Knowing Amy had woken, Frank hurried over.
His shirt was misbuttoned.
Clearly just rolled out of bed.
His lips trembled. “Amy…”
Amy glanced at Frank but remained silent.
Children sense things. At first she didn’t understand, but later realized her father wanted to take her blood for someone else. She saw her mother begging through tears while he stayed firm.
Frank stood helplessly in the ward.
A week later, Amy fully recovered.
Just less lively than before.
I knew why.
She knew her father had changed.
Loved us less.
Lately, Amanda’s Facebook kept popping up.
Posts about either her son or Frank.
Like a real family of three.
When Amy was discharged, I took her home to pack.
Left the signed divorce papers on the coffee table.
Frank called as I checked into a hotel with Amy.
“Catherine, what’s this?
0.00%
18:42
You want a divorce?”
11 al 2
I gripped my phone, watching Amy play with her doll on the bed. “Yes I’m divorcing you
Frank’s voice sharpened like he’d been stung:
“I refuse.”
“Catherine, let’s talk this through. Why jump to divorce?”
I let out a mocking laugh.
Even now, Frank thought we could talk?
My Amy suffered so much–I barely snatched her back from death’s door.
Remembering her tiny hospital frame, my heart wrenched again.
Frank’s tone suddenly softened.
“Let’s work this out. No divorce. Okay?”
I stayed silent.
“Papers are signed. Sign yours soon.”
Frank gritted his teeth.
“I’ll never divorce you.”
I paused briefly. “Fine. See you in court.”
He never signed those papers.
Instead, Amanda texted me:
[Catherine, didn’t expect you to bow out gracefully. Thought you’d keep clinging to Frank!
At least you’ve got some self–respect.]
[Don’t worry–I’ll take good care of him for you.]
The day Frank agreed to divorce, his eyes were bloodshot.
“Amy’s only five, and you do this.
~ 2
18:42
Chapter 7
Catherine.
You’re selfish.”
“She’s so young–did you consider her future?”
“You’d divorce me over this?
Stop being childish!”
Childish?
I stared at Frank’s righteous face, then at Amanda beside him.
Even the love marks on his neck showed.
The absurdity choked me.
“Frank, what ‘this‘ are you talking about?
Your affair? Or draining your daughter’s blood for your Mistress’s son?”
“You don’t deserve to be Amy’s father.”
“You make me sick, Frank.”
“This divorce is happening.”
Frank opened his mouth to argue–but nothing came out.
Beside him, Amanda paled at “Mistress.”
Couldn’t refute it.
Because she was the Mistress.
A mistress hidden from the light.
Amy no longer yearned for fatherly love. Now, Frank’s eyes and heart belonged solely to Amanda.
Hearing my words, Frank shifted uneasily.
“Amy is fine now. Why keep dragging this out?”
18:43
Chapter 7
“Having fun?”
I met his gaze calmly: “Yes.”
“Since you enjoy raising another’s son, I’ll give you the chance. From now on, yen care for them ”
“Frank, let’s divorce.”
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Chapter 8