The Drawing That Was Thrown Away
Chapter 3 - Chloe’s Silent Suffering
After that night, things in the mansion became strangely quiet.
Elena stopped speaking to Richard unless it was absolutely necessary. She spent most of her time outside the house — shopping, meeting friends, or attending events. When she was home, she mostly stayed in her room or ignored Chloe completely.
Richard, on the other hand, began spending more time with his daughter.
Every evening after work, he would sit with Chloe in her room and ask her about her day. He helped her with homework, read her bedtime stories, and even tried to draw with her sometimes. Chloe was shy at first, but slowly, she started opening up to him again.
One night, while they were drawing together at her small desk, Chloe suddenly spoke.
“Dad… do you think Mommy Elena hates me?”
Richard’s hand froze over the paper.
He looked at his daughter’s small, serious face and felt his heart ache.
“Why would you ask that?” he asked gently.
Chloe shrugged, not meeting his eyes.
“She always looks at me like she’s angry. And she never wants to do things with me. When you’re not home, she tells me to stay in my room and not make noise.”
Richard felt a wave of guilt crash over him.
He had been so focused on his work and his marriage that he had failed to see how much his daughter was suffering.
“Chloe,” he said softly, “I want you to know something. You are my daughter. My real daughter. And nothing will ever change that. Not Elena. Not anyone.”
Chloe finally looked up at him.
“But… Mommy Elena said that if I keep being bad, you might not want me anymore.”
Richard closed his eyes for a moment, trying to control the anger rising in his chest.
He took a deep breath and looked at Chloe seriously.
“Listen to me carefully, sweetheart. I will always want you. No matter what. You are the most important person in my life. Do you understand?”
Chloe nodded slowly, but Richard could see the doubt still lingering in her eyes.
He realized then that words alone wouldn’t be enough.
He needed to show her.
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He needed to prove to his daughter that she was loved and protected.
And that meant dealing with Elena once and for all.
