Chapter 3
Dad carried me away from the place where I'd lived for three years.
The rotten, foul smell disappeared.
But I felt very uncomfortable.
I didn't dare breathe deeply. My face turned red from holding my breath.
Dad painfully stroked the area around my eyes.
"Your mom and I didn't abandon you. Bad people locked you up, and we couldn't find you."
"Don't worry, Fran. The bastard who trafficked and abused you has been caught by the police. He'll get what he deserves."
His voice shook as he promised he would cure me.
I stared blankly at the pitch-black air.
I wanted to tell him I was used to it now.
"I'm not scared of the dark anymore."
I comforted Dad, gently probing: "Mom won't want to send me away again, will she?"
The air froze. Dad didn't respond to my words.
Just then, a call came rushing over.
"Fran!"
A familiar fragrance hit my nose. I greedily took a few more breaths.
The woman's hand touching my face trembled with excitement, her voice thick with tears.
"My sweet daughter, I missed you so much."
"Making you suffer so much out there—Mom is so sorry..."
I wanted to speak.
But suddenly I dry-heaved, scaring them.
"Is Fran blaming me?"
Vivian's voice became anxious.
The doctor happened to come over with the examination report.
His tone was complicated:
"The patient was imprisoned and beaten for a long time. She'll have post-traumatic stress reactions. Try not to upset her."
"As for her physical condition—multiple fractures, internal bleeding, detached retinas in both eyes. We need to schedule surgery soon to restore her sight."
"...Also, she's pregnant. Four months along."
The hospital room fell silent as death.
"Bang!"
Something crashed to the floor. Dad roared like a lion.
"I'm going to kill that animal!"
Vivian sobbed uncontrollably too.
She kept apologizing to me.
"You were only sixteen before you went missing. What did you go through these three years..."
I touched my slightly protruding belly.
So I was pregnant. There was a child here whose father I didn't even know.
Even more unlucky than me.
While waiting for surgery, my parents stayed by my side the whole time.
They tactfully didn't mention Ruth.
I greedily enjoyed this special care, but couldn't help comparing.
"Why didn't Ruth come?"
The hospital room fell silent for a few seconds.
Dad asked, "Fran, do you hate Ruth?"
Mom hesitated for a moment, then held my hand earnestly.
"After you disappeared, Ruth blamed herself terribly. She fell into a slump for a long time. Fortunately, she came to her senses in time, got into the best university in the province, and even got a police officer boyfriend who could help look for information about you."
"So Fran, Ruth didn't mean to lose you three years ago."
"I already punished her at the time—no snacks for a month. She had to reflect properly."
My whole body trembled. I clutched the blanket tightly.
I heard her say quietly:
"I read that diary of yours. Every page blamed your dad and me for favoring Ruth."
"That's all our fault. But don't resent Ruth, okay? She's innocent."
Dad also came over to pat my head.
"You were silly enough to follow bad people. In the end, you bear more responsibility for this than Ruth does."
He sighed.
"Never mind, let's not talk about it. It's good that Fran is safely home."
My hands hidden in the bedding clenched into fists.
I wanted to tell them.
That day at the alley entrance, it was Ruth who stuffed Mom's bank card into the bad person's hand.
She also said: "Fran, Daddy and Mommy will only ever belong to me!"
But my heart felt like it was being torn apart. I couldn't breathe, couldn't speak.
I didn't understand why it hurt so much.
Amidst the ringing in my ears, I could no longer hear what they said after that...
The surgery was scheduled quickly.
Before entering the operating room, my parents encouraged me.
"Fran, you're stronger than most people. You'll definitely get better."
Yes, I'm very strong.
When so many people rode on top of me, I didn't die.
The smell of disinfectant was strong. The anesthesia took effect.
In my daze, I thought about many things.