Chapter 2

"Mommy, when will Daddy be back? I want to go to the amusement park soon!"

Fresh out of school, Nora broke free from Mary's hand and ran toward me. I snapped out of my thoughts and quickly caught her. It was only then that I remembered today was our family day.

Oscar's childhood had not been a happy one. His father was a violent gambler, while his mother was weak and timid, shaping him into the distant and indifferent person he was. On the day Nora was born, he had held her carefully in his arms, fearful yet gentle, his eyes so full of tenderness that it was almost overwhelming.

"Kathy, I would be willing to die right now if it meant keeping this moment forever!"

Oscar had grown up in an empty and lonely childhood, and he was determined not to let his child go through the same thing. That was why he personally established this family outing day. Every year, on November 1st, we would put everything aside and take Nora to the theme park. Even as she grew older and his business empire expanded, he had never missed it.

I had not even answered Nora yet when she eagerly tapped on her smartwatch, starting a video call with Oscar. Then, she lifted her wrist high and pleaded with me, "Mommy, please ask Daddy for me!" Her expression was pitiful, making her look even more adorable.

For some reason, Nora was never very close to Oscar. Perhaps in Nora's heart, a father who was often absent naturally felt distant. I chuckled and took the watch, about to tease her when the call connected.

The next second, a large, curious face filled the screen. It was Mila.

My smile froze.

"What did Daddy say?" Nora noticed my sudden stillness and leaned forward, trying to get a better look at the screen. Almost instinctively, I ended the call.

Calmly, I placed the watch down, bent down, and patted her head. "Daddy is still busy. Today, Mommy and Mary will take you instead."

"Oh... Okay..."

Nora lowered her head, looking a little disappointed. But being the sensible child she was, she did not throw a tantrum and obediently followed Mary upstairs to change.

Once she was out of sight, I turned and continued packing the things we needed for the outing. As I reached for the three Halloween-themed family masks, my hand paused. After a brief hesitation, I took out the two smaller ones and put them in my bag. I casually tossed the black one into the trash.

It would not be needed anyway.

Oscar had always had a rigid sense of personal boundaries. He never let anyone touch his phone, not even his own daughter. When Nora was three, his phone rang while he was in the shower, and Nora picked it up, intending to hand it to him.

Oscar flew into a rage. He scolded her harshly. Little Nora was terrified and cried so hard that she could barely breathe.

In the past, Oscar would surrender the moment his daughter shed a tear. When I tried to intervene, he stopped me, his face stern as he declared, "Let her remember this lesson. She needs to understand what she is not allowed to touch."