I went to the hospital alone, got registered, saw the doctor and had my wound stitched up.
When everything was done and I returned home, it was past midnight.
Jacob didn't come home all night or even ask about me.
I spent the whole night alone, my wound aching.
But the pain in my heart was a thousand times worse, tormenting me endlessly.
The house was full of Jasmine's scent and the traces she left behind.
The pain of losing a daughter is hard to heal. My heart was broken and I tossed and turned all night without sleep.
The next day, I was in a trance and I sat at the dining table with a haggard look, eating breakfast that tasted like chewing wax.
Jacob suddenly returned and noticed the scar on my forehead, "You are injured? When did it happen?"
My tone was cold. "It's already taken care of. No need for Mr. Gilmore to worry."
"Josephine, do you have to talk to me like this? I already apologized to Sadie for you about yesterday. Selena and Sadie have also said they forgive you."
Jacob wanted to say more, but suddenly suppressed his anger and tossed a small package before me.
"I haven't been home much lately. That's why you're acting up, right? Inside is the Elsa princess dress that your daughter loved the most."
He also took out three Disneyland tickets and handed them to me as he spoke. "It just so happens I'm free in a couple of days. When the time comes, you can put this dress on our daughter and we will go to Disneyland together."
Jasmine was already gone. What was the point of him giving these gifts now?
I looked at him quietly, without moving.
I didn't react, so Jacob simply placed the tickets on the table.
He casually said, "Sadie wants to come over to play tomorrow. Take your daughter out. This is Sadie's condition for forgiving you for causing a scene at her beloved puppy's grave yesterday."
When he mentioned the robbed graveyard, I felt so heartbroken that I couldn't help crying again.
He guiltily looked away and continued, "I'm doing this for you and your daughter's sake. Sadie is very jealous and can't stand other children calling me Daddy."
After that, he turned around and left without waiting for me to speak.
It was impossible. I would leave here in a few days.
Before that, I have to deal with all the remaining things.
The next day, I got up early and packed Jasmine's belongings in the room.
Suddenly, there was a loud noise outside.
I was startled and went out to check. I saw Selena playing with Sadie in the living room.
Sadie was jumping up and down on the sofa. This wouldn't have been unusual; children always have a special enthusiasm for bouncy things.
But what she was stepping on was Jasmine's posthumous work.
My daughter had drawn a family portrait, which was being trampled under Sadie's feet.
My mind went blank and I rushed forward, yelling angrily, "Get down! Give me back that drawing!"
Sadie wasn't afraid of me at all. Instead, she laughed. "Why should I give it to you? It's just that little bitch Jasmine Gilmore's worthless drawing. It's not worth anything. What's wrong with me playing with it?"
As if still unsatisfied, Sadie picked up the drawing and tore it in half as she spoke.
She stood there arrogantly with her hands on her hips. "This is what happens when you try to steal my daddy!"
No! This couldn't be happening! My daughter's drawing couldn't be destroyed like this!
I couldn't hold back any longer. I stepped forward and pushed Sadie away, snatching the drawing back into my hands.
The drawing was completely torn apart. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't piece it back together into a complete picture.
Sadie fell to the ground and started wailing.
Selena stepped forward and slapped me. "Josephine, it's just a drawing. Do you have to target Sadie again and again?"
Her eyes passed through my back and Jacob was walking towards me.
She leaned in and whispered, "Sadie isn't wrong. Jasmine Gilmore is just a bastard child without a father! Don't you have any idea how she became Jacob's daughter?"
"You and your daughter are both disgusting trash."
I didn't care what outsiders said about me.
However, Jasmine was already gone. I couldn't let her suffer these vile words any longer!
I clenched my fists and punched Selena, knocking her down.
Selena fell to the ground while holding Sadie, looking at me in shock.
How could one punch be enough? I grabbed her long hair and punched Selena like crazy.
Jacob pulled me away from behind, his voice filled with hysteria. "Are you crazy? How have you become like a shrew?"
Selena threw herself into Jacob's arms, sobbing. "Josephine, Sadie grew up abroad and has a more carefree personality. She didn't mean to ruin Jasmine's drawing. She already apologized to you. Even if you don't accept it, you can't just hit people!"
"Josephine, I told you before to have your daughter keep her things tidy! If she hadn't left her things lying around, Sadie wouldn't have picked them up to play with! You can only blame her!"
Jacob turned around and then helped Selena and Sadie up.
"Sadie, didn't you say you wanted to ride the carousel? Let's go, Daddy will take you now."
I stared at their retreating figures, my mouth filled with bitterness.
Jasmine was five years old and we had never taken a family photo. There was only a family portrait that she imagined.
He had never taken her to an amusement park even once.
It turned out that a high-ranking heir to a famous New York City company could also have a gentle, fatherly side.
I was left alone in the large, quiet living room, repeatedly trying to glue the painting back together.
An entire night passed. I finally managed to barely put the family portrait back together and tidied up my daughter's old toys.
The housemaid held up the Elsa princess dress that Jacob had left behind and asked, "Madam, should we still keep this dress? I remember Miss Jasmine loved Princess Elsa the most."
"Throw it away. We don't need it anymore."
From now on, Jasmine and I would have nothing more to do with Jacob.
