On SAT day, my wife, Mary, dropped everything at work to drive our daughter, Anna, to the test center.

Out of the blue, Mary got a call about some urgent biz and ditched Anna and me in the middle of nowhere.

With no cabs in sight, we had to book it all the way to the center, only to get there too late and they wouldn't let her in.

The shock of it all triggered a heart attack in Anna, and she ended up in the ICU.

The only lifesaving drug was locked up at Mary's company—she's the big boss there.

When I called Mary, her childhood buddy Jack Buckeldee picked up.

"Mary's up to her neck right now. What's the sitch?" he asked.

I wasn't in any state to wonder why she was with him; all I could think about was the emergency.

"My daughter's fighting for her life in the hospital, needing that special drug from Mary's company, get her to send it ASAP!"

Mary's icy voice hit me next, "All you ever do is spin yarns. Think you'd die without me, huh?"

Then she hung up.

All my redials met the chilling silence of a dead line.

That day...

I lost my daughter forever.

——

"The patient is in a bad way—didn't you say you had some kind of miracle drug? Where is it?" the doctor asked, looking desperate as he stepped out of the ER.

"Her heart attack's led to heart failure; we've got two hours tops. If that drug doesn't show up soon, there's nothing we can do."

Two hours?

My dialing hand froze.

Shaking all over, I nodded urgently, "Doc, please do whatever you can to stabilize her. I'll get the drug."

I sounded sure, but inside, I was falling apart.

Pacing the hospital corridor, I kept hitting redial on Mary's number.

Over and over.

But all I got back was that cold, unyielding beep of a phone turned off.

Out of options, I called Mary's secretary, pleading with her to get the drug sent over.

But she said only Mary had the keys to that kingdom; no one else could even touch it.

Time was not on my side; I had no choice but to beg the secretary to tell me where Mary was.

Maybe feeling my panic and fear, the secretary reluctantly pinged me a location.

I booked it right there.

It was a vet clinic.

The moment I walked in, I saw Mary close to Jack on a couch, both looking all worked up.

Seeing me, Mary's face turned sour in an instant.

"Evan, you've got to stop stalking me," she snapped as she stood up, eyebrows knitted, eyes throwing daggers.

Time wasn't my friend, so I cut to the chase, "Our daughter had a sudden heart attack, it's serious, the doctors said only your company's drug can save her. Please, we have to go now!"

I reached out to pull her along, but she recoiled as if I was radioactive, her scowl deepening.

Jack gave me a look and scoffed, "Evan, I get you're upset seeing Mary with me, but don't put a hex on your own daughter over it."

A hex?

Hearing that, Mary's fury grew.

"Really, Evan? Dragging our daughter into your jealous rages now?" she retorted.

Obviously, Mary didn't believe what I had said.

"I'm laying it out straight! Anna was late to her SATs, got massively stressed, and then had a heart attack."

"She's still in the ER, critical! Check it out yourself if you don't believe me!"

I was almost screaming, desperate to get through to her.

But my words fell on deaf ears.

Instead, her look of disgust grew stronger.

"So, you're blaming me for ditching you two? Man up, Evan—grow a pair, will ya?"

Before I could spit out more pleas, Jack piped up again, "Evan, my cat, Blossom, just took a bad fall out of a window. She's getting emergency care. Mary's here because she's freaked about Blossom, and here you are, making light of your own daughter's life—doesn't sit right, man."

Jack's Blossom was a cat Mary had given him.

As he stirred the pot, I lost it and barked at him, "Shut your trap!"

My shout spooked Jack, who scooched closer to Mary.

Mary shielded him, her eyes ablaze with anger, "Evan, that's way out of line! Blossom is hurting, Jack's a mess, and here you are, all up in his grill? Where's your compassion?"

My head spinning with rage, I took a couple of deep breaths, trying to rein in my anger, and said to Mary in a more subdued tone, "I messed up, say whatever about me, but our daughter's on borrowed time."

I was all in, pleading, "Please, come with me to get the medicine. I'm begging you, okay?"

Seeing how low I'd sunk seemed to stir something in Mary.

She looked slightly moved.

"Mary, Blossom's bleeding internally! It looks bad, the vet's pushing for a big-time surgery," Jack suddenly blurted out, urgency in his voice.

At that, Mary went into high gear.

"Don't sweat it, I won't let anything happen to Blossom," she promised.

Then, Mary and Jack scooped up the cat and made a beeline for their car.

I grabbed Mary's arm, pleading, "The medicine for our daughter..."

Mary looked at me, a flicker of doubt crossing her face.

"Mary, we gotta go, Blossom really might not pull through!" Jack urged from the side.

At my wit's end, I dropped to my knees.

"If we dilly-dally any longer, Anna will die. Mary, please, I'm begging you, hand over the medicine!"

My tone was the epitome of desperation, all pride swallowed for the sake of my daughter.

Jack's expression twisted with disdain, "Anna's been the picture of health her whole life; how could she suddenly be at death's door? My Blossom's really on the ropes, and here you are, hogging Mary's time—got any humanity left? This is a life we're talking about!"

At that, Mary wrenched her arm away, her voice ice-cold, "Jack's spot on, there's a limit to your shenanigans. As a man, you might debase yourself at home, but to kneel in public? You're not just tarnishing my name, you're staining Anna's too. How did she ever end up with a father like you?"

With a look of disgust, she didn't glance back as she jumped into the car with Jack and his cat and sped off.

Watching the car fade into the distance, my heart shredded to pieces.

Just then, the hospital rang.

"Mr. Vousdon, hurry to the hospital for your last goodbye to your daughter..."

I hung up and bolted to the hospital.

By the time I got there, my daughter was already a cold corpse.

Clutching her body, I was beyond consolation.

Three days later...

Broken, I took care of all Anna's final arrangements by myself.

Even though I had witnessed her cremation, acceptance eluded me.

I couldn't accept it.

Just moments ago, she had been dead certain she'd nail her SATs.

How did she suddenly become nothing but ashes?

She was brilliant, and so considerate—how did her life come to such a tragic end?

Holding her urn, I tenderly polished it.

Memories of Anna, from toddler to teen, flickered through my mind.

Tears silently traced paths down my cheeks.

Then, after three days of silence, Mary called.

"Today's my mom's birthday, and she said you can bring Anna to the Sullivan family estate for the celebration. Just clean up your act and don't embarrass me anymore," she said icily.

I glanced at my daughter's urn, wiped away my tears, and replied coldly, "Fine, I'll bring our daughter."

The first time I met Mary Sullivan was on a wild night.

She was driving drunk and slammed into me.

Terrified, she pleaded with me not to call the cops, offering any amount of cash to keep it quiet.

As I lay on the pavement, her frantic expression got me—all frozen and starstruck.

Her beauty and her slightly drunken haze made my heart skip a beat.

I felt that thunderbolt.

It was love at first sight.

I listened to my gut—didn't call the cops, didn't take her money.

Instead, I hobbled away, biting back the pain.

Maybe it was my nonchalant attitude that intrigued her, or perhaps the alcohol had her wires crossed.

At a whim of her, she rushed up to me, slurring her words, and blurted out, "Be my man."

I shot back without hesitation, "Yeah, why not?"

And just like that, we got hitched.

Soon enough, our daughter Anna came along.

Mary was career-driven, loved her work, and her company needed her.

So she brought home the bacon.

I hung up my career hat to become a stay-at-home dad, taking care of her and Anna's day-to-day needs.

Life was simple but incredibly sweet for the three of us.

I thought we'd always be that happy.

But when her old pal, Jack, returned from overseas, everything shifted.

"Jack's called me away at dinner. You guys go ahead without me."

"Jack needs me. You guys keep the birthday party going."

"Jack's called me tonight. You head off to sleep."

No matter when or where, if Jack called, Mary would drop everything and go to his place.

Our home started to seem optional to her.

To the outside world, I was the ultimate cuckold.

But I never complained, all for the sake of Anna.

As Mary became colder and the rumors swirled, Anna's smiles were what kept me going.

She grew up, calling me dad, chatting, and playing.

She told me she'd outshine her mom with her grades.

I asked why.

She said she wanted to make me proud.

She wanted to delight my whole world.

Those words moistened my eyes.

For Anna, I doubled down, and poured everything into this family.

Despite how often Jack whisked Mary away. I endured it all because I wanted to be there for Anna, to see her grow.

Anna did grow into everything she promised, topping her class, every single time.

The night before her SATs, she assured me she'd hand me her acceptance to Princeton.

But that acceptance never came.

Instead, I watched my daughter turn to dust.

My daughter died—a victim of her mother's neglect and indifference!

Now, there's no reason left to hold my tongue.

Wrapped in my thoughts, I arrived at the Sullivan estate.

The grand mansion was ablaze with lights, buzzing with all Sullivan relatives.

There, Mary and Jack were nestled among the guests, laughing, and sharing knowing looks.

They made a cozy couple.

The Sullivans have always favored Jack and seen him as the perfect match for Mary.

In their eyes, I was just a pushover, even the family dog seemed to snarl at me.

I stormed in, a tempest brewing inside.

As I stepped into the hall, there was Vanderbilt, Mary's mom, beaming, lavishing praise on Mary, "Mary, I hear Anna might get into Princeton this year. She's a chip off the old block, all thanks to your upbringing. Anna's lucky to have a mom like you."

Mary replied coolly, "Anna's my daughter. Educating her well is my duty. Her success was always a given."

Jack chimed in, unable to resist, "Anna really is a standout. Smart, sensible, just like Mary back in the day. Everyone adores her."

Mary's brother Tom quipped, "Jack, since you're so fond of Anna, why not just step in and be her dad?"

Tom and Jack were thick as thieves. In his eyes, Jack was the ideal brother-in-law.

Tom's jest drew a wave of laughter, as if they had all forgotten I was Anna's real dad.

As I entered, the once merry crowd's smiles faded.

The air turned cold.

"Evan, where's Anna?" Mary's icy voice cut through.

I glared back, "Oh, now you remember her?"

Mary's face hardened, "What is that supposed to mean? I'm slammed at work, I might not be around much, but isn't everything I do for her? She's my only child, everything I have is hers, I've even lined up a lavish dowry. How can you question my care?"

Her voice rose as she defended what she saw as an attack on her motherhood.

I scoffed, "Is that so? I almost thought everything you had was for Jack."

Over the years, no matter the occasion—Anna's birthday, her illness—nothing was as urgent as a call from Jack.

I'd swallowed it all.

But never did I imagine Mary would leave us stranded on Anna's SAT day.

Or that for Jack's cat, she'd let our daughter die.

And here she was, playing the doting mother. What a farce!

"Evan, you jerk!"

Mary's face twisted in rage, and she swung at me.

I narrowed my eyes, catching her wrist.

"Don't you dare hit me!"

Mary was quick to anger, quick to strike.

Before, for Anna, for our family, I'd tolerated it.

But those days were over.

My sudden backbone surprised everyone.

No one expected me, the ever-pliant, to finally stand up straight.

Mary stared as if I were a stranger.

After a pause, she yanked her hand free, her tone icy, "Evan, all this because I didn't drive you to the exam? You're blowing this way out of proportion!"

Jack saw his chance, "Evan, man up. You're making mountains out of molehills. Stop kicking up a fuss, buddy, will ya?"

"Today's a special day—it's Aunt Vanderbilt's birthday. You know she wanted to see Anna, and Anna loves it here. If not for Anna, you wouldn't even be here. And yet, you didn't bring her. What kind of father does that?"

His words turned all eyes on me to scorn.

Especially Vanderbilt, who was livid, "Now that Anna's done with her exams and can stand on her own, Mary, bring her here to live from now on. This man shouldn't see her anymore. I don't want my precious granddaughter ruined by him!"

Tom glared at me, "Jack cooked Anna's favorite spaghetti because he knew she was supposed to come. You knew she loved good food, yet you selfishly left her out, showing up here by yourself. Disgusting. I think Jack would make a better father for Anna than you!"

For years, I'd set aside my pride for Anna, endured everyone's sneers, and gave everything unconditionally.

But to the Sullivans, all my sacrifices...

They couldn't hold a candle to Jack's spaghetti.

They actually thought Jack, who indirectly caused Anna's death, was more suited to be her father.

What irony?

What sorrow!

I suddenly laughed.

Laughter filled with tears.

"Evan, don't think acting crazy will get you off the hook!" Mary snapped, furious. "Anna is my heart, not a pawn for your jealous fits. A man who doesn't care about his child like you truly doesn't deserve to be Anna's dad."

"It's my mother's birthday party. If you don't want to be here, no one's stopping you. But Anna is a Sullivan, my daughter, and you have no right to keep her from her freedom. Bring her here now!"

My laughter faded, and I looked at Mary with cold, sad eyes, "I already brought our daughter."

Mary looked around, confused. "Where?"

The Sullivans also began searching for Anna.

Even Grandma Vanderbilt stood up, peering around. "Where's my precious granddaughter?"

I pulled the urn from my bag and slammed it on the table.

"She's right here!"