…Dave returned home just a few minutes before supper. But he pulled me to his room as though something had happened.“What is wrong?“ I asked in confusion. He rarely behaved like that.He sat on the bed and sighed. “I want you to make dad talk about his love life during dinner. Can you do that?“ He asked in a lower voice.I was taken aback. “He doesn't like talking about it. I think it still hurts him,” I said. I did not want to see Dad looking heartbroken again.But Dave held my hand and squeezed it. “I will never do anything to harm him. I am just doing it for his own good,” he said.I was stunned. “Dave, what are you up to today?“ I asked. He seemed very serious about everything. The only thing I did not understand was why he wanted dad to talk about his past.“Something very important. Are you going to help me?“ He asked. He seemed to be running out of patience.And I could only pout. “You are always very secretive. You can't even tell me what it is but you want me to help?“ I as

For a while, I was still confused. But we all hugged and cried. Dealan could not let me go. “It is my fault that she tortured you. I did not take good care of you,” she said.I rubbed her back gently. “That was nothing that you could control. I am really happy to know that you are my biological mother," I said.When I thought that Sofia was not my mom, I felt so happy and relaxed. This was a prayer I had always had for years.“Sofia has done so many despicable things. She shouldn't be free like this,” Dad said. He pulled Dealan into his hands again and kissed her.Dealan cried. “Zack, thank you for taking good care of her. We now have a family,” she said.Dave smiled and pulled me away with him. “Dad, you guys should go and rest,” he said.I looked at him in confusion. “I have just reunited with my mom. Why are you taking me away?“ I asked.But he scoffed. “Your mom has just reunited with her long-lost love. Give her some time. They have a lot to talk about,” he said, leading me to hi

I swallowed hard and looked at Sofia. “How did you fake this?“ I asked. I could not believe that she could go to that extent to make me look bad.“Darling…” Sofia called with a smile. “Are you afraid of him now? You shouldn't be scared since Mommy is going to protect you. You did the right thing to side with me."Everyone was throwing me crazy looks. And I felt so annoyed. “I asked you how you got this!“ I shouted. The woman was getting on my nerves. Why was she trying to make everyone believe that I was working with her?Sofia smiled and looked at the reporters. “Don't mind her. She is just scared. I will take good care of her."“To hell, Sofia! First, you are not my mother! How do you think I would help you? Don't taste my patience! How did you get my signature on these?"I stopped talking when I thought of something. Annie! I was sure I had signed more than two documents that day.I wanted to say something else, but Dad held my hand and pulled me away. “I trust you, darling. Just b

...After Sofia was taken away, Dave looked at the reporters who were still surrounding us, trying to ask more personal questions.“I will count up to three, and if I still see any of you here, I will charge you for trespassing,” he said.The huge crowd had caused quite a mess. There were broken glasses and broken flowers here and there.The reporters trembled, and they all disappeared. It looked like they did not want to end up like Sofia.“Brother…” I called him while close to tears. He had rectified the whole thing in just a few minutes.Dad smiled and patted Dave's shoulders. “I did not trust you for nothing,” he said. He then held his wife's hand and pulled her into the house.Dave bent down and looked into my eyes. “What? Are you crying?“ He asked in confusion.I wrapped my hands around him and cried on his chest. “Dave, it was Annie who tricked me into signing that document. I should have been more careful,” I said.Dave sighed and wiped away my tears. “You scared me. I thought

“Um… Where are we going?“ I asked in confusion. Why was he even taking a week off? And who had told him that we were getting married now?Dave turned to look at me like I was a fool. “To the Bureau of Civil Affairs,” he said. “You just agreed to marry me, right?“I shook my head quickly. “Dave, I agreed to marry you. But not now," I said it in fear. I was only twenty-one. Did he really want me to get married?Dave sighed and held my cheeks. “Mia, there is nothing wrong with getting married. We are only getting the certificates. I am worried that someone might take you away from me if I wait. We can hold the wedding when you are ready, okay?“I pouted and looked away from him. I was not ready for that yet. How could I explain it to him?But Dave seemed to have made up his mind. “You won't regret it, darling. We can even keep it a secret if you want. Just let us get married today,” he said, lifting me up into his arms.He carried me princess way into the house and pulled his drawer, tak