Chapter 3

Half an hour later, I arrived at Rikers Island.

My crippled father, Mr. Silas Blackwood, was serving his sentence there. He was the "Mr. Blackwood" those men were referring to.

After entering the prison, I went directly to the warden's office.

Warden Evans was sitting, chatting, and drinking tea with an old man leaning on a cane. That white-haired old man was my dad!

Seeing me, Warden Evans smiled and said:

"Maya, it's been a while since you visited!"

"You two catch up. I'll leave you to it."

After Warden Evans left, the office was silent.

After a long moment, Dad spoke softly:

"Divorced Brandon, have you?"

I lowered my head, clenching my fists, and didn't respond.

Dad let out a cold laugh:

"Unwilling? Feel like he betrayed you?"

"My foolish daughter, I told you before, that man isn't trustworthy."

"If you hadn't stopped me, I would have just put the word out, and those siblings would have been dumped in the river for the alligators long ago!"

I cut him off, my eyes red, but I said nothing.

After Dad went to prison, I didn't want to take over his illicit businesses, so I chose to open a nightclub.

It was then that I coincidentally saved Brandon and lied to him, claiming I was a dancer at that nightclub.

Later, after Brandon and I got together, I had intended to tell them about my dad.

But what happened?

The siblings weren't interested. All they knew was that my dad was crippled and locked up.

By then, Brandon and Tiffany's careers were starting to take off. They resented me because of it. They didn't even visit Dad once.

Seeing my sorrowful and disheartened expression, Dad sighed, saying:

"Since you're divorced, don't dwell on the past."

"It's just a man, isn't it? Your old man will find you someone much better!"

"As for Brandon and Tiffany, they'll absolutely regret it."