Then the phone call came to the hospital. My heart plunged. Aurelia had been scalded by hot water.
I rushed to the hospital, only to find Aurelia’s legs wrapped in bandages, the burns extensive.
It felt as if the ground had disappeared beneath me. The fear that coursed through me was so sharp it cut into my chest and I cried out in agony.
She had been fine when I left in the morning. How could this have happened?
My hands shook as I reached for her, but I pulled back, terrified of causing her more pain.
Tears blurred my vision and my fists clenched.
I needed to know the truth.
I checked the security footage at home.
Aurelia had returned from school at 4:30 p.m. What happened in those few hours that led to her burns?
When I saw the footage, I was overwhelmed by a rage I’d never known before.
Ophelia had made Aurelia boil water and cook noodles, all while she lounged on the sofa, painting her nails.
Aurelia, just six years old, was forced to serve her.
And Nathaniel? He didn’t stop her. No, he stood there, encouraging it, ordering Aurelia around like she was nothing but a servant.
My little girl had believed that by obeying them, she could win her father's approval and that his smile would be hers once again.
But when she carefully brought the freshly made noodles over, Ophelia, still leisurely painting her nails, snapped at her, irritated by the disturbance.
Then, with a cruel force, Ophelia struck Aurelia’s hand, sending the hot noodles spilling across her legs.
Instead of showing concern, Ophelia only scolded her, walking away with a flick of her wrist, leaving my daughter to cry in pain on the floor.
It was a kind neighbor who found her, rushing her to the hospital just in time.
After hearing the whole truth, I hired a nurse to tend to my child, then stormed home, my heart burning with fury.
I never expected to walk in on Nathaniel and Ophelia in the middle of their affair.
Fury surged through me like wildfire and without thinking, I kicked Nathaniel, sending him stumbling backward as he tried to remove his pants. I stormed past him and slapped Ophelia across the face, grabbing her by the hair.
"I used to think all fathers loved their children," I spat, my voice trembling with rage. "But now I see I was wrong."
"And you, how could you be so cruel to harm a six-year-old child?"