Across a Sea of Lies

When I got home, the family doctor was already waiting. Seeing the marks on Anna's face, the doctor gasped in horror. "This ink has extreme permeability. Ordinary cleaning agents won't work. Forceful washing will only corrode the skin."

My hands and feet were icy cold. "What should we do?"

The doctor frowned and took out a special solvent. "The only way is to use a laser combined with this solvent to slowly get it off, but the process will be very painful, and... it might leave scars."

The treatment process was torture. Anna trembled with pain, and cold sweat dampened her hair, but she stubbornly bit her lip and refused to cry out because Arlo had said he disliked spoiled children.

I watched my daughter suffer, my nails digging deeply into my palm.

Just then, there was movement downstairs. Arlo had come back. He even brought several movers with him. He sternly commanded the movers to head straight for the piano room. "Be gentle. This piano is expensive. Don't bump it into anything."

I rushed downstairs and stood in front of the piano room door. "Arlo, what are you doing?"

Arlo remained calm. "Oh, Hayden is musically talented. The teacher said he's a genius, but his family is poor and can't afford a piano. Anna doesn't play the piano much anyway. It's just collecting dust here. I might as well move it to Hayden's place. We shouldn't let his talent be wasted."

I trembled with anger.

This piano was a gift from me to Anna on her fifth birthday. It was a custom-made model with Anna's name engraved on it. Anna practiced the piano two hours every day, treating it as a precious treasure. However, Arlo said she did not play it often and that it was collecting dust.

"This is Anna's piano! I will never allow you to steal Anna's things to please your mistress!"

Arlo's face turned livid. "You're wealthy. Why don't you just buy Anna another one? Can you bear to watch a genius be ruined because of such a tacky reason? Just consider it charity, okay?"

I looked at him coldly. "No. My charity is only for those who deserve it, not for thieves and robbers."

Arlo was completely furious. "They say people in business value profit over anything else. You're completely blinded by money! I'm taking this piano today! I'll see who dares to stop me!"

He waved his hand, and several movers tried to barge in.

Suddenly, a scream came from upstairs. "Don't touch my piano!"

Anna had run downstairs at one point. Her face was still covered in ointment, red and swollen. She rushed over, spread her small arms, and fiercely protected the piano.

"This is a gift from Mommy! It's mine! Daddy, you're a bad person! You helped that naughty boy bully me, and now, you're trying to steal my piano!"

Arlo's eyes flickered as he looked at Anna's horribly disfigured face.

However, his phone soon rang.

Arlo answered the phone, his tone instantly softening. "Hello? Simone, what's wrong? Don't cry. Don't cry... What? Hayden has a fever? I'm coming right away!"

Arlo hung up, and the guilt in his eyes vanished instantly. He anxiously watched the movers. "Hurry up and move it! Hayden's sick and wants to fall asleep to piano music!"

He then went over and shoved Anna aside. "Anna, can't you be reasonable? Hayden's sick. What's wrong with you giving in to him? It's just a stupid piano. Do you have to be so stingy?"

Anna was pushed onto the carpet. She stared blankly at Arlo as he left the house, her eyes instantly dimming.

I went over and picked Anna up. She did not cry and only buried her head in the crook of my neck, her voice almost inaudible. "Mommy. Is Daddy... never coming back?"

I kissed her forehead, tears finally streaming down my face. "Anna, don't be afraid. I'll give you something better. As for the people who took our things..."

I looked out at the night, my eyes slowly turning icy. "I'll make them pay back multiple fold."