Her words had stunned Jeremy. Madeline merely smiled and handed the drawing to him.

“I know that you have your own reason for doing that. I also know that you’ve been waiting to hear her say out that word for a very long time…”

Jeremy felt his hold over his emotions slip as he watched Madeline pass him the drawing with the word ‘Daddy’ on it.

He did not say anything, merely reaching out to take the drawing that Lillian had drawn with her heart.

“I’ll go check on Pudding. You take as much time as you need.” Madeline then turned around.

He was now alone in the empty courtyard.

Jeremy stared at the drawing under the moonlight and traced every figure with his slender finger before it finally fell on the little girl who was calling out for her dad.

The night breeze blew at him with the fresh scent of flowers.

Even so, Jeremy could not help but smell something bitter instead.

Before him was a colorful and warm drawing, yet it seemed to be gray in his eyes.

“I’m sorry, Lillian.”

Th