Cora walked into the clinic with Nell, heading straight for the morgue.

Just as she reached the door, she ran into Dr. Luke Dawson in his white coat.

Luke was her colleague, the only person she could really talk to since moving to this godforsaken base in upstate New York.

He smiled. “Cora, what are you doing here with your daughter…”

His words died in his throat. His eyes widened, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks.

As a military doctor, he could tell with a single glance that the child in Cora’s arms was gone.

His voice trembled. “Cora, what happened?”

Cora didn’t want to air her family’s dirty laundry. She just murmured, “Luke, can you let Nell stay here for a few days? I’ll come get her once the funeral is arranged.”

Luke sensed the chilling numbness in her voice and didn’t dare ask more. He quickly pulled out his keys and unlocked the cold storage room.

“Cora, just sign this storage log.”

Cora signed her name, each stroke a deliberate, painful carving.

She would never forget the date she checked her daughter’s body into the morgue: March 23, 1980.

She found an empty drawer and gently placed Nell’s small body inside.

Only then did she notice that her daughter was wearing Shauna’s old hand-me-downs.

In that instant, a blade of ice pierced her heart.

She had fought with Kaelen about Nell’s clothes more times than she could count.

But every time, Nell would tug on her hand and say in her sweet, childish voice, “Mommy, I think this dress is pretty.”

Her words only made Kaelen more self-righteous. “Cora, you should learn something from your daughter. She’s more sensible than you are!”

But what Kaelen never knew was how many times Nell had hidden in a corner, watching with envy as he showered Shauna with gifts.

The thought was suffocating.

She reached out and smoothed Nell’s messy hair. “Nellie, Mommy is going to buy you a beautiful new dress.”

She would not let her daughter suffer another moment of humiliation.

She said a quiet goodbye to Luke and hurried out of the clinic.

But as she stepped into the hallway, she saw Kaelen walking toward her, holding two candied apples.

“Where’s Nell? Which room is she in? I’ll go see her with you.”

Cora shook her head, her voice a whisper. “Kaelen, you’ll never see her again.”

His face went cold.

“I’m her father. What right do you have to keep me from her?”

He held up the candied apples, his patience wearing thin. “Hurry up. I promised I’d bring her these.”

A spike of pain lanced through Cora’s heart.

Shauna was the one who loved candied apples, not Nell.

But Nell would have accepted anything from Kaelen, no matter how much she disliked it.

She remembered asking Nell once, “If you don’t like it, why don’t you tell your dad?”

Nell had smiled so innocently. “Because if I’m good, Daddy will love me a little more. And then maybe he’ll come back to you, Mommy.”

Cora couldn’t control herself anymore. She slapped the candied apples out of his hand, sending them shattering across the floor.

“Kaelen, she doesn’t even fucking like these!”

Kaelen stared at the broken candy on the floor, his face dark with displeasure.

“What the hell is wrong with you now? She eats them every time, down to the last bite. How could she not like them?”

The commotion must have been loud, because Cheryl stepped out of a nearby room.

She saw the scene and rushed over, an apologetic look on her face.

“I’m so sorry, Cora. It seems we’ve caused more trouble for the Colonel.”

“I promise, as soon as Shauna’s leg is better, I’ll find a job. We won’t be a bother to you anymore…”

Kaelen’s voice was grim. “Cheryl, this is her problem. It has nothing to do with you.”

“Don’t you worry. Raising one child or two, it’s all the same to me…”

Cora couldn’t listen to another word. She turned and walked away.

She went to the biggest dress shop in town and bought the newest style of little girl’s dress.

Then she went back to the morgue, carefully dressed Nell in it, and threw the old hand-me-downs in the trash.

Hearing the noise, Luke came in. He couldn't help but ask.

“Nell is… like this. Where’s her father? Surely he’s not making you handle this all alone.”

Cora held Nell’s icy hand, not knowing what to say.

Luke realized something, his voice filled with shock. “Don’t tell me he still doesn’t know?!”

Cora looked down. “I’ll find a way to tell him.”

Seeing her spirit so utterly crushed, Luke knew better than to say anything more.

It was dark by the time Cora left the clinic.

When she got home, she found Cheryl in the kitchen, bustling around the stove as if she were the lady of the house.

Seeing Cora, Cheryl wiped her hands on her apron and smiled.

“Cora, don’t get the wrong idea. I just wanted to make a meal to thank Kaelen for all his help lately.”

Before Cora could speak, a loud crash echoed from inside the house.

Her expression changed in an instant. That direction… it was Nell’s room!

Cora practically flew into the room. The scene before her made her blood run cold.

All of Nell’s things were thrown about in a chaotic mess. And Shauna was standing on Nell’s bed with her shoes on.

Cora trembled with rage, grabbing Shauna’s arm. “What are you doing?!”

Shauna immediately started wailing.

Not three seconds later, Kaelen burst in from outside.

He shoved Cora aside, his eyes blazing with fury. “She’s just a child! What the hell are you doing, picking on her?”