14 The walls of the living room were lined with faded old photographs, each carefully framed. At the very center hung a large black-and-white portrait of my late mother. Her smile was just as warm as I remembered, as if it could still chase away every shadow in the world. My father's back was hunched now. He stood alone before her portrait, frail and solitary. His temples were streaked with white, his lands thin and wrinkled. Tears clung to the corner of his mouth. Alec lowered his voice, explaining softly, After your mother passed away, and you left home in anger to marry, Uncle Jimmie divorced hat other woman and had this place redone. Every day, he stands here in front of this photo for long time." People never know how to cherish someone while they're alive. Only when they're gone do they egret. But late affection... what meaning does it hold anymore?" My voice stayed calm as I said that, but inside, waves of grief surged. lo matter how cruel the words in the letter of estrangement had been, no matter how sharp the lade, blood ties could never be severed completely. eeing my father so utterly alone, even if I could not understand his past choices, sorrow still elled up inside me. Alec! You're here-" The voice was my younger sister Marley. She spotted Alec and ran excitedly down the stairs nly to nearly crash into my wheelchair. ler steps faltered when she saw my face. Soleil?" ler eyes dropped to my leg. What happened to you? Did that bastard Clint hurt you?" he flung her arms aside, ready to storm out the door. f not for Alec's quick hand pulling her back, she would already have vanished in a blaze of fury. Marley, where do you think you're going?" Her brows knitted tight. Having trained in boxing since childhood, even her gaze seemed to blaze with a dangerous fire when she was angry. Though she was born an illegitimate daughter, Marley had never once bullied me or my mother. On the contrary, she respected me as her elder sister, cherished me, and even adored me. Just to follow me, she had abandoned boxing, where her talent and potential shone brightest, choosing instead to learn dance-a field she wasn't gifted in-working twice as hard just to keep And yet, all I had ever heard was my stepmother's harsh whisper. "Train well, surpass that irritating sister of yours! Only then will your father favor you. Only then, we'll have a place in this family!" I had believed it. I had even deliberately smashed Marley's beloved crystal bracelet. It wasn't until much later that I learned the truth-that she had fiercely snapped back at my stepmother that day. "I love my sister the most! She's not irritating at all!" Even then, she never held a grudge. 'That bastard Clint dared to hurt my sister? I'll make him pay!" Tears burned in my eyes. 'Don't be ridiculous," Alec cut her off firmly. "You haven't seen your sister in ten years. Instead o unning off, shouldn't you stay by her side? Take her to see your dad." Marley had always worn her heart on her sleeve, simple and earnest. I could easily read the vorship and admiration in her gaze as she looked at Alec. Still, Alec..." she murmured, then noticed his hand resting gently on my shoulder. Realization lickered across her face. "He's right. I'll go tell Dad now!" lust like that, he dashed toward the old man. Dad! Soleil's home!" My father's hearing wasn't what it used to be, so she shouted. But he didn't even turn his head. Impossible," he said hoarsely. "Your sister hates me. She'd never come back." Dad, just look! Turn around! It really is her!" My chest clenched so tight I could barely breathe. At last, I called out, my voice trembling with he weight of ten years' absence. Dad! I'm home!" 3:18 pm