When the autopsy report was released, even the seasoned police officers furrowed their brows.

The report stated clearly: [The deceased was a young woman under twenty-five, who had suffered severe abuse and multiple fractures before death.]

Although stabbed thirty-seven times, none of the wounds were fatal; the actual cause of death was suffocation.

After death, her face was disfigured with concentrated sulfuric acid, and all her fingerprints were erased.

The head of the criminal investigation team, Tony Smith, closed the autopsy report with a mix of sorrow and anger, "Son of a bitch, absolutely inhuman!"

Dad's expression remained neutral, his years in the field having cultivated a remarkably calm demeanor.

"Our first order of business is to find the killer and identify the victim as soon as possible," he stated.

Captain Smith, noticing a pink thread on Dad's sleeve, queried, "Where did this come from?"

A soft smile briefly crossed Dad's typically stern face as he pocketed the thread.

"Sophie's teddy bear lost an ear, and I sewed it back on recently."

Tony looked astonished. "Your hands that dissect corpses can also mend toys?"

Dad shot him a wry look. "Stitching is my specialty, you know that."

Tony smirked. "Sophie's getting old for a teddy bear, isn't she?"

Dad stood up, his tone firm, "No matter her age, she's still my little girl. And she's been without her mother since she was young. I owe it to her to make up for that loss in any way I can."

As he was about to leave, Tony caught his arm.

"Harper, you've got two daughters. You're great with Sophie, why not show Emily some of that kindness?"

At the mention of my name, Dad bristled and pulled away. "Don't bring her up! She's no daughter of mine!"

Tony sighed, "I know you're still torn up about your wife's death, but Emily was just a little girl back then, it wasn't her fault..."

"Enough!" Dad cut him off sharply, "Intentional or not, wasn't it all her doing? She killed her mother! She's wrecked Sophie's life, she's been nothing but a curse on our family, I will never forgive her!"

Dad stormed out, leaving Tony behind. They had been comrades for years, but because of me, he showed no mercy.

My ghostly form crouched on the ground curled up.

Oh, how I wished I could tell him - I didn't kill Mom...

Unable to leave this world just yet, I followed Dad all the way home.

Upon arrival, I saw Sophie rushing toward Dad with her pink teddy bear, beaming with joy.

"Dad, did you fix this bear?"

He caught her in a steady embrace, his smile warm and tender.

"I did fix it. Do you like it?"

"I love it! You're the best, Dad!"

They sat down to a cozy dinner, father and daughter, exuding warmth and affection.

Sophie stirred her food and asked nonchalantly, "I haven't seen my sister in a while. I wonder what she's up to now?"

Dad's smile turned cold instantly. "Focus on your meal. Why bring her up? Even if she's dead outside, it's none of our concern."

Sophie, trying to soften him, replied, "Dad, you shouldn't talk like that... she's still my sister."

Dad slammed his forks down, "She doesn't deserve to be your sister! You are my only daughter."

Sophie wrapped her arms around Dad, patting him soothingly.

"Okay, Dad has only one daughter, and that's me. I won't bring her up again."

Dad finally calmed down and nodded in agreement.

Sophie glanced at the family photo on the wall. My face was covered by a sticker in that photo.

She smiled slightly to herself, content that Dad had affirmed her place.

Only if I vanished from this world could she live without a shadow over her.

The year Sophie was born was filled with joy for our family.

My parents told me, as the older sister, to treat Sophie as precious as the apple of my eye.

Ever since I was a child, I would let her have the best of everything, placing her needs above my own life.

Sophie relied on me heavily, always saying I was the most important person in her world.

So when she accidentally knocked over a candle and set the house on fire, she sobbed, begging me not to reveal the truth.

At fifteen, I carried my ten-year-old sister out of the blazing house, my legs scorched by the flames.

I thought I had done something heroic, but we were unaware that our mother, who had just come home from a night shift, was asleep in the bedroom.

My mother perished in the fire.

It wasn't until after the firefighters extinguished the flames that they discovered her charred remains.

When Dad learned what happened, he broke down and blamed me entirely.

"It's all your fault! How could we have raised a daughter who would bring such tragedy? You've killed your own mother!"

I was left defenseless, with only my tears to speak for me.

I wanted to tell him it wasn't my fault, that Sophie was the one who had lit the candle.

But I had promised Sophie I would keep her secret, especially as she was hospitalized with severe trauma from the fire.

I couldn't say a word, could express nothing.

In the pouring rain, Dad left me behind, as if I were nothing more than a stray dog.

Eventually, Tony couldn't stand by and watch; he took me in.

I was barred from attending my mother's funeral and was not allowed to say goodbye.

I bowed deeply towards the direction of the crematorium until my forehead bled.

I know I failed my mother and my father.

And after the funeral, Sophie hugged me.

"Thank you for not ruining my life," she whispered.

She also cautioned me, "The incident is in the past now. Don't ever bring it up with Dad. Keep to the story as we've told it."