Chapter 4

Dad's smile froze instantly.

I clutched the dog tag tightly, taking a step back, watching them with wary eyes.

"Leo, that's something very important to your sister."

Dad's tone was hesitant,

"Dad will buy you the newest remote control plane, or Legos, alright?"

"No! I want that! That tag is pretty!"

Leo stomped his feet impatiently, running over and reaching out to snatch my dog tag.

"Get away!"

I shoved Leo away.

Caught off guard, Leo stumbled backward, hitting his elbow on the corner of the coffee table, and burst into tears.

Michelle immediately rushed forward to comfort Leo, heartbroken:

"Skylar, Leo is just a child, how could you hit him?"

Dad lunged forward, pointing at my nose and yelling:

"Skylar Stone! What do you think you're doing! Apologize to your brother immediately!"

I glared at Dad, refusing to back down:

"He's not touching Mom's things!"

"Give it to me!"

Dad was completely enraged, he commanded sternly,

"Take that dog tag off and give it to Leo!"

I looked at Dad in disbelief, screaming:

"Why? This is what Mom left for me! Have you forgotten Mom?"

"You were already holding another woman before she was even officially gone!"

"Now you're even going to give the only thing she left me to that son of yours?"

"Shut up!"

Dad roared.

A loud slap landed heavily on my face.

My cheek instantly turned red and swollen, burning with pain.

A flicker of regret crossed Dad's eyes.

He stepped forward, trying to grab me.

I dodged, looking at him with an utterly unfamiliar gaze.

Dad's fingers curled inward, his voice stiff:

"You always live in a fantasy world. One day, you'll regret it."

I ran back to my room, slamming the door shut.

The stinging sensation of the slap still lingered on Dad's palm; he couldn't sit still.

Michelle patted Dad's shoulder:

"If you're worried, go check on her."

Dad shook his head:

"It's good for her to face reality; she can't keep living in the past and in her imagination. Leave her be. A few days of cold shoulder will do her good. She'll come back and apologize."

The next morning, I didn't come out for breakfast.

Michelle said:

"Should I bring Skylar some food in her room?"

"No."

Dad said sternly,

"Skylar is too willful. Don't spoil her; she needs to learn that talking back to elders has consequences."

On the third morning, I still didn't appear. Dad thought I was still sulking and didn't pay much attention.

During a meeting, he saw my name on the caller ID. To teach me a lesson, he hung up directly.

It wasn't until the fourth day that Michelle hesitated and said:

"Skylar's room has been quiet, and her food hasn't been touched."

Only then did Dad unlock the door. The room was empty.

"She must have run off to a friend's house! Didn't even say when she was leaving! She's getting more and more out of line!"

Dad furiously called several of my friends, but got no information.

The next moment, the school called:

"Is this Skylar Stone's father? Skylar hasn't been to class for three days. Is something wrong at home?"

Dad's face went white, instantly panicking.

After hanging up, he immediately dialed my number.

The phone rang for a long time before it was answered.

On the other end, a flippant male voice spoke:

"Oh? Finally remembered you have a daughter, huh? Mr. Stone, you must be so busy, can't even get through to you."

A wave of ice washed over Dad. His voice trembled:

"Who are you? Where's my daughter?"