The Frozen Apocalypse: Betrayal and Rebirth Chapter 2

After dinner, my older daughter Emma followed me to my room. "Dad, I don't have any activity on New Year's Day?"

I hugged her gently. Her eyes reddened. "Shh, don't speak. Trust Daddy!"

In my previous life, Lily constantly talked about how cool and generous Tyler's dad "Uncle Derek" was.

Only at the end did I discover my wife Rebecca had long been involved with Derek Wilson.

The ridiculous part? My biological daughter covered for them—she actually wanted a new daddy!

Meanwhile, my normally introverted adopted daughter Emma always countered that no one's dad was better than me.

In my previous life, as supplies dwindled, Emma and I were allocated less and less food each day. Later, Lily even took my food for "Uncle Derek," saying he was tall while I was thin and weak, so missing a few meals wouldn't hurt me!

When Derek and Rebecca kicked me out, I grabbed the door and begged on my knees for them to keep Emma.

But Emma ran out anyway, insisting on staying with me.

And my biological daughter Lily just hugged her affair-partner-turned-stepdad and sneered at me: "If they want to leave, let them. One less person means one more mouth to feed."

So there really are ungrateful wretches you raise yourself. There really is innate evil.

I quickly calculated on paper, even claiming diarrhea that night and camping out in the bathroom for half the night.

Some things could be ordered online for next-day delivery.

Rebecca and Lily left early the next morning, saying they'd head to the hotel the night of the New Year's party to avoid holiday traffic.

I'd already texted the teacher last night asking for time off.

As soon as they left, I quickly gathered things and headed out. Along the way, Emma only asked: "Dad, where are we going?"

My parents died early. When my sister and brother-in-law died in an accident, only two-year-old Emma survived. At the time, Rebecca had just given birth to Lily. With Rebecca and her family's consent, we adopted Emma.

Perhaps the trauma before age three lingered in her hippocampus. Though I treated her as my own, raising her and Lily equally, this child remained introverted, mature beyond her years, and sensitive.

My sister's two properties—one had already been transferred to Emma's name, though I managed both. One tenant had just moved out last month.

It was an 11th-floor top-floor unit in a suburban mid-rise building.

Deliveries were already being arranged—items I'd ordered last night for quick delivery.

"Emma, we're going to live here. Time is short—I'll explain everything in a few days!"

"When deliveries come, have them leave everything at the door. Don't go out. Stay home and organize things while you wait for Daddy!"

"Daddy needs to go buy some things. Don't answer calls from anyone except Daddy, understand?"