Father's Day Deadly Gift

I stood paralyzed as Florence desperately clutched Stephanie, sobbing uncontrollably.

Paramedics arrived, confirming Stephanie had no vital signs.

"No! She was healthy. How could she just die?" Florence screamed, collapsing in grief.

The doctor's heavy gaze fell on me. Before he could say anything, Florence's rage flared. "I don't believe she died just from saying Dad. I demand an autopsy. I need to know what killed her!"

The autopsy room's lights dimmed. The doctor came out, sighing, "We couldn't identify the sudden illness that took her."

Inside, Stephanie's body was marred with incisions. Overcome with grief, Florence glared at me. "Why? Why did she die right after calling you Dad? What did you do?"

I could only shake my head. "I don't know. She was my child, too. I'd never hurt her."

I sank to my knees, broken, but the crowd showed no sympathy.

"I pitied him before, but now he deserves this. He knows kids die around him, yet he keeps trying."

"His ex-wife gets remarried and has healthy kids. It's clearly his fault."

"I'm starting to think he's behind these deaths. Why else keep having kids?"

"Maybe it's not him directly. Could be an enemy targeting his children for revenge."

"Either way, his wife and kids suffer the most."

My parents arrived, desperately trying to defend me. My mother Dora shielded me, pleading with the crowd. "Please, the police ruled these were sudden illnesses. If anyone's to blame, it's us for not monitoring their health. Kurt is innocent."

The onlookers were relentless.

"Innocent? One kid dying suddenly is plausible, but every one?"

"All right after calling him Dad?"

"Doctors can't even name the illness. How many coincidences can stack up?"

Florence's eyes blazed. "Do you really not know how Stephanie died?"

Before I could answer, Dora stepped forward. "Florence, we're so sorry, but Kurt didn't do anything. We know losing Stephanie is tearing you apart. It's tearing him apart, too. Can we go home and talk?"

Florence pushed her away. "How long are you going to protect him? When his former kids died, you cried before cameras, begging people to drop it. He just let you grovel, and you're still defending him?"

Her glare fell on me. "Are you just watching them grovel like this and still won't tell the truth?"