To raise their "child" with his true love, Dad faked his death, fooling both Mom and me.

Mom died of stomach cancer from working hard to pay off debts, yet Grandma said, "My son is smart, he found a scapegoat."

Only then did I realize Dad never died; he took the money and married his true love.

Later, I was falsely accused of cheating and beaten to death.

When Dad learned about my death, he said, "So foolish, let her die. Just don't drag my son down with her."

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at Dad's fake funeral.

This time, I would make them pay!

1

When I opened my eyes, the large black-and-white photo of Dad and the coffin at the center of the mourning hall came into view.

I turned to look at my grief-stricken Mom.

And there was Grandma, pretending to cry but with no tears at all.

I coldly observed everything.

Glancing behind me, I saw Dad's true love and his son.

That woman calmly watched Mom lying on the floor, pretending to be aloof.

But the smugness in her eyes couldn't be contained.

Great, they all knew Dad was faking his death. Only Mom and I were in the dark.

They treated us like fools for their amusement.

Thinking of how Mom later developed stomach cancer from paying off Dad's debts, how I was bullied and missed out on my dream college, eventually dying miserably on the streets, anger surged within me.

"My dear Dad! How tragic your death is!"

I shouted, and everyone in the hall looked at me.

I pinched my thigh hard, crying hysterically.

"Dad, I didn't even get to see you one last time, how could you leave us!"

Relatives around tried to comfort me.

Some wiped their tears, saying, "This poor girl, so young and now without a father."

I walked to Dad's coffin, trembling, and lay on it wailing.

"Dad, I want to see you one last time. I miss you so much."

My cries moved everyone present.

Everyone said that the girl should see her father one last time.

Grandma's face changed slightly. She approached me. "Lorraine, your father is gone. Don't disturb him."

I pushed her hand away. "Nonsense! Dad appeared in my dream last night, saying he couldn't bear to leave me, that he wasn't really dead."

As soon as I spoke, people on both sides rushed over to help me open the coffin to see Dad one last time.

But Grandma blocked them firmly, refusing to let them get close.

Seeing my sorrow, Mom spoke up.

"Claire, just let Lorraine see her father one last time."

Grandma shot her a disdainful glance. "What do you know? He's dead, why make a fuss!"

Ignoring Grandma's objections, I insisted on seeing.

"It's not an empty coffin, is it, Grandma? Isn't Dad still alive?"

Grandma's face turned awkward. "Nonsense... Stop saying nonsense!"

Seeing her insist on stopping me, I cried even harder.

"Dad, oh Dad..."

My relatives couldn't stand it any longer. They pulled Grandma aside and opened the coffin.

I snuck a glance at that woman; she still wore that haughty expression, not a hint of panic.

The coffin slowly opened, revealing Dad lying inside.

He visibly frowned at the sudden intrusion of light.

Seeing him like this, I lunged forward in front of everyone.

I cried out. "Dad, how could you be so cruel! How could you leave Mom and me!"

Then, I plunged an awl I had hidden into Dad's thigh.

The scene turned dramatic as everyone witnessed the "dead" man suddenly sit up with a loud yell.

"Ahhhhhhh! It hurts!"

My tears flowed as I watched my "resurrected" Dad.

The attendees held their breath, thinking it was a miracle.

Only Grandma glared at me with angry eyes.

Mom, flustered, hurried over. "Antony, you... you're alive?"

I quickly got up from Dad, smiling at Mom. "See, I told you Dad wasn't dead!"

Dad finally processed what had happened. His face darkened as he awkwardly addressed everyone.

"I couldn't bear to leave them. Maybe their cries brought me back," he said.

I wouldn't have it.

Mom, however, was overjoyed and hugged him, oblivious to Dad and Grandma's stiff expressions and the angry glare of the little boy behind them.

I shot him a taunting look.

The boy's fists clenched tightly at his sides, hatred flaring in his eyes.

I deliberately spoke loudly, "Dad loves Mom and me so much. He came back because he couldn't leave us."

I gave Dad a hopeful look, and he guiltily nodded.

"Yes, I just love you guys so much."

My smile widened as I hugged Dad's neck, a victorious glint in my eyes as I stared straight at him.

Three, two, one...

Sure enough, the boy couldn't hold back.

"He doesn't love you the most, he loves me and Mom!"

His loud voice echoed through the hall.

Everyone looked at him.

He walked slowly towards us.

"I'm Antony Thomas' only son!" he declared.

"He told me he never liked you or your Mom!"

Mom looked at him in astonishment until she saw his features clearly.

Her eyes filled with despair.

The woman couldn't hold back either and walked over, saying to Mom, "Please don't misunderstand.

"He is just speaking nonsense. We're decent people and would never do such a thing."

Dad's eyes shone as he looked at her, admiration and approval deepening with each word she spoke, making him nod in agreement.

She was well prepared.

I stared at my confused Mom and called out, "Ma'am, aren't you Dad's college girlfriend, Tammy Dunbar? Is your son Dad's illegitimate child?"

Her face flushed slightly. "Please don't slander me. I've always conducted myself properly. How could I have an illegitimate child?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you're right. He's not really an illegitimate child, just an unwanted bastard. And you, you're just the other woman..."

Before I could finish, Dad jumped out of the coffin and slapped me hard.

"How dare you talk to Ms. Dunbar like that, you're too disrespectful!"

His slap was forceful, and my face instantly swelled.

The ringing in my ears filled my head with a buzzing sound.

It took me a long time to recover.

Mom burst into tears, rushing to my side and holding me, glaring at Dad.

"How could you hit your daughter so hard!"

Dad only comforted his true love, completely ignoring us.

I always knew he was a heartless man, unworthy of being my father.

I wanted Mom to see that with this slap.

"I was teaching her to behave. You didn't raise her well!"

Dad scolded Mom instead.

I held Mom's hand and said, "Mom, you see, Dad doesn't love us. He only cares about Ms. Dunbar and their child. He's been lying to us all along."

Mom lowered her head, biting her lip. "I know."

I was surprised that she knew.

In my previous life, I thought Mom was unaware of all this.

It turned out she always knew that Dad never loved us.