Chapter 3
I never imagined that what happened at the memorial would be filmed.
Overnight, the video spread everywhere.
Unscrupulous media commentators claimed my father deliberately broke the law, using self-defense as an excuse to clear his name.
Some even suggested my father might have had an inappropriate relationship with the so-called victim, otherwise why would his daughter be willing to admit guilt?
My mother collapsed from the shock.
Even if we covered our ears and closed our eyes, we couldn’t escape the tidal wave of insults.
When my mother regained consciousness, her face was drawn with worry.
“If your father sees this, how heartbroken will he be?”
I didn’t know how to defend myself.
But the next day, my father found out anyway.
He attempted suicide in prison.
When we received the news, my mother and I rushed to the hospital like madwomen.
But when we arrived, my father’s ambulance was stopped outside, unable to enter.
Seeing the blood seeping from my father’s neck wound, I panicked.
“Why aren’t you taking him inside?”
The paramedic looked at me apologetically.
“Apparently, Mr. Valentine’s girlfriend’s cat was in a car accident and is being treated inside. He’s made it crystal clear-no critically ill patients
get admitted until that cat is saved.”
I felt like I was hearing an absurd fairy tale, something so ridiculous and contradictory.
“This is a HOSPITAL, not a veterinary clinic! How can you let them get away with this?”
But no one answered me.
Even the prison guards sighed:
“You’re family. Maybe try another hospital?”
The paramedic who was pressing on my father’s wound shook his head. “The nearest hospital is ten minutes away. He won’t make it.”
ath caught. I turned to push open the car door.
beg Theo. I’ll beg him to let my father in.”
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But as I turned, my father grabbed my hand.
He gripped with surprising strength, and the monitor showed his heartbeat becoming irregular.
I quickly turned back to the stretcher to calm him. “Dad, don’t get agitated. I promise I’ll save you, okay?”
My father slowly opened his eyes. His hand struggled to rise, finally resting on my cheek.
His mouth opened and closed behind the oxygen mask, desperately trying to tell me something.
The paramedic removed the mask from his face.
“He’s fading. Whatever you need to say, say it quickly.”
I blinked, my ears ringing.
The paramedic and guards left the ambulance, giving us privacy.
Mother’s face was ashen, but she still fought back her grief and leaned in close.
“James, what is it? I’m listening.”
My father’s voice seemed to come from behind a veil-weak, unreal, yet each word was distinct.
“Don’t be sad, and don’t beg him. I’ve lived and died on my own terms!”
“Delilah, I don’t want to appeal anymore. I just want you and your mother to be safe! Nothing is more important than you two.”
“Margaret, make that call. Take Delilah and leave Boston.”
“Yes, yes, I see!” Mom clutched Dad’s hand, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Then I can… rest… in peace…”
Beeeeeep!
The monitor emitted a piercing alarm.
Dad’s hand slipped lifelessly from Mom’s grasp.
I instinctively caught it, holding it firmly in mine, as if by holding him this way, he wouldn’t leave me.
A terrifying silence filled the ambulance. Overwhelming grief drowned my mother and me completely.
After what seemed like forever, Mom slowly exhaled.
She grabbed my hand, her trembling voice hiding strength.
“Delilah, let’s take your father home!”
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