Cora’s head snapped up, but the light in her eyes died just as quickly.

On that stormy night, she had watched Nell close her eyes in her arms, felt her body grow cold.

She was the one who had pushed her into the refrigerated drawer… How could her Nell possibly be alive?

Cora looked at Kaelen, her face a mask of disappointment.

“Kaelen, you can’t even recognize your own daughter.”

He rubbed his temples, annoyed. “Nell is my daughter. How could I possibly mistake her?”

Cora’s heart was coated in frost. She turned her head away, unable to look at him.

As they stood in a tense stalemate, Cheryl rushed over, holding a crying Shauna.

“Colonel, Shauna’s leg is hurting again. We need to borrow your Jeep…”

Kaelen’s expression changed instantly. He took Shauna from her.

“Why are you crying so hard? Come on, we’re going to the clinic right now!”

As she watched him hurry away, Cora remembered when Nell was sick.

She would hold Kaelen’s hand and say timidly, “Daddy, I don’t feel good. Can you hold me?”

And Kaelen would just look at her sternly.

“Nell, don’t be so delicate. Be a good girl, don’t cry, and you’ll get better soon.”

After that, no matter how much she was hurting, Nell never cried again.

But now, it was clear. It wasn’t that Kaelen disliked crying children.

He just disliked Cora, and by extension, he ignored Nell.

When Cora came back to herself, Kaelen was already by the Jeep.

“Don’t cry, Shauna. Uncle is taking you to the clinic right now.”

Cora felt a jolt and rushed forward, blocking the car door.

Kaelen’s patience snapped. “Cora, what are you trying to do now?”

Cora looked at him, her voice firm. “If you’re going to the clinic, then you’re coming with me to see Nell.”

Kaelen had never seen her so forceful before. A strange feeling flickered in his chest.

He said nothing more and drove toward the clinic.

Half an hour later, Kaelen parked outside the clinic and rushed into a doctor’s office with Shauna in his arms.

“Doctor, the child’s leg is injured. Please, take a look at her.”

As Cora walked in, she happened to overhear the nurses whispering.

“That man really dotes on his daughter. He always brings her in himself.”

“It’s just fate, I guess. Some people have it all, while that poor child they brought in a few days ago is still lying in the cold storage…”

Cora heard those words and her heart clenched.

She knew. The nurse was talking about her Nell.

She looked into the doctor’s office. Kaelen was holding Shauna, gently comforting her.

“Don’t be scared, Shauna. I’m here. You’ll grow up safe and sound.”

Cora heard him, and it felt like a gaping hole had been torn out of her chest.

*Kaelen, while you’re thinking about keeping Shauna safe, do you have any idea that your own Nell will never grow up?*

A little while later, Kaelen walked out of the office and checked his watch.

“Let’s go. We’ll see Nell. But I have to be back in half an hour to pick up Shauna.”

Cora’s nose burned, and her heart turned to ice.

“Kaelen, when Nell was unconscious with a fever, you didn’t care. Now you’re running around for someone else’s child.”

“Don’t you know that the last thing Nell told me was that you were busy with work and I shouldn’t be mad at you?”

“Kaelen, how could you do this to her?!”

Kaelen glanced around, his expression turning frigid. “Shauna’s father died for me. It’s my goddamn duty to take care of his wife and child!”

“As a military wife, you can’t even tolerate a widow and her orphan child. There’s something wrong with your thinking!”

“Even if Nell were standing right here, I’d tell her the same thing. I owe Shauna, and she has to give way to her!”

Cora’s hands clenched into fists. She looked at him, her voice trembling.

“Kaelen, would you dare say those words to Nell’s face?”

He said coldly, “Take me to see her right now. I’ll say every single word to her, exactly as I said them to you!”

Cora was shaking with pain. Her laugh was desolate.

“Fine, Kaelen. Come with me. I’ll take you to see Nell right now!”

As she turned, the tears finally fell.

She wiped them away fiercely and walked toward the morgue.

Kaelen watched her go, a strange sense of unease creeping over him.

When he saw her stop at the door to the cold storage, the unease peaked.

He couldn't help but ask, “Why did you bring me here?”

Then he watched as Cora pushed open the door and pointed to a refrigerated drawer in the corner.

“Kaelen, you wanted to see Nell? There she is.”