Later, when Melody got pregnant, her parents refused to let me even care for her.

When Lily was born, they blocked me from entering the hospital, claiming my presence would bring bad luck.

When they discovered the baby was a girl, Rose went on a three-day tirade, calling me useless and claiming my bloodline was cursed.

It was only after Melody insisted she was happy with a daughter that they finally dropped the subject. Even then, they claimed I would pass my "curse" onto Lily. They took Lily away to raise her themselves, and as her father, I was never allowed to see her.

It wasn't until Lily was nearly school-age that she finally came to live with us. But by then, the damage was done. Her grandparents had poisoned her mind; she hated me just as much as they did.

Lily called me a freeloader who didn't deserve to be her father. She forbade me from ever identifying myself as her father in public, claiming it would embarrass her.

I wanted nothing more than to raise her right, but all I ever received in return was disgust.

Yet, with Benjamin, she was strangely affectionate.

She never allowed me to attend her parent-teacher meetings, and now, she had even replaced me with Benjamin as her emergency contact.

Melody allowed all of it. They told me I wasn't manly enough—that I was acting like a bitter, nagging housewife.

If they all despised me this much, then there was no reason for me to keep enduring it.

It was time to end this.

"Melody, if you don't sign these papers today, you're not walking out that door." I stood firmly, blocking the entrance.

"Ivan Gage! We can't keep putting up with your nonsense!" Melody finally snapped. In a blur of motion, she swung her hand and slapped me hard across the face.

Only after the blow landed did Benjamin slowly step in to "stop" her. Melody's face was flushed with rage as Benjamin wrapped his arms around her, murmuring, "It's okay. It's not your fault. Mr. Gage is just emotional right now. Let's calm him down first."

There was only one way Melody knew how to "calm" me. She told her mother to bring Lily downstairs.

Lily emerged half-asleep, wearing only a thin nightgown. As she walked down the stairs, she murmured, "Mom, Mr. Carter… Good evening."

It was as if I didn't exist.

Seeing how lightly she was dressed, I instinctively took off my coat and draped it over her shoulders.

But she immediately flung it to the ground. "That's gross. Don't touch me with your rags!"

Then she ran straight into Benjamin's arms.

"Mr. Carter, you're so warm. I love hugging you. Unlike someone else, who smells awful…"

Melody reached out and gently stroked Lily's cheek. "Your dad is upset because he didn't get to go to your school meeting. You should apologize to him. Otherwise, he's going to leave us."

To my surprise, Lily's eyes lit up with genuine joy.

"That's great! Then I won't apologize. That way, I never have to see this loser again!" She clapped her hands happily.

My chest tightened. Was this really my daughter?

Melody frowned, her voice rising. "I never taught you to be this rude. Apologize now!"

Lily clenched her jaw, refusing to do so.

Melody looked helpless, but then Benjamin crouched down and hugged Lily.

"Lily, if you just say sorry, your dad will stop making a scene. Then your mom and I can go out. So for my sake, just apologize, okay?"

Lily lowered her head, hesitated for a moment, and finally relented. "Sorry. Is that enough?"

Melody turned to me instantly. "She apologized. Don't humiliate yourself any further. Be considerate for once."

Just then, Benjamin's phone buzzed twice.

Benjamin picked up his phone and began typing a reply.

A second later, Lily's smartwatch buzzed.

For the next minute, it continued—her watch and his phone vibrating in a relentless back-and-forth rhythm. The two of them stared at their screens, faint smiles playing on their lips. Every so often, they'd sneak a glance in my direction.

I froze for a moment, then realized what was happening—they were texting each other.

I couldn't take it anymore and snatched the watch from Lily's wrist. I skimmed the messages, my heart sinking with every word.

It was exactly as I feared.

Lily, Melody, and Benjamin had a group chat titled "Our Happy Family". Inside, Lily was unleashing a torrent of vitriol against me.

"Why do I have a dad like this?"

"He'd have more dignity if he just went out and begged."

"If he would just die, then Mr. Carter could finally be my dad!"

Meanwhile, Benjamin played the role of the "perfect father" in the chat.

"Lily, don't say such hurtful things, okay?"

"Lily, I know it's unfair to you, but thank you for doing this for me."

"Don't let your dad see these messages, or he'll make a scene again."

I couldn't read any more. I couldn't swallow this level of humiliation.

When Lily realized what I was doing, she began striking at me, clawing to get her watch back. "Freeloader! Give it back!"

In the struggle, I lost my footing. We both stumbled, and the watch fell to the ground. Predictably, Lily burst into tears.

"Just die already! I'm never calling you 'Dad' again!"

Her eyes were filled with nothing but pure, unadulterated hatred.

I looked at the child in front of me and found myself unable to speak.

Seeing the tension escalate, Melody pulled me aside, her voice tight with annoyance. "Sometimes you need to ask yourself if you're the problem. If you had just gone along with things from the start, none of this would've happened. That's enough. Lily already apologized. So, stop making a fuss."

I took a deep breath, my voice surprisingly steady. "I'm not making a fuss. Just sign the divorce papers."

The moment Melody heard those words, she pointed a trembling finger at me. "Do you really have to do this to feel satisfied? Look at how many people are bending over backward to comfort you!"

I looked at her calmly. The sheer hollowness in my eyes made her hesitate for a fraction of a second.

"Are you sure you want a divorce?"

I nodded firmly.

Melody sneered, "Everyone knows I gave you everything. Without me, you'd be worse off than a beggar. Don't come crawling back when you can't even afford food."

She continued, "Let me be clear. You won't get a single penny from me. Lily stays with me. I'll make sure you never see her again."

Melody thought that would scare me. What she didn't understand was that none of it mattered to me anymore. I didn't say a word and just picked up the divorce agreement again.

She stood there, stunned.

"Fine! Lily's custody goes to you. I won't take a single penny from you, either. The house my father gave me before we married is mine—always has been. So, go on. Sign it."

Melody clutched the papers tightly.

At that moment, Benjamin deliberately stepped forward. "Ms. Hutton, please think it through. I know all of this is my fault. I apologize. You can't divorce Mr. Gage because of me. I know I've ruined your family. I'm sorry. If Mr. Gage finds me unpleasant, I'll ask the board to assign you a different secretary."

He turned to me. "Mr. Gage, please don't be upset. I'll leave right now. Please don't argue with Ms. Hutton on my account."

After saying that, Benjamin turned to leave, but Melody grabbed him.

"It's not your—"

Lily ran over and clung to him. "Mr. Carter, don't go! If you're leaving, take me with you."

He crouched down and hugged her. As he did, a sly, triumphant look flashed in his eyes. He leaned in and whispered into Lily's ear, loud enough for only me to hear. "Thanks for playing along, Lily. This way, your mom won't be able to bear losing you. She'll definitely leave that freeloader and come find us."

Every word landed clearly in my ears. I was done watching his act, so I turned and headed straight for the door.

But Benjamin wasn't finished. He lunged forward and grabbed my arm. "Mr. Gage, please don't go! I'll write my resignation letter right now. Please, take good care of Ms. Hutton."

He was still playing the martyr. It made my skin crawl. I shook his hand off immediately.

"Benjamin, stop it. Trying to act like the saintly victim just makes you look like a desperate puppy. Knock it off!"

Hearing me speak to him with such bluntness, Melody began to tremble with rage. "That's enough! Ivan, get out!"

She pulled Benjamin behind her protectively. The woman who had been hesitating just moments ago signed her name without a second thought the instant I said a few harsh words to Benjamin.

She slapped the divorce papers against my chest, her voice dripping with venom. "You're so shameless. I'm just glad Lily won't grow up learning your toxic habits. Good riddance!"

I calmly gathered the papers. "Thanks for setting me free. Aren't you supposed to be heading to an important meeting? Better hurry. If you're late again, I wonder which shareholder will be calling to insult me this time."

Melody stood there, stunned into silence by my indifference.

I went back to the bedroom and grabbed the suitcase I had packed earlier. Seeing the small box on top of it, I picked it up and walked over to Lily.

"Children's Day is next week. I got you your favorite strawberry cake," I said quietly.

"I don't want anything from you!" Lily screamed. She snatched the box and threw it straight into the trash can, then went as far as to spit on it. "Mr. Carter will buy me one. I only want his. Anything you buy is filthy!"

I felt a strange, hollow calmness. "Suit yourself."

I gripped the handle of my suitcase and walked toward the front door. Just as I reached the threshold, Melody spoke again, her voice cold and sharp.

"The moment you walk out that door, you have nothing to do with us ever again. I mean it. I won't let Lily see you again, and she'll never call you 'Dad' as long as she lives! My life is only going to get better without you. Don't even think about crawling back."

Her voice grew louder and more urgent at the end. I knew she was still hoping I'd give in.

I didn't turn around. I simply raised a hand in a dismissive wave. "I hope you stick to that. To be honest, I never wanted Lily anyway. Besides, my departure is exactly what you all wanted, isn't it?"

Without another word, I walked out, leaving behind the house that had brought me nothing but years of silent agony.

Standing on the curb, I pulled out my phone and dialed Celia Gordon, my childhood friend.

"Come pick me up. I'm divorced. Take me to my father's house."

A laugh came through the receiver.

"Forget your father's place. Come to my place instead!"