Chapter1

On a stormy day, my husband called my dad, asking him to buy a mango cake.

My dad braved the storm to buy the mango cake but got into a serious car accident on the way.

By the time I got the news and rushed to the hospital, my dad was already on the verge of death.

"Ian said he wanted to eat a mango cake, but I accidentally smashed it. I'm so useless…"

Before he could finish his sentence, my dad passed away.

Even in death, he was still clutching the broken cake.

I was in tears, calling my husband over and over until he finally answered, but the first thing he asked was, "What color is your underwear today?"

Hearing the laughter on the other end, I trembled with anger and couldn't help but ask, "Ian, you're allergic to mangoes, why did you send my dad to buy a mango cake?"

His childhood friend's tearful voice came through the phone, "Daisy, it was my fault. I lost the game of Truth or Dare, and Ian took the punishment for me by sending your dad to buy the mango cake. If you want to blame someone, blame me!"

I wiped away my tears and said coldly, "Do me a favor and tell your man to find some time to come back and divorce me."

Ian gently comforted Julia for a while before impatiently replying, "Divorce is fine, but don't make things hard for Julia."

I dragged my exhausted body, not crying or making a scene, and quietly handled my dad's funeral by myself.

For three days straight, Ian seemed to have vanished. There was not a single message or phone call.

Honestly, I didn't expect him to do anything anyway.

I just felt it was unfair to my dad.

"Make me some noodles."

Three days later, Ian finally came home.

He took off his suit jacket and collapsed on the couch.

He seemed completely drained.

The faint scent of Julia's perfume lingered on his suit.

In the past, I would always prepare his meals in advance without him having to ask.

He once said when we got married that the happiest thing was having a home to return to, someone waiting, and a hot meal ready.

Because of those words, I waited at home with a lamp on and a table full of food for five years.

But this time, I sat in the corner of the sofa, unmoved.

Seeing that I didn't move for a long time, Ian got up. He stared at my swollen and tear-stained eyes. He frowned, saying, "Are you still mad about the game? It was such a small thing, is it really worth it?"

I looked at him, filled with grief and anger, and said, "A small thing? You think making my dad run errands in a storm for something you wouldn't even touch is a small thing?"

It was this so-called small thing that killed my dad!

Just thinking about how my dad blamed himself for smashing Ian's mango cake, even as he died, made my heart ache.

Ian was slightly taken aback by my sudden outburst and asked, "Is Dad mad? It's okay, I'll find some time to calm him down. He's always doted on me, so he'll definitely forgive me."

After saying that, Ian tossed a beautifully wrapped gift box in front of me.

"A gift I bought especially for you. See if you like it."

I glanced at the packaging. It was a woman's handbag.

He claimed he bought it just for me.

But the packaging had clearly been opened before.

If I'm not mistaken, this bag was in Julia's social media post a few days ago.

Her caption then was, "He said, he wanted to give me the best."

The picture showed Julia smiling while carrying a limited-edition bag.

In the corner of the photo, there was another bag in the trash can.

It was the same bag Ian just gave me.

How ridiculous.

He gave me a gift that someone else threw away.

I let out a laugh and said, "When are we getting divorced?"

Ian's face darkened, and he frowned. "Daisy, when will you stop?"

"We can get divorced, but only if Dad personally asks me. I don't believe he would agree to it."

After saying that, Ian angrily slammed the door and went into the bedroom.

Ian was angry.

Every time we fought, it was always like this. No matter who was at fault, once he slammed the door, he refused to communicate.

In the end, it was always me who humbled myself for love, trying to make peace.

But this time, I wouldn't.

I took out the prepared divorce papers from the drawer and quickly signed my name.

Then I dragged my suitcase and left decisively.

Chapter2

I met Ian because of my dad.

My mom passed away early, and my dad raised me alone.

So my relationship with my dad was very close.

At that time, Ian was still in college. He took his dad's car without permission and drove without a license, hitting my dad.

Ian hurriedly got out of the car and nervously checked on my dad.

He kept apologizing to my dad, begging him not to call the police, saying he would pay whatever it took.

My dad, enduring the pain, got up and looked at Ian's guilty and frightened face. He couldn't bear to be harsh.

So, he waved his hand. He didn't call the police, didn't ask for compensation, and just went home.

That day, when I saw my dad covered in injuries, I felt both heartache and anger.

I hated the person who caused it.

The next day, Ian came to my house with lots of gifts to visit my dad.

My dad was comforted. But I didn't give him a warm welcome, and even targeted him everywhere.

Ian didn't mind my attitude. He put down his rich boy airs.

He served water at my house, taking care of my dad attentively.

He said, "Your dad is the most honest and kind person I've ever met."

"Such a person deserves to be treated well."

Since then, he came over almost every day.

He always brought various nutritional supplements and exquisite, expensive gifts.

Some were for my dad, and some were for me.

He got along better and better with my dad.

The two of them could talk and laugh together for the entire day, as close as father and son.

The neighbors were all envious of my dad, saying he had found an excellent and filial son-in-law.

Every time he heard this, Ian just smiled without denying it.

As for me, I continued to target him as usual.

Until one time, when I came home and suddenly saw my dad collapsed on the ground.

No matter how much I called out, he didn't respond.

Watching my dad's face grow paler and paler, I was at a loss, my mind went blank.

Just when I was most helpless and desperate, Ian appeared.

Without a word, he picked up my dad and put him in his car.

Then he pulled me along and rushed to the hospital.

The entire way, Ian never let up on the gas pedal.

Looking at Ian's anxious profile, I suddenly felt like he was glowing.

He seemed to shine brightly, dazzlingly.

He sped all the way, getting my dad to the emergency room as fast as possible.

The doctor said my dad's condition was extremely critical, and if we had been just a few minutes later.

He wouldn't have made it.

I collapsed on the bench in the hallway, trembling with fear.

At that moment, Ian walked up to me and looked at me seriously.

"Be my girlfriend. From now on, your dad will be my dad. I'll take care of him with you."

A simple sentence, but it hit me straight in the heart.

My uneasy heart immediately calmed down.

The pure and genuine emotion in his eyes deeply moved me.

I almost couldn't help but say, "Okay."

At that moment, we looked at each other and smiled. Our gazes were firm, as if we had already made a lifelong commitment.

When my dad found out we were together, he smiled so widely that he almost couldn't close his mouth. This was the first time I saw him smile like that since he passed away.

He always told me I was lucky to have met such a good man like Ian.

For a time, I thought so too.

To me, Ian was not just a lover or family. He was a treasure, a delightful surprise.

After marriage, I always put him first. I valued his happiness and sorrow more than my own.

Back then, he doted on me.

He was also very considerate and caring toward my dad.

We were deeply in love, and our days were incredibly happy.

But this happiness ended when Julia returned from abroad.

She was Ian's childhood friend and an irreplaceable presence in his heart.

Ian's gentle gaze shifted from me to Julia.

"Julia just got back from abroad. She needs my help in many ways, so I won't be home for the next few days."

"Julia caught a cold. I'm taking her some medicine, so celebrate your birthday on your own."

"Julia's health isn't good. She can't do without me, so please be more understanding…"

No matter the time or place, Ian would drop everything and rush to Julia's side whenever she called.

If I asked even one more question, I was being unreasonable.

Because of this, I couldn't sleep at night. I was often filled with sorrow.

To avoid making my dad sad and prevent my family from falling apart, I endured it time and time again because of the love I couldn't let go of in my heart for Ian.

I thought that as long as I quietly maintained this relationship, my family could remain peaceful and stable like before.

But I was wrong.

My tolerance only led to Ian treating me with more blatant disregard.

This time, it directly led to my dad losing his life because of a game between him and Julia.

I was filled with grief and despair.

As my dad was cremated, my love for Ian also turned to ashes.

Chapter3

On the fourth day after moving out of the villa and returning to my dad's old home, I chose a burial plot.

I was about to take my dad's urn to be buried.

As soon as I opened the door, Ian's cold, stern face came into view.

Julia stood beside him, with four bodyguards behind them.

Ian rushed inside as soon as he arrived, looking around frantically.

Finally, he returned to my side and asked, "Where's Dad?"

I glanced at the urn wrapped in black cloth in my hand and said hoarsely, "Now you remember to look for my dad? It's too late!"

Ian's face darkened.

Anger flashed in his eyes. "Where did you hide him?"

I glared at him, confused. "What do you mean by that?"

"You don't know what I mean? Julia's health is poor, why did Dad have to steal her special medicine formula? That's her life-saving medicine!"

"Do you two really hate seeing her doing well?"

Ian's voice was icy.

His words were like steel needles, piercing deep into my heart.

I had thought Ian was coming to find my dad with such a big commotion because he realized the game had gone too far and came to apologize.

Or maybe he had learned about my dad's death and came to repent out of guilt.

But I never expected that he came to accuse my dad for Julia's sake.

How outrageous.

Not only did he cause my dad's death, but now he was here to slander him.

I stared coldly at Ian and said sternly, "I don't care if you want to protect Julia, but don't throw dirt on my dad's name."

Ian turned his phone screen towards me and said sharply, "See for yourself."

The phone showed a surveillance video.

In the video, a man was looking around cautiously as he entered Julia's villa.

A few minutes later, he left sneakily with something in his hands.

The man in the video, from his clothes to his build and even his profile, looked about 80-90% like my dad.

After the video ended, Julia's eyes filled with tears. She said pitifully, "After your dad secretly came to my house yesterday, my special medicine formula disappeared. Daisy, I haven't done anything to you, right? Why would your dad come after my life?"

Julia had severe asthma, and the special medicine she mentioned was what she needed to take every time she had an attack.

I heard that the formula for that medicine was unique and worth a fortune.

If the formula was lost, Julia would lose her life-saving medicine. This wasn't a small matter.

But I knew this was just a sob story she was orchestrating.

"Daisy, I've told you, I only see Julia as a sister. Her health is poor, so what's wrong with me taking care of her? Why don't you believe me? Why would Dad steal her special medicine formula?"

Ian's words were filled with the disappointment of someone who couldn't understand why the other person couldn't see reason.

Clearly, he had already decided that my dad was a thief.

I looked at him with sorrow and said, "Ian, you and my dad were as close as father and son. Don't you know what kind of person my dad was? Do you really think he would steal?"

Hearing my words, Ian's tightly furrowed brow relaxed slightly, as if he was moved.

Seeing this, Julia spoke up at just the right moment:

"Daisy, I also hope it wasn't your dad who stole it. But after he left my house yesterday, I ran into him outside. I asked him why he came to my house, and he said he was looking for Ian. His tone was so harsh, like he thought I was some kind of shady person…"

The more Julia spoke, the more aggrieved she became. Finally, with a sob, she accused me, "There's evidence and witnesses, and you're still covering for him. Isn't that inappropriate?"

Julia's voice was soft, but her words were sharp.

Hearing this, the slight softness on Ian's face immediately turned back to coldness.

"Tell Dad to hand over the formula quickly. This concerns Julia's life, it's not something you can be stubborn about."

Julia was clearly lying. My dad had been dead for a week, how could she have seen him yesterday?

But Ian still believed Julia's lies.

Over the years, my dad had always treated Ian like his own son. He supported him and cared for him wholeheartedly.

And what did we get in return?

The stigma of being called a thief.

How absurd.

My dad's years of wholehearted effort couldn't even match up to a casual word from Julia.

Even until his death, my dad still cared about Ian.

At this moment, I truly felt it wasn't worth it for my dad.

Ian had already fallen under Julia's spell. No matter what I said, he wouldn't believe me.

Forget it.

I didn't want to waste any more time. I stopped arguing and walked past Ian, leaving.

Julia chased me outside and blocked my way, saying, "Daisy, are you just going to leave like that? What about my medicine? Hurry up and tell your dad to give it back!"

I looked at Julia with hatred and said, "Julia, if you want to be the other woman, then go ahead. But don't use my dad as a stepping stone."

"You know perfectly well whether my dad stole your formula or not. You're doing this just to be with Ian. Fine, I'll give you what you want."

"I've already signed the divorce papers. Once Ian signs them too, you two can be together openly."

After saying that, I walked around Julia and left without looking back.

But Julia wasn't done yet. She continued to block my way and said, "Daisy, stop trying to confuse things and twist the truth. Are you in such a hurry to leave because you're guilty? What's in that black cloth? Is it my formula?"

As she said this, she reached out without hesitation to grab the urn wrapped in black cloth from my hands.

Julia usually looked frail. But at this moment, she pulled at my things with surprising strength.

I wasn't paying attention. The urn slipped from my hands and she yanked it away.

By the time I realized what was happening, the urn had already hit the ground hard.

The ashes scattered all over the ground.

The pale light reflecting from them stung my eyes.

My mind exploded in that moment. A surge of anger burned fiercely in my chest.

"I thought it was my formula. Turns out it's just a box of worthless powder…"

Julia mumbled in disgust.

Smack!

Before she could finish, I slapped her hard across the face.

"You dare hit me?"

Julia covered her face, looking at me in disbelief.

"I'll do more than hit you! I'll kill you!"

I charged at Julia like a madwoman.

My dad died because of a game between her and Ian.

Now Julia had shattered my dad's urn.

I couldn't stand it.

"Stop her!"

Ian ordered from behind.

Two bodyguards immediately stepped forward, grabbing me tightly on both sides.

I couldn't move an inch.

Julia clutched her face and shrank into Ian's arms. "Ian, I'm in so much pain…"

After saying that, Julia suddenly began gasping for air, as if she had been triggered.

"Julia, don't worry. Breathe slowly. Stay calm," Ian said, trying to soothe her.

Ian hurried to comfort Julia, his eyes full of worry and concern.

Julia glanced at me secretly. Then she said softly to Ian, "Ian, I just wanted to get my formula back. Is that wrong? I know you've always loved Daisy, but you can't spoil her like this. She's going too far."

As she spoke, she nearly started crying.

Ian, feeling heartbroken, gently comforted her, "Julia, don't worry. I will make sure to give you a proper explanation."

After speaking, Ian walked up to me. He stared at me with a piercing gaze and said coldly, "Daisy, it seems I've been too lenient with you. That's why you're acting so recklessly. You actually hit Julia over a box of worthless powder."

"Apologize to her immediately."