Died on the Anniversary of My Father's Death

Suddenly, Natalie's phone rang.

"Natalie, why hasn't Cameron replied to the birthday message I sent her? Is Cameron with you?"

It was my aunt, Anne Portman.

Since Jeremy's death, she had been the only one who cared about me.

She would wish me a happy birthday every year.

Natalie's expression darkened when she heard my name.

"Don't mention her to me. How could I let her stay with me?

"She's probably too ashamed to reply to your wishes. If it weren't for her, how could your brother have died? And you still sent her a birthday wish?"

Anne had been secretly sending me money over the years. Without her, I might not have lived to see eighteen.

But in reality, I stored the money she sent on another card. I never wanted to live off someone else's pity.

Anne hesitated to say further, "Come one, after all, turning eighteen is a big deal. She's an adult now and can take care of herself. But I suddenly can't contact Cameron anymore. Cameron is my brother's flesh and blood..."

Before she could finish, Natalie impatiently cut her off.

"Enough about her. Who knows where she's off gallivanting? It's none of my concern. I only have a daughter! It's Julia!"

Julia Portman, the name Natalie gave her adopted daughter when Julia was adopted.

She said I didn't deserve to have that surname.

On the day Jeremy died, she dragged me to change my surname.

If I had been old enough and if she had acknowledged being my guardian, I probably wouldn't have been able to keep the Portman surname.

Anne sighed helplessly.

She still wanted to inquire about my whereabouts, but Natalie ruthlessly shut down the conversation.

"Don't ask me about her. I don't know that heartless person. How dare she live to eighteen!"

With that, she hung up coldly.

Clive, who had been listening nearby, sighed heavily, saying, "It's been ten years since Jeremy passed. Cameron is innocent. You left her out in the cold for ten years; she's suffered enough."

Tears welled up in Natalie's eyes.

"Ten years! But I still vividly remember Jeremy's final moments. I can't forget, unless she dies in front of me. Otherwise, I'll always feel hatred towards her."

Each of Natalie's words pierced my heart, leaving me cold all over.

I had started by crying about my innocence in front of her.

Eventually, I accepted that I had caused Jeremy's death, just hoping for a glance of love from her.

But it never came.

I thought, "Mom, you've finally got your wish. There will never be me in this world again."

As the officers in the office dispersed to investigate further, Natalie had just finished her coffee when her phone rang again.

"Hello, I'm Cameron's teacher. She hasn't been to school for two days. Is everything okay at home?"

Natalie's relaxed expression turned into a frown once more.

"Didn't I say? Don't ask me about her. I'm not her mother! Don't bother me; her being dead outside has nothing to do with me!"

After two days without rest, Natalie's temper flared as she shouted at the teacher.

The teacher could only apologize before hanging up.

"Clive, who had been going through case files, stopped at Natalie's outburst.

The tension in the room was palpable."

He looked up, his eyes tired and bloodshot.

"Cameron hasn't been to school for two days? She's not a troublesome child. Could something be wrong?"

Natalie's voice turned cold. "I don't want to hear about her anymore, Clive. Please don't mention her again. Every time I hear her name, I see Jeremy's death in front of me."

Clive wanted to say something but eventually remained silent.

Outside, the sound of a woman's distressed voice suddenly echoed.

"My child is missing. Please, can you help me find her? She's about to start college, and I haven't heard from her all day. My child is considerate; she wouldn't just disappear like this. Something must have happened to her!"

The urgent plea reverberated through the entire office. Natalie and Clive exchanged a glance, then rushed out.

"Hello, when did you last see your child? Does she have any distinctive features?" Natalie inquired as they approached the woman.

I floated gently beside them, observing the woman's face, which was etched with worry and anxiety.

The bitterness in my heart nearly overwhelmed my senses.

I thought, "So, this is what maternal love feels like."

After a moment of contemplation, the woman choked out her response.

"My daughter is 5.2 feet tall, very beautiful, excels in her studies, and is well-behaved. She never causes me any worry. She always keeps me informed of her whereabouts. She mentioned going on a trip with her classmates to relax after finishing her exams, but then I couldn't reach her anymore!"

As she spoke, her voice grew softer, and she broke down completely.

Clive's eyes widened as he turned to Natalie.

I, too, stood at 5.2 feet tall, the exact height of the woman's daughter.

After a pause, Clive said, "We've just found the body of a young girl..."

When she heard this, the woman's mouth hung open, but no sound came out.

Her entire body went limp, drained of all strength.

Assisted by the nearby officers, she was helped to her feet, her face drained of color.

"Can I... can I see her?"

She could barely stand, almost collapsing as the two officers led her to the morgue door.

Just as they were about to open the door, her phone rang.