Don’t Beg For My Mercy

Chapter 2

"Dad, can we write Kyler a letter of understanding?"

The curve of my lips froze. I looked at Adelyn; her gaze was evasive. I understood, a bitterness welling up. I looked at Alaina, my eyes serious as never before. "Alaina, is this really what you want?"

Adelyn's face was unsightly. "Abel, what do you mean?"

I ignored her, my gaze fixed on Alaina.

She nodded. "Daddy, Mommy said that if we write a letter of understanding to Kyler, she'll come back next week to celebrate my birthday. I want to celebrate my birthday with Daddy and Mommy."

Looking at Alaina's expectant face, I couldn't help but feel a pang in my heart. A thousand words finally condensed into a single one. "Okay."

"Really?" Adelyn exclaimed but received no response. I simply picked up a pen and swiftly wrote the letter of understanding.

She snatched it up impatiently, reading it over and over, her joy overflowing. Suddenly, her phone rang, and she answered it.

Worry, anxiety, panic – all flickered across her face, so vivid, yet they had nothing to do with me.

As expected, the moment she hung up, she was in a hurry to leave, without a word. But I knew the only one who could make her care so much was Kyler.

The last shred of hope in my heart dissipated. The illusion of happiness just now was just a means to an end. She had never had a moment of sincerity towards me, towards Alaina.

"Mommy!" Just as Adelyn rushed out the door, Alaina called out to her. "Mommy, it's next Wednesday. Don't forget!"

Alaina's voice was small, filled with tentative probing. Maybe it was my imagination, but I saw a flicker of guilt flash across Adelyn's face.

"Okay."

I don't know if this promise was to leave with a clear conscience or just another manipulation. But I knew it wasn't out of love, because the only one she loved was the man she considered her old love.

***

Alaina woke up early on her birthday. Her complexion had improved a lot.

Perhaps because she knew her mother was coming, the smile on her face never stopped. However, Adelyn didn't come.

Even by nightfall, she was still absent. I made countless calls, but none got through.

It wasn't until I stumbled upon a trending topic – "Kyler's Concert" – that my heart sank to the bottom of a cold abyss. Everything became clear.

Adelyn went to Kyler's concert. She wasn't coming. Kyler's injuries weren't serious; he was discharged from the hospital three days ago. But in those three days, Adelyn hadn't come to see Alaina once. Perhaps I should have known then that Adelyn was destined to break her promise, because she had forgotten Alaina, completely forgotten her.

I forced a smile and coaxed my daughter, "Alaina, how about we eat cake first?"

But I was met with Alaina's refusal. "No. Daddy, is Mommy not coming?" Although it was a question, I could hear the certainty in her voice.

I didn't know how to answer. Luckily, at that moment, the nurse came in to check on Alaina, giving me a moment to breathe. "Sir, I need to do a check-up now. Could you please wait outside for a bit? It'll be very quick."

After leaving the ward, I still wanted to contact Adelyn. I didn't want Alaina to be so sad. Unexpectedly, this time the call connected quickly.

"Abel, are you crazy? Why did you call me so many times?"

I took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in my heart. "Adelyn, it's Alaina's birthday today. You promised you'd be with her."

There was a pause on the other end, followed by an impatient reply. "So what? Can't I have other things to do? Can't she be a little more understanding?"

My anger could no longer be contained, and I roared at her, "Adelyn, how dare you say that! In all these years, have you ever fulfilled a single day of your duty as a mother? Alaina just wants you to spend her birthday with her, she's already understanding enough!"

Adelyn, who had never been yelled at like this by me, retorted, "Why are you yelling? If I'm not qualified, then go find someone else to be her mother! Don't call me if there's nothing else!"

The call ended, and a sense of powerlessness washed over me. Alaina just wanted her mother to be with her. Why was it so difficult?

I walked towards the safety exit, lit a cigarette to calm myself down, and then walked towards the ward, only to see a few people gathered at the door. A bad feeling welled up in my heart. I rushed in, only to freeze in place.

Alaina was gone!

The originally clean hospital bed was now soaked in blood, and there were pools of red on the floor. The nurse from earlier was being held down by security, cursing, "It's all your mother's fault! I killed you. Let's see how she seduces others now!"

A bad premonition rose in my heart. I opened my mouth to ask, but no sound came out. As if sensing something was wrong, someone next to me spoke tentatively, "You wouldn't happen to be the father of that child, would you? Your daughter was stabbed by this lunatic and sent to the operating room. You should go and see her quickly."

There was a loud buzzing in my ears. I immediately ran towards the operating room, despair gripping my heart. I could only silently pray that God wouldn't take my daughter away. However, this time, God didn't hear my prayers.

The door to the operating room opened just as I arrived, but what was pushed out was a bed covered with a white sheet.

"I'm sorry. We did everything we could."

The doctor's words made my mind go blank. What did they mean, they did everything they could? My hand reached out uncontrollably to touch the white sheet, trembling as I lifted it.

I reached out and placed my hand on her cold face. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

"Alaina, open your eyes and look at me. We haven't had cake yet. Alaina, wake up. I was wrong, I shouldn't have left. I was really wrong."

But no matter how I coaxed her, no matter what I said, Alaina didn't respond. I couldn't fool myself anymore. My Alaina, my Alaina was really gone...

The pain in my heart was suffocating, sadness and regret filled my chest, and a strong sense of suffocation made me dizzy. The phone on the ground kept flashing, but I ignored it, frozen in place.

After an unknown amount of time, there were hurried footsteps behind me.

"Alaina! Alaina!"

It was Adelyn. She rushed straight to Alaina's bedside. "Alaina, I'm here, I am here to celebrate your birthday. Open your eyes and look at me!"

She cried and shouted, but she received no response, just like me before. She finally gave up trying to wake her daughter and turned around, slapping me hard across the face.

"Why didn't you take care of Alaina? Why did the police tell me Alaina was stabbed? Where did you go? Why did you leave Alaina alone? Why wasn't it you who died?"

I let her hit me, offering no resistance. Yes, why wasn't it me who died...

Finally, the police arrived and pulled Adelyn away. "Ma'am, please calm down. We have a few questions for you."

Adelyn froze for a moment, tears still streaming down her face, looking confused.

"Well, after investigation, we found that the woman who stabbed your daughter claimed to be the ex-girlfriend of the popular star, Kyler. Because of your deliberate sabotage, they broke up, and she held a grudge, which is why she killed your daughter. So, this was a targeted revenge."

Hearing this, I finally reacted, but it was as if someone had choked me, leaving me completely breathless. The person Alaina wanted to see the most had become the reason for her death.

Looking at Adelyn's panicked and helpless expression, I laughed, a sad and desolate laugh. My Alaina was such a good girl. How could she have such a mother?

Finally, I couldn't hold on any longer, and my head hit the ground with a thud.

"Mr. Johnson, are you alright? Doctor! Come quickly!"

Vaguely, I seemed to hear a familiar voice. But before I could think further, I lost consciousness.