Chapter 3

Every word Ruby said felt like a sharp knife stabbing my chest.

"Ruby." I pressed my lips together. After a long moment, I slowly held out a hand. "I was wrong. Come here and give me a hug, okay?"

The Town Revitalization Program was scheduled to begin that weekend. That meant I had less than two days left with my daughter.

"Get away from me! Who would want to hug you? You're disgusting!" Ruby snapped. "Mom was right. All you ever do is put on an act. I want to play with Wilson."

Ruby rarely acted this unreasonably.

Wilson sighed helplessly.

"Liam, why don't you go get some rest? I'll keep Ruby company for a while. We'll call you when dinner's ready."

The word ‘okay’ was lodged in my throat. I could not force it out.

"Ruby."

Maybe it was because our time together was running out.

For once, I ignored my daughter's wishes. My eyes were filled with hope as I looked at her.

"Didn’t you hear what Wilson said?" she shot back.

She pressed herself even closer to Wilson, her little face wrinkled with annoyance.

"I only want to play with Wilson. Stop looking at me. Just seeing you makes me sick!"

It felt as though my heart had been smashed to pieces and thrown onto the floor.

I closed my eyes. Without another word, I turned my wheelchair and rolled away.

"Wilson, let's keep talking."

The moment I disappeared from sight, Ruby went right back to her cheerful self, tugging on Wilson's arm and making a fuss.

"Ruby's still young. Don't take it personally."

Sheila had witnessed the entire scene. She never stopped Ruby nor tried to correct her behavior.

Sheila was the best at smoothing things over when she wanted to. As long as she could find a convenient excuse, the family would return to a temporary peace.

"I know." I slammed my bedroom door shut. The loud bang echoed through the apartment.

Ruby heard it. She threw her book onto the floor and shouted, "Bad Dad! Why are you throwing a tantrum? All I did was say a few things. What's there to be upset about? Was I wrong? You don’t actually contribute to this family! I don't know how Mom was blind enough to marry someone like you."

My breathing became uneven. Waves of anger surged through me.

Before Wilson came into our lives, Ruby never acted like this.

She used to understand how hard I worked, and she would even rub my shoulders when I came home exhausted.

However, after Wilson joined us, she began to believe that my life was easy.

To her, everything I did had become worthless.

"Ruby, lower your voice. Dad is resting."

Afraid that I might lose my temper, Sheila finally scolded her a few times.

The apartment instantly fell silent. Not another sound came from outside the door.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

In the quiet room, the notification seemed unusually loud.

I picked up my phone.

When I saw the message, I was surprised.

My father had heard that I was joining the Town Revitalization Program. Instead of criticizing me, he had sent several encouraging emojis.

Then came his messages.

[Son, I hope you can live as yourself, not only as a father or a husband. You should be yourself first, just like your mother was.]

[There's nothing wrong with being a father or a husband, but before you can play a role for someone else, you need to find yourself first.]

[That's why I support you. I wish you the very best!]

The emotions I had been holding back burst free. Tears rolled down my face and splashed onto the screen.

He was right. I had spent my life being a son, a husband, and a father. However, before I was any of those things, I was myself.

For the past year, Ruby had looked down on me, convinced that I contributed nothing.

What she had forgotten was that I had raised her. It was because of her that I had put so many of my own dreams on hold.

I had forgotten how to live for myself, and I had spoiled my daughter too much.

My fingers trembled as I typed a reply.

[Thank you, Dad.]

[Take care.]