trying to clear his name.

But Tristan had blocked every lawyer in the city from taking the case. No one wanted to cross the Miller empire.

Eventually, my mother went to Tristan's house to beg for mercy. He looked down at her, enjoying her misery.

"If you're here to tell me where Dawn is... don't bother. I don't care anymore. I've decided. Why should I forgive her?"

"She broke me. So, keep your gestures. None of you are getting away with this!"

I looked into his eyes and saw only hatred. I remembered the day I broke up with him.

He was in his hospital bed, looking at me with pure disbelief. I knew he had a severe heart condition, but I never treated him differently.

That's why my words hurt him so much. "Tristan, I didn't want to hurt you, but I've wanted to leave for a long time."

"You're useless to my future. You're just a burden who could drop dead any second! I'm bored of you. Please, just let me go!"

I said those words while my own heart was breaking. He was the man I loved. I hated seeing him cry.