Chapter 5
601words
Dad's body jerked violently.
He stiffened. I knew these were the signs of an oncoming episode.
Then he saw my hands and legs being broken.
He shook like a leaf.
"Daddy!"
On the phone, in my delirium, I'd finally cried out.
How many years had it been?
Those two beloved words exploded in his ears.
"Daddy!"
"..."
Tears were already streaming down his face, unstoppable. "Daddy's here! Daddy's here!"
He broke down in wracking sobs!
He buried his head against my body, my face.
The subordinates beside him couldn't help but sniffle too.
They knew. In all of Portsmouth, the boss cared for only one person.
He lived for the hope of hearing that person call him 'Daddy.'
And now, that voice calling him 'Daddy' was gone forever.
The footage on the phone showed the tongue that could call him 'Daddy' being shredded by scissors.
It could never call him Daddy again!
He couldn't watch the rest—the phone shoved into my belly, the steel rods, being made into a doll.
Dad's heart felt vacuum-sealed. One arm held me, the other fist pounded against his own chest.
Finally, he fell to his knees, banging his head against the floor.
Thud. Thud.
My heart broke for my father, but I could only watch him bleed and suffer.
I screamed 'Daddy,' but no sound came.
Only when he grabbed the cake-cutting knife and stabbed it hard into his own leg did he stand up.
Then he walked into a side room and locked the door.
His leg still bled, but his mind was only on me.
He gently wiped the blood and grime from me, carefully applied makeup, dressed me in my favorite princess gown.
After a long while, he picked me up, wheeled out the cake, and headed for the main hall.
I knew. No one could control Dad now.
My heart bled, but I was helpless.
Somehow, the venue had regained its cheerful noise.
That woman was basking in flattery and congratulations, bragging about how she and my father fell in love at first sight.
What she didn't know was, the 'love at first sight' was because she somewhat resembled Mom.
And she was only ever meant to be the one Dad found to take care of me.
Seeing my father emerge, she went to him, clinging to his arm ingratiatingly.
"Darling, I know I was wrong earlier, but I was just worried about Chloe!"
"Don't be angry. Chloe wouldn't want to see that!"
My father asked me softly, "Chloe, did you hear that?"
"About that gift earlier! I wasn't thoughtful enough!"
Dad said tonelessly, "Chloe likes gifts like that. She wants another one, right, my baby?"
Saying this, Dad lifted the veil covering me!
My mangled, blood-soaked corpse!
Gasps erupted in the room.
Amber's wine glass fell, shattering.
"Honey…"
The horrific scene scared everyone into stunned silence.
But Dad just held me, smiling at them.
"Chloe, do you hear?"
"This is the Mommy I found to take care of you!"
Amber stood on Dad's other side, not yet grasping the situation, forcing a strained smile.
Until my father pulled the knife he'd just stabbed into his own leg from its sheath.
And drove it hard into her side!
She looked at him, confused, the smile still frozen on her face.
Then Dad pulled it out and stabbed her other side.
Screams tore through the venue.
The place descended into chaos!
But then everyone realized the villa's main doors had been locked long ago.
No one could get out.
