Reborn From Oblivion by Christia Muray

Nathalie left the police station and made a point to visit Patrick. The small window between them might as well have been an ocean or a mountain, separating father and daughter. For reasons he couldn't quite grasp, Patrick didn't hurl insults at Nathalie like he used to. Instead, he just gazed at her, his mind a swirling mess.

"I know I favored your sister in the past and did things that hurt you. I said things I shouldn't have. But Nellie, I'm still your dad. The way you spoke about me today just was not right."

His face softened with a hint of nostalgia. "You used to be so innocent and sweet. Now you're smart, but you've turned so bitter. You've let me down."

Nathalie's voice was flat as she replied, "Why do you think I've turned out this way? Isn't it because of what you've done to me?"

Patrick's face went pale.

umbilical cord blood for Greta's illness. Once she was better, you tossed me aside like some worn-out shoe, leaving me in a dirty, poor

naive version of me was your puppet, willingly donating a kidney to Greta and saving her life once more. I should be your daughter's lifesaver twice over. But what did you do? You let her take my husband, wreck my family. And you? You never gave me

as she spoke, tears finally brimming in her eyes. "Greta treats her pet

gave me life but never taught me love or respect.

in his hands, realizing for the first time the depth of Nellie's pain, all of it inflicted by those she should

his face as he pleaded, "Nel, I'm sorry for everything. I want to make it up to you. But right now, you have to clear my name. Your sister's still in

seemed so composed, felt her inner fortress crumble. Her eyes reddened as she murmured, "You're just like him, always promising to make things right. But every time Greta cries, I lose everything. So, I've stopped expecting anything from you. The love I

last look, her gaze carrying a

wish to be a tree, a river a mountain-anything but human. Being human is just too exhausting, too