For seven years of marriage, I tried everything possible to earn my husband Adrian's favor, humbly hoping he would spend more time at home with our daughter and me. But even when our daughter, Seraphina, was critically injured in a car accident and longed to see her father one last time, he didn't come back. "Clementine has something going on. I can't leave right now," he told me.

He was really busy. Busy being with his true love.

Later, when I was on the verge of death, Adrian knelt by my side, filled with regret. "I'm sorry. I failed you, I failed Seraphina..." But I could no longer afford the luxury of forgiveness.

"Mommy, I want to see Daddy..."

Lying on her hospital bed, Seraphina was just a fragile little bundle, weakly clutching my hand, her voice barely a whisper. I gently stroked her head, soothing her softly, "Sweetheart, Daddy's busy with work. Let Mommy call him again." Wiping away tears, I stepped aside, my hands trembling as I dialed that familiar number.

But no matter how many times I called, Adrian didn't answer. I glanced back at Seraphina, seeing her hopeful eyes and forced smile, and kept trying. When she could hardly hold on any longer, the call finally connected.

"What do you want? I'm very busy," came the voice, cold as ice.

"Seraphina was in a car accident. She... she wants to see you one last time!" I choked out, desperately trying to hold back my tears.

Adrian paused for a few seconds before saying, "Clementine isn't feeling well. I need to be with her. I'll come home later."

"But Seraphina's dying!" My voice cracked with anguish.

"Aren't you there?" he replied indifferently.

My heart constricted as Seraphina's faint voice reached my ears, "Daddy..." Her small hand reached out, trying to touch something.

I hurriedly handed her the phone. She used every ounce of strength to say, "Daddy... I miss you so much..."

There was a pleading tone in her voice, like a child asking for candy. But on the other end, Adrian simply hung up.

Seraphina's hand fell limp. "Daddy..." She was teary-eyed, her eyes losing their sparkle.

"Seraphina!" I couldn't bear it, fainting on the spot.

When I awoke, Adrian was sitting beside the bed. I looked at him blankly. "I'm sorry, I..."

"You came," I rasped, my voice hoarse. "But Seraphina's gone. She just wanted to see you one last time." I stared at him, unable to detect any emotion on his face.

Adrian merely frowned. "She never should have been born."

I shut my eyes in pain. He never cared for Seraphina, not from the moment she was born. Adrian saw her as the reason I pressured him into marriage. On the day I gave birth, he was vacationing in the Alps with Clementine. And for years afterward, his visits were so rare they could be counted on one hand. He was always busy—busy with Clementine.

I endured it all, but why couldn't he see Seraphina one last time?

I demanded an answer. He was silent for a moment before speaking, "Melina, don’t be unreasonable. My presence here is already more than you deserve."

My eyes burned with tears. "Seraphina was your daughter!"

Something snapped in Adrian. He suddenly erupted in anger, veins bulging on his forehead. "Melina, don’t be ridiculous. If you hadn't deliberately snuck into my room back then, none of this would have happened."

"Yes, I’m a fool, I’m to blame. I never should have loved you. Loving you was the biggest mistake of my life!" I screamed, and Adrian clenched his fists. "If being with me was such a mistake, then let’s end it. If you don’t want to be with me, there are plenty who do!"

With that, he slammed the door and left. I broke down in tears.

At Seraphina's funeral, Clementine made an entrance.

Dressed in a black Victorian-style dress, she wore an expression of deep sadness. As she approached the altar, she glanced at me and let out a quiet, mocking laugh. "Melina, now that your child is gone, let's see how you plan to hold on to Adrian."

I remained expressionless, not wanting to engage in any disputes with her.

But Clementine insisted on provoking me, leaning in to whisper incessantly in my ear.

"Honestly, I envy you. No matter what I do, I can't keep Adrian's heart. But you, you managed to keep him around with just a child."

"However now," she smirked, "what else do you have?"

I gave her a cold look. "Clementine, I'm letting Adrian go back to you. Please don't come in front of me again."

"Letting him go?" Clementine scoffed, "Melina, you really think too highly of yourself. Did you ever think you truly had Adrian?"

I fell silent.

Adrian and I grew up together, childhood friends from the same neighborhood.

I always liked that distant young man.

But he never liked me, especially after Clementine came into the picture, and his indifference reached its peak.

Yet, at a Thanksgiving party, by some twist of fate, I ended up in a room with a drunken Adrian.

At the time, I thought his advances were genuine, that maybe he actually liked me.

But once he sobered up, Adrian slapped me, accusing me of using deceitful tactics.

Later, I found out I was pregnant, and Adrian was pressured by his family to marry me.

I knew Adrian never loved me. If it weren't for Seraphina, I would have divorced him long ago.

Now that Seraphina is gone, what do I have left to keep me connected to Adrian?

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. "Clementine, say what you want. From now on, I will have nothing to do with Adrian. I wish you both a long and happy life together!"

"Melina!" Adrian's angry voice came from behind.

"What do you mean by that?"

I turned around, and Adrian was glaring at me with a cold, stern expression.

"I said, I want a divorce!"

Adrian narrowed his eyes. "Very well, Melina. You'd better remember what you've just said."

I nodded, watching as the two of them linked arms and walked away. Finally, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Seraphina, Mommy will see you soon...

It was the day of Seraphina’s funeral.

Adrian said he couldn’t attend because of work commitments. Instead, he sent over a small Victorian-style dress, the one Seraphina had been longing for. I remembered how excitedly Seraphina had told Adrian that Thanksgiving was coming up, and she wished for that very dress. Adrian had promised her he would buy it before Thanksgiving. But he hadn’t.

Thanksgiving had long since passed, and the dress never made it into her hands.

I took the dress and quietly asked, “Seraphina loved this dress for so long, why didn’t she get it for her birthday?”

Adrian paused before replying, “I forgot.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly. Seraphina cherished that gift so much, how could she not have reminded him? The truth was, even if Seraphina had mentioned it, Adrian probably didn’t care enough to pay attention.

I carried the dress over to Seraphina’s gravestone, gently placing it down. “Seraphina, it’s Mommy who let you down.”

I crouched down, my fingers tracing the youthful features of Seraphina’s face in the photograph. She was smiling so joyfully, her eyes curving like crescent moons. Yet, I had failed to keep that happiness alive.

I recalled the last time I tried to celebrate Seraphina’s birthday, buying a doll that matched the style of the dress. Seraphina was quick; she immediately recognized the doll and its connection to the dress she wanted. Clutching the doll with her eyes sparkling, she asked, “Mom, did Dad send this to me through you?”

I nodded, “Yes, your dad is busy with work, so Mom brought it for you.”

Seraphina hugged the doll tightly and said, “Thank you, Mommy!”

I stroked her hair. She was so understanding; she surely must have known the gift was from me. But she chose to pretend otherwise, just to protect my feelings.

My darling daughter…

The tears flowed, unstoppable.