Chapter 2After I Died, My Father Didn't Recognize My Body

"My daughter went out of town to study. There's a competition in a few days, and I might take leave to watch it. I promised her," he said.

Dad was chatting with a colleague. When he mentioned Lillian, his face was full of contentment.

Lillian was the child he adopted. She was the same age as me this year.

Compared to me, who was trapped in the mountains, Lillian received all of Dad's love.

After Mom and I were gone, Dad gave all his love to her.

...

Dad was skilled. In just three days, he found every injury I suffered before I died.

The old bruises from beatings. The traces of multiple assaults and miscarriages. Malnutrition and illness. The fatal injury from the rolling pin that caused the hemorrhage.

Holding tweezers, he extracted the last clue I left before I died from my stomach.

Wrapped in red plastic was a small note. This was the desperate clue I left at the last moment.

The last clue I bit down and swallowed was finally discovered.

The small piece of paper was slightly yellowed, but wrapped in plastic. The writing was still somewhat legible.

It contained an address. Upstream along the river, there was a remote village. Mom was buried in that courtyard,

"Why is there writing in here? This is a clue, critical information!" he said.

Dad placed the note into a ziplock bag. The assistant hurriedly took it, exclaiming as they walked away with it.

Dad frowned, tiredly pulling off his gloves. He rubbed his temples. His phone began to ring.

An old voice came through, and the image of the person's face appeared in my mind. I knew that voice all too well.

That was Grandma, who had once loved me the most.

"Aaron, have you found Sofia yet?

"I had a dream that Sofia was gone, she..." she said.

It was the first time in days I had heard my name. Grandma still remembered me.

It felt good. I hadn't been forgotten...

Dad had his back to me. His fist clenched, veins bulging at his temple. He interrupted her with an angry shout before she could finish.

"Enough! Don't mention that bitch's child again!

"How many times do I have to say it? Don't bring her up!

"She's not dead! That bitch took her, and who knows how well they're living now!

"When Claire ran away with that man and took the child, their lives and deaths became none of my concern. Stop bringing them up, Mom!

"My only child is Lillian!" he yelled.

Dad's words struck my heart. What was he saying?!

I was stunned by his angry outburst.

That's not true.

Mom never betrayed Dad. She didn't take me away. We...

We were taken to the rural area. Mom was killed, and I was left in the village by traffickers, subjected to endless abuse and torment...

I wanted to cry, but I was already dead. My explanations couldn't be heard by Dad. I couldn't shed tears or speak.

He said I wasn't worth mentioning.

I was nothing compared to his adopted daughter.

Mom and I were both wretches.