Eugene pressed play.
At once, the sound of Louise’s cries echoed from his phone.
“Daddy... I want Daddy...”
Because the screen was facing only me, I could see everything clearly—Eugene was slapping Louise, one blow after another. That’s why she was crying and calling out for me.
But her sobs were so loud, they drowned out the sound of the slaps.
“Louise, be good. Your dad’s just busy right now,” Eugene coaxed, his tone was sickeningly sweet. “Uncle made you some mango puree—it’s so sweet! Come on, let’s eat it all up, okay?”
Moments later, her crying stopped.
I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms.
Eugene knew Louise was allergic to mangoes.
She didn’t stop crying because she was comforted—she stopped because her throat had swelled shut from the allergic reaction. She physically couldn’t cry anymore.
Eugene smugly put away his phone.
The people surrounding us, unaware of what the video really showed, began to scold me instead.
“I’ve never seen such a heartless father! So obsessed with money he can’t even care for his own child. If it weren’t for this young man, the girl would’ve cried herself sick!”
“He’s the one who probably left his kid in the trunk just to shut her up. Bet he was off signing some stupid deal and didn’t want to be bothered!”
“This young man isn’t even related to the family and still tried to make sure the kid left the world smiling. And what does the real father do? Shows up just to yell and hit people. What kind of man is that? Parents like him deserve to be beaten!”
They were already grieving their own losses, and now they’d found a target for all that rage.
Like a swarm of hornets, they rushed at me—slapping my face, spitting on me, pelting me with rotten eggs. Fingernails raked across my skin, leaving long, bloody gashes.
I turned to Cindy, silently begging for help.
She shifted her feet slightly—but then Eugene pouted dramatically.
“Cindy, you promised you’d always protect me. If you help him now, it’s like admitting I’m a murderer. If word of that goes out, my future will be ruined. Are you going to break your promise?”
Cindy’s face hardened.
“Vance,” she said coldly, “you falsely accused Eugene first. If you won’t apologize, then this is just a bit of punishment.”
I didn’t know how long the beating went on. Eventually, the crowd grew tired and dispersed.
Battered and broken, I slowly picked myself up off the ground.
Cindy reached out to help me. “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
I jerked away from her touch and slapped her across the face.
“Cindy, we’re getting a divorce. I’ll leave the company too. From now on, you and I are strangers.”
Her eyes immediately flared with rage. “You’re threatening me with divorce?! This is all your fault! I only wanted to give Eugene a fair chance!”
I didn’t reply. I just turned away and gently lifted Louise’s lifeless body, wiping the smeared makeup from her tiny face before walking toward the cremation chamber.
Cindy tried to follow, but I turned and roared, “Get out!”
She stopped in her tracks, stunned into silence by the look in my eyes.
I didn’t look back.
I stayed outside the cremation room all night, listening to the low rumble of the furnace, tears falling silently down my face.
“Louise... I’m sorry. Daddy failed you...”
—
The next morning, I arranged for Louise’s ashes to be temporarily stored at the funeral home.
I could no longer rely on Cindy for anything. I had to get out of this city—with Louise and my mother—and never look back.
When I came out, both Cindy and Eugene were gone.
My phone had been discarded on the ground.
The screen lit up and countless missed calls flooded the screen, all from the nursing home.
I immediately called the caregiver back. The line connected almost instantly.
Her voice on the other end was tinged with panic.
