Ella might have to stay in the hospital. I had already hired a caregiver for her, but no one could attend to her as well as I could. My plan was to pack some fresh clothes for Ella and head over to take care of her myself.
As I looked around Ella's modest room, at this moment, the strange feeling that I felt before began to make sense.
For eighteen years, Ella had been our daughter, mine and Simon’s. Although we hadn’t spoiled her with everything she could ever want, she had certainly lived a life of luxury.
However now, with Cassie back, the difference between the two rooms was stark. Suddenly, Simon’s attention toward Cassie felt overwhelming, almost too excessive.
Especially when I looked at Cassie's lavish setup and then at Ella's simple room, it made the favoritism glaringly obvious.
Simon had never been this doting on his daughter before. Now, he seemed like the ultimate girl dad, entirely wrapped around Cassie's finger.
I pushed down my uneasiness and convinced myself that the reason Simon loved her so much stemmed from the guilt that he had lost Cassie for sixteen years.
Actually, Simon had always been a wonderful father to Ella. While her room looked simple and ordinary, it contained many valuable items and several were handcrafted by him. His love for her was genuine and irreplaceable. It made sense that Ella had always been especially attached to her dad since she was a kid.
With that thought, I smiled at the small trinkets Simon had made for Ella, then packed a few of her favorite clothes into a bag. With the help of the house staff, I got the rest of Ella's things ready, as I planned to have the family driver take me to the hospital.
I opened Ella's door and stepped out. I had every intention to call the driver to prepare the car. Yet, I just walked a few steps when I heard the sound of a girl’s laughter coming from Cassie’s room.
Had Simon brought Cassie home already so early? I wondered.
As the thought entered my mind, I drew a deep breath and decided to discuss Ella's situation with Simon. However, before I could take another step, a sudden, muffled scream came from Cassie’s room, followed by Simon’s voice.
My brow furrowed as an unsettling feeling washed over me. Carefully, I tiptoed closer to Cassie’s door.
“No … please, don’t …!” her playful voice rang out sharply at the moment.