My dad booked my high school entrance physical. While getting my blood drawn, I heard the nurse confirm: "Is this the sample for the bone marrow match?" I froze. That wasn't on my physical form. And a match? A match for whom? She accidentally dropped the lab requisition form. As she bent to pick it up, a few lines of text stabbed into my eyes: Patient: Sophia Wu. Diagnosis: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Guardian Signature: David Wu. I picked it up to confirm. It was definitely my dad, David Wu's, handwriting. Who is Sophia Wu? Why is my dad her guardian? I immediately called my dad. "Dad, why does a school physical need a bone marrow match?" His voice paused, a hint of panic creeping in. "The hospital must have made a mistake, right? But it's just a test, doing one or two extra won't hurt." I smiled and said okay. After hanging up, I went straight to the ward listed on the form. 1 Walking into the ward, I saw the girl lying in the bed. She was pale and frail. Her eyes and brows looked almost exactly like my dad's. My heart sank. Clenching my fists, I walked over and asked: "Are you Sophia?" She was stunned, looking up at me. Before she could speak, a woman's voice came from behind. I turned around. It was her mother. She looked to be in her thirties, young, dressed simply, with the air of a gentle wife and mother. She looked a bit flustered, her face pale, her hands trembling slightly. "You must be Sophia's classmate?" Her voice was urgent and a bit shaky as she came up to pull me away. "She needs to rest. Come outside for a moment, I have something to tell you." I didn't refuse and followed her out of the ward. In the hallway, she visibly relaxed and hesitated before speaking: "You are..." I held up the requisition form and questioned her directly: "Why is my father's signature on your daughter's guardian line?" "Ma'am, what is your relationship with my father?" The hospital hallway was busy with people coming and going, some even recognizing her as they passed. She hadn't expected me to lay my cards on the table so directly. Her expression grew even more nervous as she forced a smile to greet acquaintances. Then, with a strained smile, she explained to me: "That signature... my daughter is sick, and a charity organization is sponsoring her. The person in charge was there when we paid the fees, so he just signed it." "My daughter has the same last name as me, Wu. It's just a coincidence, don't overthink it." Her words were gentle, trying to avoid suspicion. But her gaze on me revealed a trace of malice and covetousness. I met her eyes directly. She looked guilty and subconsciously tucked her hair behind her ear. I saw the diamond ring on her hand clearly. It was familiar. It was a designer piece. And it was from my mom's favorite designer. This reclusive designer had released a new collection recently, which the industry was buzzing about. It just happened to coincide with my parents' wedding anniversary. I had secretly reminded my dad to snatch up this diamond ring for my mom as an anniversary gift. He agreed and asked me to keep it a secret, saying he planned to surprise Mom. But on the anniversary, what he brought out wasn't the limited edition at all, but a common co-branded piece available in any store. Even the stones on it were cubic zirconia. My dad explained that he got the time wrong due to the time difference during an international meeting and missed it. He could only use the co-branded piece as a placeholder and would find someone to contact the designer for a custom piece later. Turns out, he didn't miss it. He just gave it to another woman. And used a perfunctory gift to dismiss my mom. I gritted my teeth, suppressing the surging anger. Staring at Grace's awkward expression, my smile didn't reach my eyes: "Ma'am, your ring is beautiful. Is it the designer limited edition?" "My mom waited a long time but couldn't buy it." She probably didn't expect a kid like me to recognize it. Her movements froze instantly, her face turning ugly. She hurriedly pulled her hair forward to cover the ring, stammering an excuse: "What designer edition... I don't understand these things. My daughter bought it for me casually, it's not worth much." "I have to take care of my child, I'm leaving now." "By the way, please don't spread rumors about today, lest your family misunderstands." With that, she turned in a panic and fled back to the ward. Watching her wretched escape, I sneered inwardly. Heh. A coward with no guts. Without looking back, I turned and left the hospital. Sitting in the car, I immediately contacted my grandfather's assistant: "Help me check my dad's recent unusual activities, especially his travel itinerary and financial transactions." "Be quick, but be careful not to alert him." "Save any evidence immediately." 2 When I got home, my mom was stewing soup in the kitchen. My dad was busy with business when he was young and ate irregularly, resulting in serious stomach problems. He had undergone two stomach resection surgeries. My mom felt sorry for him. Someone who never cooked, she went into the kitchen especially for him. Soups, porridges, medicinal meals... She managed to nurse his stomach back to 70-80% health. From what I can remember, it's been almost ten years now. In two days, it will be my parents' 20th wedding anniversary. Yet at this moment, I discovered my dad was cheating. Watching her busy back in the kitchen, the resentment in my heart turned into sadness, and I couldn't hold back my tears anymore. She was over forty, but she kept her figure well and her skin was tight. She looked about thirty. Only those hands, with slightly enlarged knuckles, calluses on the palms, and a few pale old scars on the back. She used to love getting manicures, but later stopped because it was inconvenient for cooking. I walked into the kitchen and hugged her gently from behind. She was startled, then laughed and teased me: "You're back? You're about to be a high schooler, why are you still acting like a baby?" "Go out quickly, it's smoky in here, I'm busy." Seeing I didn't move, she sensed something was wrong. Turning around, she saw my tear-streaked face and immediately looked nervous. "Lily, why are you crying? Didn't you go for a physical? Dad didn't go with you? Let me ask..." She reached for her phone as she spoke. I grabbed her wrist and shook my head hard. "Don't call him!" My mom froze, looking at me uneasily, waiting for me to speak. I closed my eyes tight, my throat tight: "My dad... he's cheating." "The woman's name is Grace Wu. She used to be his secretary." My movements were stiff, my fingers trembling slightly as I took out the tablet from my bag. The screen lit up, showing the information Uncle Feng, my grandfather's assistant, had helped me investigate. The light from the screen illuminated Mom's pale face. I scrolled through the pages, showing her item by item. "They got together not long after she joined the company. That was when... you just got pregnant with me." "Less than half a year later, she resigned because she was pregnant. My dad bought a large flat in the Cloud Mansion near our house, and the owner is her." "When you were suffering in late pregnancy, swollen all over and unable to sleep, my dad was over there making pregnancy meals for her; when you were fighting for your life during a difficult labor, he was massaging her and walking with her to relieve pain." "When you were lying in the hospital bed after the C-section, he was accompanying that woman for her checkups, telling her to walk more so she wouldn't have to suffer a C-section later." "Mom, that illegitimate daughter is only six months younger than me. He cheated while you were pregnant." I cried as I spoke, tears falling on the tablet screen, blooming into small wet marks. My mom stared blankly at the text and photos, her eyes gradually turning red and filling with tears. "How could he..." "Dating, marriage, twenty years. How could he..." I hugged her tight, took a deep breath, and continued. "Mom, do you remember the fire at our house when I was little?" She nodded, her voice even hoarser: "Of course I remember. I was on a business trip, your dad was working and taking care of you. He turned around and you set the curtains on fire... He risked his life to save you, terrified, guarding you in the hospital, saying if you were gone, he couldn't live either." "Later, when you got out of the ICU, he was so nervous, following you everywhere, often waking up at night to check on you, and constantly comforting me, saying it was all his fault... At that time, I thought he really loved you and cared about this family." Speaking of this, her words revealed a trace of cold sarcasm. I continued to scroll the screen, my finger stopping on an investigation report. "What if I said that fire wasn't an accident at all?" "He thought I was asleep and was in a hurry to see that mother and daughter. He threw an unextinguished cigarette butt into the trash can." "The window wasn't closed, the wind blew the curtain in, and it caught fire. He locked me in the room... I had no ability to save myself." "And he didn't save me. A neighbor found out and called the police. Firefighters broke down the door and carried me out to the hospital. He... rushed there later." "I was only a few years old then, and kept drifting in and out of consciousness, so I couldn't remember exactly what happened." "Do you think he followed me everywhere during that time because he loved me? He was afraid I would suddenly remember and tell you the truth... He was afraid you would turn against him and he would lose the resources and connections from Grandpa's side." My eyes burned, unable to distinguish between grievance and anger. The happiness I thought I had turned out to be a meticulously arranged scam. Grievance piled up to the peak and turned into anger. I hated him. I hated him for lying to Mom, and even more for giving me this fake love like charity for so many years. What are we in his eyes? But seeing Mom's state, only heartache remained. She was the one hurt the deepest. I wanted to say more, but my phone rang suddenly. It was the hospital. "Hello, is this student Lily Wu? There are some indicators in your physical report that need to be rechecked. Please ask your parent to bring you to the hospital for a detailed checkup as soon as possible." I was stunned, trying to make my voice sound calm: "Okay, I know." Just after hanging up, my mom's and my phones vibrated almost simultaneously. Sent to me: 【Lily, the hospital called saying you need a recheck. Dad will go with you the day after tomorrow.】 Sent to Mom: 【Honey, the French designer you like is holding a private exhibition next week. A friend sent two invitation tickets for the afternoon after tomorrow. You go, relax a bit.】 The day after tomorrow, exactly when I go to the hospital for the recheck. He specifically sent Mom away, wanting to take me alone to... Mom and I looked at each other, neither speaking. I really wanted to know, what expression would he have when his conspiracy was exposed? 3 On the day of the recheck, I arrived at the hospital with my dad. While waiting for a red light, he picked up his phone and sent a voice message to my mom. "Honey, did you get to the art center? Is parking convenient there?" He was testing the waters. Soon, Mom replied. "Arrived, queuing to enter. Parking was a bit far, walked a bit." She also attached a photo. A photo of her and a friend at the art center. My dad clicked to enlarge it, then followed up: "Heard 'Morning Mist' is on display this time, did you see it? Remember you like that painter very much." A few minutes later, Mom sent a photo of the interior of the exhibition hall. "Saw it, more shocking than in the album. A bit crowded, talk later." My dad seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He turned his head and gave me an impeccable smile: "Your mom can finally relax a bit." Hypocrite. I pulled the corner of my mouth, the smile not reaching my eyes. At the hospital, he dutifully played the role of a good father. Recheck, examination, inquiry... He even carefully covered my eyes when blood was drawn. If I hadn't discovered his affair and another daughter... I would probably rely on this tenderness and nestle in his arms like before. The process went quickly. After getting the blood draw receipt, he glanced at his watch, his tone natural. "Lily, wait here for a moment, don't run around. Dad needs to use the restroom, back in a jiffy." "Okay." I lowered my eyes and answered softly. The direction he went was the hematology ward. After a while, I got up and quietly followed. The ward door was slightly ajar. I stood outside, looking through the crack. My dad was sitting by the bed, feeding Sophia medicine. The girl leaned on him with full dependence, crying. "Dad, I'm scared..." "Will I die? I don't want to leave you and Mom..." My dad gently wiped away her tears, his tone very gentle. "Silly child, what nonsense." "Dad found you the best doctors in the country and used the best medicine. Look, isn't Dad always here with you? Our Sophia is the bravest, you'll definitely get through this." Grace also leaned over, stroking her daughter's cheek: "Sophia, don't be afraid, Mom and Dad are here. Your dad pushed aside so much work for you, running to the hospital every day, contacting this expert and that professor... Did you forget last time you suddenly had a fever in the middle of the night? Your dad was at a meeting abroad, took a red-eye flight back immediately after getting the call, and guarded you for two days and nights without closing his eyes. With Dad here, there's nothing to fear." The family of three was happy and harmonious. I stood outside like a clown. I remembered when I was eight, acute pneumonia, high fever almost 104 degrees, coughing my lungs out. Mom rushed me to the hospital, her hands shaking with panic. Called him, again and again, finally he only replied with a text: "With an important client, can't leave, sorry for the trouble." That whole night, it was Mom holding me alone in the emergency infusion room until dawn. Later I learned, that night, Sophia made a fuss not letting him go out. The so-called "important client" was accompanying them. My fingernails dug deep into my palm, but I felt no pain. Suddenly someone put an arm around my shoulder. It was Mom. She signaled me with her eyes that it was okay. At this time, the attending physician smiled and spoke: "Mr. Wu, Mrs. Wu, don't worry. Although little Sophia's indicators have fluctuated a bit recently, they are generally controllable. With the support of dedicated parents like you, the child's good mentality is crucial for treatment. Our expert group has repeatedly deliberated the bone marrow transplant plan, and now we can operate as soon as the donor is ready." "As long as it can save Sophia, anything is worth it." My dad looked at Sophia, his voice firm. As long as it can save Sophia. What about me? Me, treated as a "donor." Are my wishes, my health, worth considering? My heart ached numbly. My dad turned to the doctor, his tone steady. "I've already settled things with the donor. The relevant procedures can be completed today." "Please take care of the surgery and arrange it as soon as possible." Next to him, an elderly expert nodded in agreement: "Mr. Wu is truly resolute and cares so much about the child's affairs." "Rest assured, the operating room is ready. Once the donor finishes the final pre-op checks and preparations, we can proceed." "With a father like you who has abundant social resources and is hands-on, the child is truly blessed." The head nurse beside him also lamented: "Yes, Mr. Wu comes almost every day, we all see it. It's rare to find a man who is successful in his career yet so family-oriented and responsible." Another doctor added: "I heard Mr. Wu not only runs around for his daughter's illness but also initiated a special relief fund in his own name to help families in similar difficulties. This benevolence is even more worthy of our admiration." The ward was full of compliments and praise. Elevating him into a perfect father and philanthropist. Applause erupted as the words fell. The atmosphere was enthusiastic. Mom took my hand and pushed the door open, her voice cold and hard: "David Wu, is the recheck you mentioned just tricking my daughter here to be a donor for your bastard?"
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