There was a sound of a child's footsteps at the top of the stairs, followed by Nicole's voice. "Daddy! You're back!"

Nicole went downstairs very cheerfully. "Daddy, why didn't you come home last night? I've been waiting for you because I wanted to say good night to you, but I fell asleep while waiting…"

Her words stopped abruptly when she saw Gale.

Nicole looked at Gale intently, without blinking, and a strange yet familiar expression came over her.

"Nicole..."

Gale wanted to ask her what w