[My dad is a good doctor who saves the dying and wounded. I always remember when I was weak and sick when I was a child, but I believed that my father would cure me. He is a good father and a good husband to my mom. I call home every day even though I'm in a boarding elementary school. My dream is to be a scientist and develop a robot that can do surgeries remotely. So, that my dad won't have to stand in front of the operating table until his back hurts.]

Yeah, Maximilian Kostomarov has always been a role model for Vilhelmina. But this role model speeds through a red light. He caused her to be run over by a truck and then crushed to death.

And when his daughter was on the verge of death and needed medical treatment, he was busy with his lover. It would be bullshit if Maximilian was a good father and good husband to his little family. It was ridiculous.

“I'm back, my wife.”

It was already ten o'clock at night when Maximilian dragged himself home. He glanced at the landline in frustration. He then ripped his tie loose and threw it onto the sofa.

“Vilhelmina called, didn't she? She didn't hear my voice again, did she cry?”

I shook my head. I wasn’t in a good mood to talk with him. 

“I had arranged my work and was supposed to leave early, but someone from the police station suddenly came to question me. I'm in trouble, my wife.”

It turned out to be because of the traffic accident caused by his speeding through a red light, resulting in the death of the victim. Maximilian rubbed his temples. He really looked worried.

“I heard that a child was killed in the crash. I became an indirect murderer. That car accident victim I mentioned to you the other day, it should be her. Alas, now the police department is going to sue me for causing death by dangerous driving.” 

Maximilian slapped his head in chagrin. “The families of the victims probably haven't gotten the news yet. If they make a scene at the hospital, I might even get my license suspended.”

I didn't say anything at that time. I just handed him the children's book.

“What is this, my wife?”

I answered, “It’s Vilhelmina's surprise for you. You should open and read on page 38.”

Maximilian flipped through the magazine. He then read the lines carefully for a long time without gradually stretching them out.

“Wow, my great daughter.” The corner of his mouth hooked up slightly. “I am really to have you and Vilhelmina by my side, otherwise I don't know how I'm going to step over this hurdle.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Maximilian rubbed himself up. He then reached out and wrapped his hand around my shoulders. I could see Maximilian seemed to have made up his mind.

“I've thought it over, my wife. No matter what the court decides and how the hospital disciplines me, as long as you and my daughter are by my side, everything can start from scratch. The big deal is that I will pay money to the families of the victims and go in and squat for two years. I then go abroad to open a clinic and continue to be a doctor. You'd better not say anything to Vilhelmina about this matter for now, honey. Tomorrow is her birthday, I want her to have a good time.”

I nodded. Looking at his longing expression full of relief, I sneered in the bottom of my heart. ‘Maximilian Kostomarov, tomorrow you will know the truth. If nothing unexpected happens, we should not see each other again.’ 

***

Today was Vilhelmina's birthday. The funeral parlor called me early in the morning to inform me that the cremation procedures were ready. I dragged the suitcase as I was about to go out. But I heard a knock on the door. It was Kimberly Beadsworth, an uninvited guest.

“What’s wrong? Why are you here?”

Before I could say anything, she stretched out her leg and squeezed in. Before I had time to react, a slap was thrown in my face.

“This is what you get for making a fool out of me in the office. After Mr Maximilian asked for the quilt back, Benedict's sickness started back and forth again and it's all your fault!”

I touched my throbbing cheek.  A few seconds later I slapped her with my backhand.

Kimberly shouted, “How dare you?.”

Kimberly didn't expect me to hit back. She still stared in shock.

I shouted, “What do you mean, Kimberly? You're splashing around in my house first. Why can't I fight back?”

Kimberly answered by shouting, “Arabelle Moonstone, you are bitch. You know that Mr Maximilian has me in his heart, but you still want to occupy the latrine without doing anything!”

Kimberly restrained her anger. She then quickly replaced it with a smug look. 

“You don't know, do you? But Maximilian has already recognized Benedict as his godson. He hasn't had a sexual life with you once in ten days and half a month, right? That's because he gave all his energy to me ah! You don't know, he's been tossing me around in different ways almost every day. The back staircase locker room in the hospital, the bottom of the desk in the late-night office and also the big bed you slept in right now.”

Kimberly covered her mouth and laughed. “If I were you, I would consciously leave him. After a while I was pregnant and he took the initiative to mention divorce to you. How embarrassing is it?”

I laughed and looked at the ceiling security camera. “If you like the dirty and smelly thatch, take it if you like, Kimberly.”

I handed the bag to Kimberly. It was full of papers containing the divorce papers and Vilhelmina's death certificate.

“What is this?” Kimberly propped open the bag and glanced at the contents. “You want to divorce Mr. Maximilian?”

I smiled noncommittally. “Anyway, you're going back to the hospital, right? So just give it to him for me by the way. And as for your developments, you don't have to tell me.”

I made a “please” gesture and sent Kimberly, who was confused out the door. Then I dragged my suitcase to the funeral home.

***

I put the peace quilt in the coffin and said my final goodbyes to my lovely daughter, Vilhelmina. I brought and stuffed all the report cards of the maternity test, as well as Vilhelmina's photos. I then put all of them into the coffin. The cremation furnace was started. I was sad when I saw Vilhelmina’s body was pushed in by the conveyor belt. Under the high temperature, I was scorched by the iron mesh and my skin turned red. But it was as if I didn't even notice the pain.

I didn't even dare to blink. I was still staring at the glass outside the cremator. I watched as the coffin was cauterized. Vilhelmina's body was burned so much that it curled up and slowly turned into a tiny little piece. 

I was emotionally tense for a few days.

A few days later, I suddenly slid to the ground as if my entire strength had been taken away.

Vilhelmina has a weak body. It made me have spent a lot of energy since birth. I even gave up the opportunity to be deployed overseas to take care of her.

Fortunately, she grew up healthy. She was very well-behaved and sensible in her environment. She remembered Maximilian and my birthdays.

Vilhelmina would prepare surprises in advance. She also always got good grades. It made me as her parents didn't need to worry about her. She won several prizes for her essays. The crayon drawings were bound into a book, recording the warm moments of our family.

I don't understand, she grew from an embryo the size of a soybean grain and then she slowly grew limbs and five senses. She could make a fist and stomp her legs. She also could laugh and jump like a good child.

I asked in my heart, ‘How could it fit into such a small jar like this?’ It wasn't until the staff patted me that I realized my lapel was soaked with tears. I got up with difficulty holding the jar. The phone suddenly rang at this time, it was Maximilian Kostomarov calling.

His voice was hoarse and sounded very nonchalant, “My wife, just now the school teacher, told me that Vilhelmina was hit by a car and died. What's going on? Are you guys playing some kind of prank right now? It's not funny at all. Please tell me that Vilhelmina is still alive right now. I can still spend my birthday with her.”

I spoke faintly, “It's not a prank, Maximilian. Vilhelmina is dead, just as you and Kimberly were having a rendezvous in the locker room.”