Even the details of her face had been altered.
The changes weren’t huge, but overall, she looked nothing like the same person.
And yet, in her gestures and expressions, there was a familiarity I couldn’t quite shake.
Back then, Daniel Carter had even joked that he’d chosen his wife based on the image of my late wife.
Ridiculous as it sounds now, I had actually believed him.
At that moment, when my daughter saw the two of them, her face lit up with joy, and she immediately threw herself into Rachel Adams’s arms.
“Mom… Aunt Rachel, Uncle Daniel—you’re here! I’ve missed you so much.”
Rachel fondly patted her head and smiled.
“Sophie, didn’t we just visit yesterday? When you have a boyfriend in the future, if you’re this clingy, he might not like it.”
My daughter giggled.
“Nonsense. Aunt Rachel, you’re glued to Uncle Daniel every day, and he never complains. When I get a boyfriend, I’m going to find someone just like Uncle Daniel.”
Daniel chuckled softly on the side.
“You little rascal. Sure, Aunt Rachel and I are close, but your dad’s not so bad—though, yeah, he’s not much to look at.”
At that, my daughter’s face twisted in disgust.
“Him? Always dirty like some beggar, and so ugly—I’d never want someone like him.
He can’t even make people happy, unlike Uncle Daniel, who makes Aunt Rachel look younger every day.
Oh, Aunt Rachel, tomorrow our teacher wants us to bring our parents to register for college applications. You and Uncle Daniel come with me, okay? I don’t want to take him and embarrass myself.”
Rachel said indulgently,
“Alright, alright. Your Uncle Daniel and I will go with you. Your dad can keep working hard to make you money.
But don’t say your dad embarrasses you—he’s been working very hard.”
Daniel beamed, clapping me on the shoulder.
“Brother, I’m just saying—you’ve got to loosen up. Sure, your wife’s gone, but besides earning money, you’ve got to learn how to make a girl happy. You still have a daughter, don’t you?”
He had teased me like this before, but I’d always thought it was a joke. I never noticed the mockery in his eyes.
I stepped aside from his hand and said coolly,
“You’re right—life goes on. My wife’s dead, but that doesn’t mean I’ll never remarry. Who knows, maybe I will someday.
In fact, I’ve decided not to give Sophie the house just yet. I’ll keep it for the future.”
My words startled all of them.
The next second, my daughter pointed at my face and lashed out.
“You ugly freak—you think you can get married again? How much money can you make delivering food? What a delusional joke!”
Hearing this, Rachel’s expression darkened, and she frowned at me.
“Jason, you’ve always given Sophie whatever she wanted. Why are you suddenly saying things to upset her?
And your wife’s only been gone three years—already thinking of remarrying?
If you marry again and give your money to another woman, what will Sophie have in the future?”
Olivia Parker—my wife—now stood before me with another face, scolding me as if I didn’t know who she was.
It was almost funny.
Daniel chimed in,
“Brother, I’m telling you, at your age and with your face the way it is, just be honest and earn money for Sophie.
Her birthday’s the day after tomorrow. I heard you promised to give her the house and all the tuition you’ve saved up.
You’re not going to back out now, are you? Aren’t you afraid she’ll hate you even more if you do?
Maybe if you give her the house, she’ll finally listen to you.”
I stared at him.
“Didn’t you just tell me to loosen up? Now that I say I might remarry, you’re panicking?”
Daniel was left speechless.
Rachel gave my daughter a meaningful look.
