My daughter and I died horribly in a cold, abandoned factory. Before the end, I begged our kidnapper to let me make one last call to my wife, to plead with her to save us. But she thought I was putting on an act. Her voice crackled with annoyance through the phone. "Are you ever going to stop?" she snarled. "I haven't even dealt with you for pushing Julian down the stairs and breaking his arm! Go ahead and die for all I care, just stop bothering me while I'm drying his hair!" She got her wish. Right after she hung up, they killed us. But later, when she could no longer find her husband and daughter, she finally went insane. 1 For a moment, I was disoriented, a weightless soul floating in the air. "Daddy… are we dead?" My daughter's small, innocent voice came from beside me. My heart clenched as the agonizing memories flooded back. I pulled Hannah into my arms, holding her tight. "Yes, sweetie… But it's okay. Daddy will be with you forever." Our deaths had been brutal. Our faces were mangled beyond recognition, our bodies so tortured there wasn't an unblemished inch of skin left. Even the hardened police officers, men who had seen the worst of humanity, drew a sharp breath when they saw our bodies. "What kind of hatred drives someone to do this?" one of them murmured. "God, it's tragic. This must be the father. Look at the body… he was trying to shield the kid right to the end…" "Damn. The bodies are too damaged. Identifying them is going to be a nightmare…" I covered Hannah's eyes. Floating there, watching them photograph our remains, a bottomless well of hatred churned inside me. Perhaps my rage was a force of its own, because in the blink of an eye, we were no longer in the factory. We were standing beside my wife, Sabrina. She was in a private room at the hospital, gently peeling an apple with a look of profound tenderness on her face. "Mommy!" Hannah instinctively started towards her, then stopped. A memory seemed to flash in her eyes, and she hesitated before hiding behind my legs. Sabrina had never wanted to marry me, let alone have a child. She'd always been cold and indifferent to Hannah. Every time our daughter tried to get close, she would be impatiently pushed away. After peeling the apple, Sabrina carefully sliced it into small, perfect wedges, stuck a toothpick in one, and offered it to the man in the hospital bed—Julian. "Here, Julian. You eat this. I'll dry your hair," she said, the love and adoration in her eyes a knife twisting in my soul. Julian’s left arm was in a plaster cast, his dark hair still damp. Sabrina expertly plugged in a hairdryer and sat on the edge of the bed. He lowered his head, letting her gently work her fingers through his hair. Her movements were soft and meticulous, a side of her I had never, ever seen. Knock, knock, knock. The door creaked open. Charles, our butler, poked his head in, looking troubled. "Ma'am, regarding Mr. Thorne and Hannah… Are you sure you don't want to do anything?" Sabrina’s brow furrowed, her face darkening. "Do what? Can't you see I'm busy? Nathan made up that whole story just to trick me into coming home. A kidnapping? Charles, are you getting dumber?" Her private moment with Julian had been interrupted, and she was clearly annoyed. "Don't mention his name to me again. If you do, you can pack your bags." She didn't know. She couldn't possibly know that we were already dead. That we had died right after she hung up on my desperate plea for help. I still had a sliver of hope when she answered the phone. "Sabrina! Hannah and I have been kidnapped! Please, you have to help us!" I heard the hairdryer click off, followed by her voice, tight with suppressed fury. "Nathan, are you out of your mind?" "First you push Julian down the stairs and break his arm, ruining his chance to compete in the guitar competition, and now you're making up this ridiculous story about you and Hannah being kidnapped?" "I'm busy drying Julian's hair. I don't have time for your drama." Then, she hung up without a second thought. "Daddy, does Mommy not want us anymore?" Hannah whispered, tugging on my shirt. A wave of sorrow washed over me. I stroked her hair. "No, sweetie. Mommy wasn't good to us. It's we who don't want her anymore." She nodded, her expression still so innocent, and I felt a lump form in my throat as tears welled in my eyes. "Don't cry, Daddy." Hannah’s voice pulled me back. After being scolded by Sabrina, Charles didn't dare press the issue. He quietly closed the door and stood guard outside. Watching Sabrina and Julian, so lost in their own world, I thought, She hates us so much, she'll probably laugh with joy when she finds out we're dead. After all, with us gone, nothing would stand in the way of her and her one true love. … Julian had only broken his arm, but Sabrina treated him like a fragile treasure, staying by his bedside day and night. Early the next morning, she sent Charles home to pick up breakfast prepared by our cook, Mrs. Gable, and laid it out for him. "Try this, Julian. Let me know if you like it. If not, I'll get you something else." She ladled a bowl of soup, scooped up a spoonful, and blew on it gently before bringing it to his lips. Julian drank the soup, and when he looked up, his eyes were glistening with tears. "Sabrina, you're so good to me… How can I ever repay you?" Sabrina’s heart instantly melted. She put down the bowl and pulled him into a hug. "Don't talk about repaying me, Julian. You know how I feel about you. It's never changed." "But Nathan… and you have a child together…" Julian bit his lip, a shadow of sadness crossing his face. Hearing her beloved misunderstand, Sabrina rushed to explain. "My family forced me to marry Nathan! And the child… it wasn't my choice. He got me drunk!" "I have never, not for one second, cared about his child!" Her words hit me like a physical blow. I instinctively moved to cover Hannah's ears, but it was too late. Hannah just stared at Sabrina, her small face pale. After a long moment, she said, "Daddy was right. Mommy is bad. We don't want her. Don't be sad, Daddy." Hearing that, I couldn't hold back any longer. I hugged my little girl and wept. Sabrina, oblivious, clapped her hands. Charles brought in an exquisite guitar case. "Julian, this is a one-of-a-kind guitar, made by the greatest master craftsman in Italy. There's only one in the world, and now it's yours," she announced. "To me, you're as unique and precious as this guitar." Julian blushed, but my own face went white with rage. That guitar… I recognized it. I’d acquired it five years ago during a performance in Vienna. It was my most prized possession. And she was giving it to him? White-hot fury consumed me. I wanted to rush forward, to stop them, but I was nothing but air. My rage was powerless. "This guitar… wasn't this Nathan's?" Julian asked, holding the instrument, a strange look in his eyes. "What if he finds out and comes after me?" "Him? He's not worthy of this guitar," Sabrina scoffed, her eyes filled with contempt. "I'll just buy him some cheap replacement to shut him up. He broke your arm; consider this his apology." "Now, you get some rest, Julian. Tomorrow, when you're discharged, you're moving in with me. It'll be easier for me to take care of you." She gently stroked his hair, her face radiant with an love she had never once shown me. When Sabrina finally left the room, Charles was still waiting outside. He couldn't help but speak up. "Ma'am, Mrs. Gable said Mr. Thorne and Hannah haven't been home in two days… Should we perhaps call the police?" At the mention of our names, Sabrina's expression turned thunderous. "He's probably hiding out at some friend's house with the kid. Call the police? You want me to become a laughingstock for the whole city?" "Charles, I told you not to bring them up. Are you trying to get yourself fired?" Beads of sweat formed on Charles's forehead. "No, ma'am, of course not. I'm just worried something might have happened…" Sabrina snorted. "What could happen? He's a manipulative drama queen. There's nothing to worry about." Then she muttered under her breath, "They say the wicked live forever. Honestly, I almost wish something would happen to him…" I watched this scene unfold, feeling like my entire six-year marriage had been a colossal joke. The woman I loved, the woman I shared a bed with, had been secretly wishing for my death, and I, like a fool, had been completely oblivious, clumsily trying to win her affection. I never realized just how much she despised me. … After Julian was discharged from the hospital, Sabrina brought him home. The moment they walked through the door, she called for our housekeeper. "Mrs. Gable, where's Nathan? Tell him to come out here. He needs to pack his things and move into the guest room. Julian will be taking the master bedroom." Mrs. Gable froze. "Ma'am," she said quietly, "Mr. Thorne and Miss Hannah… they haven't been back for a week." Sabrina's brow tightened. "Fine. Then you go and move his things into the guest room for him." As Mrs. Gable hurried to do as she was told, Sabrina grumbled, "Dragging a child around with him while he's out fooling around for this long. Just wait until he gets back, I'll give him a piece of my mind!" Julian quickly stepped in to soothe her. "Sabrina, I'm sure Nathan didn't mean it. He's probably just upset and needed some time away. Don't be angry." "Time away? What right does he have to be upset?" The attempt at comfort only seemed to enrage her further. "Don't you worry, Julian. When he gets back, I'm going to make him pay for what he did to your arm." She flopped onto the sofa and switched on the television. "Come, sit with me, Julian. We'll wait for Mrs. Gable to finish, and then I'll take you upstairs." "Sabrina, maybe I should just go back to my own place…" Julian said, biting his lip in a display of false modesty. "If Nathan finds out I'm staying in the master bedroom, he'll be furious. What if that just makes him stay away longer?" "Then let him stay away forever!" Sabrina snapped, grabbing his wrist and pulling him down beside her. He took the opportunity to settle himself right onto her lap. "Sabrina… you're so good to me." Once the room was ready, she led Julian to the master bedroom. Everything was new—toothbrush, toothpaste, towels, slippers—all freshly bought by Mrs. Gable at her direction. "Julian, your hand is injured, so be careful in the shower. Try not to get the cast wet. I'll be right outside. Call me if you need anything," she fussed, her concern genuine. I remembered a time I was burning up with a high fever, begging her to pick up Hannah from kindergarten. "Nathan, your little pity party won't work on me," she had sneered. "She's your daughter, you get her. A fever? And you just happen to get it on the same day as Julian's guitar recital? Are you dying? If not, then get up and go yourself!" She had turned and left without a backward glance. I had to drag myself out of bed, but I collapsed from weakness before I even made it downstairs. Thankfully, Mrs. Gable found me, gave me some medicine, and went to pick up Hannah. And what was Sabrina doing then? Was she backstage with Julian, kissing him amidst a bouquet of red roses? So, she wasn't incapable of caring. She wasn't cold-hearted by nature. She just despised me and our daughter. Just then, Sabrina's phone rang. "Sabrina, dear, I haven't been able to reach Nathan for a couple of days. Did you two have a fight? Do you know where he is?" It was my mother. "How should I know? He probably took the kid somewhere to play. I'll have him call you when he gets back," Sabrina said, rolling her eyes as she lied. Hearing her, I could only manage a bitter, silent smile. I'm sorry, Mom. I won't be there to take care of you in your old age. "But I saw on the news… there was a murder case," my mother's voice was hesitant, laced with a fear she didn't want to voice. "Nathan and Hannah are missing… You don't think something happened to them, do you?" "Missing? It's all an act he's putting on. Mom, don't get involved," Sabrina said, and before my mother could reply, she hung up the phone. Julian put on a concerned face. "Sabrina, is something wrong with Nathan? Your mother-in-law is just worried. Don't be upset." Sabrina set her phone to 'Do Not Disturb' and tossed it aside. "What could possibly happen to Nathan?" she said dismissively. "A man as vile as him? Even God wouldn't take him. He's probably in on it with his mother, cooking up this whole scheme." Julian covered his mouth and giggled. "Oh, you know Nathan. He just loves you too much. You can't blame him for trying." Sabrina pulled him into her arms. "But you're the only one in my heart," she whispered. I couldn't stand to watch the sickening display any longer. I took Hannah's hand and turned her to face the wall. Another day passed. Finally, the police came to the door. When she opened it and saw the uniforms, Sabrina was visibly startled. "Mrs. Thorne? Your husband and daughter have been missing for four days. We need you to come to the station and identify some bodies."
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