On the day of my daughter's dance competition, my wife, Ava Williams, said she would personally drive her to the venue and asked me to arrive early at the stadium to prepare.

On the way, Ava suddenly received a phone call and left my daughter alone in the suburbs. Neither of them appeared until the competition started.

When I finally located my daughter's bracelet and found her, she was lying in the reed marsh covered in blood.

Her head was so badly injured that the flesh was torn apart, and her expensive jewelry for the competition was missing.

The doctor said that if my daughter was to be saved, only Dr. Brown, the renowned surgeon in the capital, could help, and she just so happened to be Ava's aunt.

I had no say in her household, so I had to ask Ava to make the introduction.

When I called, however, a male voice answered, "Is there something wrong? Ava is sleeping."

At that moment, I didn't care why a male was in her bedroom when she was sleeping, I only wanted Dr. Brown's contact information.

"Chloe is currently suffering from intracranial hemorrhage and needs an operation immediately. Only Ava's aunt can save her, have her contact Dr. Brown!"

A disdainful laugh came from the other end of the phone. "Now you're even making up lies about your own daughter, Daniel Smith? Can you not survive without me?"

After that, the phone was disconnected, and I couldn't get through again.

Later, the lights in the operating room went out.

Yes, I lost my daughter forever.

——

The doctor rushed out quickly, "Mr. Smith, didn't you say you knew Dr. Brown? Why hasn't she come yet?

"Your daughter's intracranial hemorrhage is very serious. If Dr. Brown can't arrive within an hour, we will have to do our best and leave the rest to fate."

An hour?

Ava was not even listening to me now. How could Dr. Brown get here in an hour?

I stood frozen in place, feeling like I had been drenched in a bucket of cold water from head to toe.

I could only tremble my lips and said, "Doctor, I'll go get her right away. Please help me buy some time and save my daughter's life!"

The door to the operating room was closed again, and I paced back and forth in the hallway.

After getting married to Ava for so many years, I didn't even have a contact number for the people from the Williams family. I finally managed to call her assistant, Jack, but he was hesitant.

"Sir, it's not that I don't want to give you Dr. Brown's number. Ms. Williams instructed me not to let you contact the people from the Williams family."

I struggled to hold back the urge to smash my phone and gritted my teeth, asking, "Then where is Ava? Her daughter is in critical condition and lying in the operating room. Where is she?"

Perhaps it was the first time that I had lost my temper, Jack dared not lie to me anymore and immediately sent me her location.

It turned out to be in the Menghi International Community.

That was the place where I had married Ava!

The door was half-open, and Ava was wrapped in a bathrobe, looking like she had just woken up, lying on the sofa and chatting with her childhood sweetheart Justin Walker.

Seeing me burst in, Ava's eyes immediately filled with disgust.

"What are you doing here? Who told you my whereabouts? I'll fire him!"

I didn't bother to figure out why Justin, who was far abroad, would be in my house. I just grabbed Ava's wrist and pleaded urgently, "Chloe needs an operation urgently. The doctor said that only your aunt, Dr. Brown, can perform this operation. Hurry up and contact your aunt to save her!"

"What are you crazy about?"

Ava's impatience increased, looking at me like I was a monster.

"Do you know how busy my aunt is? Daniel, she doesn't have time to play these childish make-believe games with you."

Ava pulled her wrist back, frowned, and casually twisted it, then sat back down next to Justin.

"I know you've always disliked Justin, but a guest should be treated with hospitality, don't you agree?"

Mentioning himself, Justin laughed and put his arm on the sofa, casually climbing onto Ava's shoulder, saying, "That's right, you hate me all you want, but there's no need to use your daughter's surgery as an excuse.

"Just in case something really goes wrong, don't say I didn't warn you!"

I had no idea who was cursing now.

But Ava listened to his instigation and immediately glared at me with disdain. "Daniel, I asked you to take good care of our daughter so that you could use her to compete with Justin?

"And, shouldn't she be in a competition right now? What kind of father are you to run around aimlessly?"

Ava's unjustified accusations almost suffocated me.

On the other side, Justin was smirking, extremely provocative.

I was burning with anger, and my tone was raised.

"Ava! I don't care if you believe it or not, she was hurt in the suburbs today and is currently undergoing emergency surgery in the hospital. You can easily send someone to check!

"The doctor said if she comes in any later, it will be too late, do you understand? Hurry up and contact your aunt to save her!"

When I said that, Ava's lip curled up with a more intense sarcasm.

"What you're saying is that I left Chloe on the way and caused her to have to undergo a craniotomy?

"She's 18 years old, can't even take a taxi? Being harmed and then just being saved and sent to the hospital by you? You are really a good father."

Ava said, smiling at Justin, "Daniel, I have a lot on my plate every day. I don't think a small competition is that important for me to attend. Are you being too picky about this? And why are you putting on a show here?"

Before I could say anything, Justin chimed in, feigning concern, "That's right, Daniel. You don't have a job right now, and you should be fully devoted to your daughter. Why are you holding onto Ava so tightly every day?"

What hypocritical words!

Did I really want to be unemployed? If it weren't for Ava saying that she got depressed at home and Chloe being at a crucial point in her life, how could I possibly give up my job to be a full-time father?

Before I could retaliate, he continued, "Well, it's all my fault. I upset both of you. Who would have thought that the window ledge design would be so weird? I just wanted to clean it up, but I didn't expect to fall off it. Ava is worried about me, that's why she came. You shouldn't blame her."

"This is my home, when is it your turn to comment? And, Ava is my wife!"

Besides, he was the indirect murderer who killed my daughter. Why should he have the nerve to speak so confidently in my own home?

Justin didn't expect my reaction to be so strong that I almost shouted at him. He immediately turned his complaining gaze towards Ava.

"I was trying to talk to you nicely. What are you getting so worked up about?"

Ava shielded Justin behind her and glared at me. "Daniel, can't you have a little compassion? Look at him, he's hurt so badly. How can he play a role with you here?"

Suddenly, the ringing of my phone in my pocket grew louder. I knew that Chloe couldn't wait any longer.

I took a deep breath and swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Okay, it's my fault."

I snatched Ava's phone off the sofa and turned it on, revealing a photo of her and Justin.

I couldn't help but feel a momentary jealousy, and I began searching for her aunt's phone number.

"What are you doing!"

I dodged her outstretched hand and pleaded, "Ava! Please! Ask your aunt to save her! I'll take whatever blame you want to give me, okay?"

As I looked up, my cheeks were already damp with tears.

Ava saw me in this state, and her confusion seemed to dissipate somewhat, but I was so focused on the contact list that I didn't notice her change.

Justin seemed to have noticed and quickly hugged his arm, wailing, "Ouch! It hurts so much."

Ava immediately turned to check his wound. "How did you suddenly bleed so much?"

"Ava, will I die?"

Ava looked concerned. "I'll take you to the hospital. You'll be fine!"

Saying that, Ava snatched the phone out of my hand and called her assistant.

I hadn't recovered yet, "Ava, your aunt's phone number..."

Ava's face showed a hint of resignation, "Daniel, can you wait until I take Justin to get his wound bandaged, and then apologize to you and our daughter? Don't be childish, stay at home and wait for me."

Saying that, she supported Justin and walked straight past me to the door.

I ran after her and grabbed her arm. "Ava, giving me a phone number is that hard?"

At that moment, Justin was frowning and moaning again.

"Ava! I think my arm is about to break!"

Ava looked worried. She directly pushed me away and coldly said, "Don't you see that Justin is already hurt like this! Is your heart made of iron?

"Who knows what you'll do with the phone number! Don't forget how you betrayed me seven years ago!"

Seven years ago, Ava was involved in an affair with a company executive, and Justin was worried that his status would be threatened, so he told Ava's mother about it secretly, which caused Ava to be cold-shouldered by the company for two years and stripped of her authority.

But she always thought it was me who had caused the trouble in the middle, but I had no idea about this matter at all!

Through Ava, I saw a flash of defiance on Justin's face.

The desire for revenge and anger in my heart was jumping wildly.

But now, my daughter was the most important.

I didn't care about anything anymore and knelt down in front of them. "Ava, please, give me your phone number. I promise I won't bother you again, okay?"

"Daniel, are you playing a joke or something?"

Justin looked at me with contempt. "You say you won't bother us, are you really going to divorce Ava?

"Besides, the organizer of the dance competition is my friend. How come I don't know about any accidents involving contestants? Daniel, look at my injuries! I'm the one who really needs emergency treatment now!"

Ava patted Justin's back again. "Okay, Justin, don't get so worked up over him. I'll take you to the hospital right away."

She then looked at me with cold eyes.

"I thought you had a little dignity, but it seems you're the kind of person who would do anything for jealousy. We both made a mistake in judging you!"

They drove away in the car.

I looked at my watch and knew there was no chance left.

At that moment, the hospital called.

"Mr. Smith, I'm sorry. Your daughter did not survive the emergency treatment..."

I couldn't hear the rest of the words clearly, I just felt my head buzzing.

I hurried to the hospital, and Chloe's delicate face, which resembled mine and Ava's, had lost all its color.

The doctor told me to be strong, but all I could do was watch them cover her in a white sheet.

"Chloe... Chloe!"

I knelt on the doorstep, wailing for the person who no longer existed.

My heart felt as if it had been stabbed by life, bleeding profusely.

The morning she left, she had sworn to bring home a gold medal, but how could she be gone just like that?

For the next three days, I took care of Chloe's funeral arrangements, leaving Ava alone the entire time.

Then I returned to our shared home, packed up Chloe's old clothes, and decided to take them back to my hometown to be buried with her.

That day, Ava called me, her tone unyielding.

"The day after tomorrow is my dad's memorial service. It's a big day. Remember to come with Chloe, dress yourself nicely, and don't embarrass me."

I looked at Chloe's photo, a faint smile on my face. "Don't worry, I'll bring Chloe with me."

I met Ava at a cocktail party.

She got drunk and couldn't find the restroom, so she stumbled into my room by mistake.

At that time, I was also drunk and didn't notice that there was an extra person in the room. When I woke up, she was already lying next to me.

But Ava didn't make a fuss, instead, she looked serious and asked me if I wanted to try.

At that time, I was hesitant.

However, Ava was persistent, even though nothing had happened between us, she seemed to have decided on me and wouldn't let go.

She would appear outside my company every night to pick me up and drop me off, or provide me with business assistance.

Within a month, I surrendered.

But after we got married, I found out that she had gotten drunk that night because of Justin.

She discovered that Justin, who was far away abroad, had a new female friend on Facebook, so she got drunk at the party.

Ava's care for Justin was beyond imagination.

Justin could call her at any time, and she would drop everything to fly overseas.

I was a man with my own dignity.

But seeing Chloe, who looked exactly like Ava, I softened my heart time and again, and even gave up my career for the sake of my family.

My daughter saw my grievances and struggles and said to me more than once, "Dad, I will take care of you in the future, and I will love you more than Mom!"

I knew I couldn't compete with the Williams family, so I had to endure in order to accompany Chloe growing up.

However, I didn't expect that my endurance would result in even more neglect and indifference.

Clearly, Chloe was looking forward to the grand finale of the competition before her death, saying that she would hand the trophy to me personally.

But now, she has turned into a box of ashes, coldly lying in this small casket.

She died without a sound.

From now on, there would be no one else who could be a reason for me to give in.