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you promised her for her birthday?"

I closed my eyes, the memory surfacing unwillingly. "I promised to take her to Moonlight Fair."

"Yes," Olivia nodded. "She was so excited, Ethan. For weeks, it was all she talked about. 'Daddy and I are going to ride the carousel together. Daddy and I are going to eat cotton candy.' She even practiced riding on my shoulders so she wouldn't be scared on yours."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. I blinked them away, unwilling to show such

weakness in public.

"But you never showed up," Olivia said, her own tears now flowing freely. "Because Emma had

a dance recital that day, and Victoria needed you there."

The accusation hung in the air between us, undeniable in its truth. I had chosen Emma over

my own daughter, Victoria over my mate.

"I made a mistake," I admitted, the words feeling inadequate even as I spoke them.

"A mistake?" Olivia's voice rose slightly. "You broke her heart, Ethan. And it wasn't the first

time."

and pulled out a USB drive. "Didn't you want

I'll take you to

hand, my fingers trembling slightly. Whatever

I knew

voice hoarse. "Play this on

and connecting it to the control panel for the massive display screen

old one, not the grand new version I'd built.

3/5

98

415 Points

I already suspected-it was from Lily's birthday, the day I had

daughter, dressed in her favorite blue dress, her chestnut hair secured with the moonstone clip I'd given her for Christmas. She stood at the entrance, her small

be here soon," she told the security guard who checked on her.

check her small watch repeatedly, her smile never

herself. "Or maybe he had to help someone

time passed, she pulled out a sketchbook and began flipping through pages of drawings- crude but heartfelt illustrations of our family. Me, tall and strong. Olivia, smiling and kind. And Lily,

Daddy," she told a passing family, proudly displaying her

though

a venison sandwich and a moonberry cookie. She ate

have to save the rest for Daddy," she explained to no one in particular. "He works so hard,

must be hungry too."

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