slowly falling for you

am I really your daughter

CHAPTER 5

(AM I REALLY YOUR DAUGHTER?)

In the Wood family study, the atmosphere was tense.

“It’s been days, and you still haven’t said anything? Are you just waiting to

see our family fall apart?” Sharlene felt a surge of frustration but patiently

tried to explain, “He hasn’t come back in the last couple of days. I’ll find a

chance to talk to him.”

“We are running out of time!” Fraser’s face was filled with anger. “Dayton is

astute. He knows how Trenton feels about you, yet he lets us talk to Trenton.

You and Trenton used to be close; how did it get so bad? You don’t even get to

talk with him anymore?”

“...” Sharlene bit her lip and fell silent, a bitter feeling welling up inside

her. She didn’t understand how things had turned out this way with Trenton. She had just been abroad for a few years. How had they become something resembling

enemies from friends?

After her birthday party, they had only met three or four times because they

needed to talk about their marriage and get the marriage certificate. Yet, each

time, Trenton had treated her badly, his gaze and tone seeming to be filled with

deep hatred.

What had she done that was so unforgivable?

Fraser scoffed, “You’ve been gone for years, so it’s understandable that you two

have grown distant. But you can’t just give up. Talk to him about your past; if that doesn’t work, then use your strengths.”

Sharlene looked up in confusion. “Dad?”

“You’re a woman, and now his wife. You should understand what I mean by that,”

he replied.

“...”

Sharlene bit her lip, disappointment creeping into her heart, her face

alternating between pale and flushed. Her father hadn’t said a comforting word

to her yet; instead, he was blaming her and even giving her such advice...

“Dad, am I really your daughter?” How could a father say such things to his

daughter? At her words, Fraser furrowed his brows, his eyes darkening with a sharpness

that made his tone even colder. “What kind of question is that?”

"I know you're worried about our family, but have you ever cared about how I've

been doing these days?" Sharlene felt a mix of disappointment and grievance,

finally voicing the frustrations that had built up inside her for so long. "Did

you ever visit me once during those years I was abroad? Did you ever care about

how I was or what I went through? In all that time, did you ever bother to call

me even once?" Fraser’s eyes were filled with anger and dissatisfaction. "You always said you

were fine, didn't you? Then what did you expect me to say?"

Sharlene was taken aback. Seeing how indifferent her father was made her heart

ache. Memories of Trenton’s hatred and disdain for her, along with his disregard for her father, flooded her mind. The question she had been holding back for

days suddenly surged forth, demanding an answer.

“Dad, on my birthday night... did you send me to Trenton’s room?”

For days, she had been trying to figure out what had gone wrong that night, but

the hotel’s surveillance footage had been destroyed. With the Wood family on the

brink of bankruptcy, her father was desperately seeking investments. Sharlene

didn't want to suspect Fraser. But if it weren’t him, then why had she ended up

drunk in Trenton’s room? And why were there those photos?

Fraser was momentarily stunned, then frowned. "Sharlene, what are you saying? Do

you really think of me that way?"

Sharlene carefully studied Fraser’s expression. "You promise it wasn't you?"

"Sharlene! If you hadn't happened to be there that day, and if Dayton hadn't

suggested that you marry Trenton, I would not even think about taking advantage

of your marriage, no matter how difficult things got!"

Finally having an answer, Sharlene felt a pang of guilt. "Sorry, I just..." Fraser waved his hand. "I understand. I've been overwhelmed with company issues

lately. I shouldn't have said those things. No hard feelings. The family

business is something Erica and I built together. If it collapses, I will be

devastated and feel like I've let your mother down. Most importantly, if our

family goes bankrupt, we won't even be able to cover Erica's medical

expenses..."

"Sharlene, the nursing home said they have a new batch of medication coming in

that should work well, but it's very expensive. Right now... I just can’t afford it."

Sharlene felt a wave of guilt wash over her. "I won't let our family fall apart.

I'm a part of the Wood family. Since I married Trenton, no matter what our

marriage is like or how long it lasts, as long as I'm his wife, I won't let the

Wood family go bankrupt. I will let him agree to help even if I have to beg

him!”

Stepping out of the study, Sharlene quickly called the rehabilitation center.

She learned that there was indeed a new medication that could help people in

comas wake up sooner, but once started, they couldn’t stop using it. Suppressing her excitement, Sharlene asked, "How much will it cost?"