Three years ago, a fire took my wife and daughter from me.

It happened during the evening rush hour. I had just boarded the subway when a call came in from our next-door neighbor, Cole Smith.

"Nick? Where are you right now? Come home now! Something's happened!"

Cole's anxious voice crackled through the line, sending a chill straight through my chest.

"Cole? What is it? I just got on the subway—"

"Forget the subway! Get a taxi, now! Your house is on fire!"

A thunderous roar exploded in my head. I bolted off the train and flagged down a cab in a panic.

By the time I reached home, it was too late. A firefighter broke the news: my wife and daughter had been reduced to ashes.

Crushed by overwhelming despair, I collapsed on the spot and blacked out.

In an instant, everything I had built over two decades was gone. My wife and child hadn't even left me a memory to hold onto.

After that, the nightmares came, every night without fail.

No matter how my family or friends pleaded, I refused to remarry.

Who could have imagined that my devotion over three years would turn me into a fool?

Hilary faked her death and ran off with my daughter, for her so-called one true love?

A bitter laugh escaped me.

By the time I came to, I had somehow returned to the hotel.

All night long, memories tormented me like ghosts.

By dawn, I had made up my mind. At the very least, I had to get my daughter back.

The next day, I followed the trail of information and found Lily's kindergarten.

By 4 p.m., just before dismissal, I stood across the street in a black coat, peeking through the gate.

"Lily! Over here!"

The familiar name snapped me out of my daze.

I turned toward the voice and felt tears sting my eyes.

A little girl in a floral dress with two neat braids ran giggling toward a friend at the slide.

That sweet, adorable face… she looked just like she did when she was a baby, soft and delicate in my arms.

Soon, the school gate swelled with waiting parents.

I saw her Lily standing in line.

I waved and called out, heart pounding with emotion, "Lily! It's Daddy! Daddy's here!"

But the moment she turned and spotted me, she screamed, "Ah! Bad man! He's a bad man!"

Suddenly, all eyes were on me.

I froze, rooted to the spot. A few elderly women nearby clutched their children protectively and eyed me with suspicion.

"Who are you? Dressed like that… You're not trying to kidnap someone's kid, are you?"

One of the parents hurried off to get a teacher.

The teacher arrived moments later, her expression hostile. "Who are you? Whose parent are you?"

"I'm Lily Stone's father," I said quickly. "I need to see her."

The moment I spoke, her eyes narrowed and she waved over the security guard.

"Her father? I've seen Lily's dad before, and it's not you. Leave now, or I'm calling the cops!"

I tried to explain and stepped toward Lily, but she shrank behind the teacher in fear.

"Mommy said you're a bad person! You're not my daddy! My daddy is super rich!"

My heart plummeted. I stared at her, stunned.

"Lily!! It's me. It's Daddy! Don't you remember? Three years ago, we went to the amusement park together!"

Desperate, I shoved past the teacher and threw my arms around Lily.

But Lily screamed and struggled violently. She flailed her little hands, pounding them against my chest. Each blow felt like it landed directly on my heart.

The pain was suffocating.

Eyes stinging, I held her tight, unwilling to let go.

Then a sharp voice pierced the air. "Nick!"

Before I could react, a stinging slap exploded across my right cheek.

I looked up to see Hilary, face twisted with rage.

She yanked Lily from my arms and glared at me with seething hatred.

"Nick," she hissed, "we need to talk."

Inside a café, with the right side of my face still slightly swollen, I glared hard at Hilary.

She got straight to the point. "I told you not to bother us again. Why are you here?"

My anger flared.

"She's my daughter. Why can't I see her? Hilary, I'm not as heartless as you. Lily is my only daughter. I won't give up. I'll take her back, no matter what."

"Nick!" she snapped, then, realizing they were in public, lowered her voice and forced herself to stay composed.

"Lily has a new father now. She gets whatever she wants. She doesn't need you."

I shot back, furious. "Doesn't need me? I'm her father!"

She smirked. "So what? You think she'd choose a broke, pathetic dad over the richest man in the city?"

Before I could speak, she cut me off again. "Nick, I'm begging you. Just pretend we never existed. Pretend we died. We're happy now."

Her words left a heavy silence hanging between us.

After a long pause, I looked at her, my voice hollow.

"And what about me? For three years, I was wracked with guilt, living in depression. Who's going to give me my happiness back?"

Her gaze flickered, but her words came as cold as ice. "Let it go, Nick. Lily and I haven't needed you in a long time."

I laughed bitterly, the kind of laugh that trembles at the corners of tears. I couldn't even tell if I was laughing or crying anymore.

She sat there, biting her lip, quietly staring at me.

I took a deep breath and looked her dead in the eye. "Hilary, just answer me one thing. Did you marry me because you loved me? Did you ever love me at all?"

She was silent for a long moment, then finally said, "I'm sorry, Nick. I've told you everything there is to say. I never loved you."

A dull ache pressed into my chest. I stood up and looked down at her.

"Fine, Hilary. I'll disappear, just the way you wanted. But don't you dare regret it later."

She seemed to relax a little, like a weight had lifted.

"Nick, I can tell you right now, I will never regret it."

After she left, I sat at the table staring at the untouched coffee in front of me, lost in thought for over half an hour.

Just as I was heading back to the hotel, my phone rang. It was my father.

"Nick? Can you come home for dinner tonight? Join us for a meal. I'd also like to introduce you to your younger brother."

My hand tightened around the phone.

The ring on my finger had pressed a deep groove into my skin.

"Alright. I'll be there tonight."

At 8 p.m., the chauffeur dropped me off in a gated villa community.

I stood at the iron gate, staring up at the grand mansion.

Just as I was about to knock, a luxury van pulled up in front of the house.

Out stepped Hilary, holding Lily's hand.

"Mommy, that's the bad man!" Lily spotted me and pointed straight at me.

Ignoring the murderous glare Hilary shot me, I turned toward the villa's entrance.

"Nick!" she shrieked behind me. "Haven't you had enough?! Didn't you promise to leave us alone?! Go away!"

She grabbed Lily and moved to push me back, but just then, the iron gate opened.

An older woman with graying temples walked out.

Hilary's expression froze. "Mom… I—"

She tried to explain, but Olivia Cameron barely spared her a glance. Brushing past, Olivia walked straight up to me.

Hilary stood there in stunned silence.

Then Olivia took my hand in both of hers, eyes reddening with emotion.

Choked with tears, she said, "You must've suffered so much all these years. I never thought I'd live to see the day I found you again. Nick… my son."

Last month, I got off work like usual.

I found several Bentleys parked outside my rental apartment.

I ignored them and headed upstairs, only to find a group of intimidating men in black standing at my door.

"Who are you looking for?" I asked warily, eyeing them with suspicion.

The next second, they stepped aside and lined up in two neat rows, creating a clear path down the middle.

From that path, two elderly figures slowly emerged, their backs slightly hunched.

Our eyes met, and I saw tears brimming in both of theirs.

"You… are you Nick Austin?"

I nodded, still dazed. For some reason, they felt strangely familiar.

Suddenly, the old woman rushed forward, throwing her arms around me as she wept. "Nick, my son… I'm your mother! I've searched for you for twenty-seven years! I finally found you!"

In that instant, my entire body froze. My mind went blank.

I had grown up in an orphanage.

I'd endured endless judgment and prejudice for as long as I could remember.

I thought I'd never get the chance to meet my real parents again in this lifetime.

But now… they'd found me?

A wave of heat stung my eyes, and I couldn't stop the tears from falling.

After they came inside, we talked the whole day.

That's when I learned they weren't just living in Notingdun, they were the wealthiest family in the entire city.

And I… I was the heir they had lost.

As fate would have it, after I disappeared, they adopted another boy.

That boy was none other than Hilary's first love, Ross.

......

When Hilary saw the reunion unfold, her face turned visibly sour.

Clinging to Lily, she followed us quietly, not uttering a single word the entire way.

It wasn't until dinner that Olivia called me to the table.

And for the first time, I got a proper look at Ross.

The moment he saw me, his brows furrowed sharply. It was obvious he didn't welcome me.

Olivia held my hand with a bright smile, turned to Ross, and said, "Ross, as soon as your father and I got word last month, we brought your brother home immediately."

Ross narrowed his eyes slightly, forcing a smile. "Mom, I'm so glad you found him. After all these years, I thought he was gone for good."

Hilary suddenly chimed in with a laugh. "Yes, Mom, what a blessing. But why didn't you tell us about it sooner? Ross's feelings must've been really hurt."

George Peyton let out a cold snort. "I need your permission to find my own son? Besides, today's just an introduction."

The air turned icy.

That was when I realized that George and the adopted son's family probably weren't all that close.

In the end, only my parents and I truly enjoyed the meal.

After dinner, George set down his fork and abruptly turned to Ross with a cold gaze.

"By the way, I've promoted your assistant, Luke, and transferred him to a branch office. Starting tomorrow, Nick will join you at the company."

"What? No way!"

Before Ross could respond, Hilary cut in.

Her outburst made everyone's face darken.

Sensing the tension, she clenched her sleeves tightly and bit her lip.

"I-I just mean… Nick just came back, and he hasn't worked before. Isn't it too soon to make him the CEO's assistant?"

Her words were out of line. George's expression soured.

I smiled at her and said, "Wow, Hilary, you seem to know me quite well. Why are you so sure I can't handle it?"

Her face instantly turned pale, and sweat beaded on her forehead.

Ross gave her a quick look, then turned toward me and George. "Dad, Hilary's only thinking about the company. She didn't mean anything else."

George gave a cold laugh. "She better not have. Don't forget, I'm still alive. She’s not in a position to say that."

She flinched.

Perhaps to change the subject, Ross suddenly shifted his gaze to my hand. He smiled and said, "Nick, you're wearing a ring? So… you're married?"