"Dad…"
Mia's voice came again, softer this time, but heavier.
Her small hands clutched the bedsheet as she looked up at Daniel with eyes far too serious for a child her age.
"What do you mean you and mom are no longer together?"
The question hung in the air, sharp and unforgiving.
Daniel felt his throat tighten.
He opened his mouth, then closed it again. Words crowded his mind, but none of them felt right.
How could he explain something so broken to someone so innocent?
How could he tell his daughter that the world she believed in had already fallen apart long before she noticed the cracks?
His ex-wife shifted uncomfortably beside the bed.
She could see the confusion growing in Mia's eyes, the fear slowly replacing innocence.
For a moment, guilt flashed across her face. She leaned forward, about to speak.
"Mia, sweetheart—"
Before another word could be said, the door to the ward opened.
The doctor walked in, clipboard in hand, his calm presence cutting through the tension like a blade.
He glanced briefly at the faces in the room and sensed immediately that he had interrupted something heavy.
"Good afternoon," he said professionally.
"It's time to check the patient."
Mia looked at him, then back at her parents, still waiting for answers.
The doctor cleared his throat.
"I'll need some space to examine her. A few of you will have to step outside."
Daniel hesitated, his eyes never leaving Mia's face.
His ex-wife stood up slowly, smoothing her dress, while Richard took a step back without being asked.
"We'll be right outside," her mother said gently, forcing a smile.
"Okay?"
Mia didn't respond. Her eyes were glassy now, hurt and confused.
Daniel watched helplessly as his ex-wife and Richard left the room. The door closed behind them with a soft click that felt far too loud.
The doctor turned his attention fully to Mia.
"All right, young lady," he said kindly.
"Let's see how strong you are today."
Daniel stood close as the doctor carefully checked her vitals, examined her stitches, and asked a few routine questions.
Mia answered quietly, her earlier excitement completely gone.
The sparkle in her eyes had dimmed, replaced by something that made Daniel's chest ache.
Thirty minutes felt like hours.
When the doctor finally straightened up, he smiled warmly at Daniel.
"Good news," he said.
"Your daughter is doing very well. She's responding perfectly to treatment."
Daniel's breath caught.
"Does that mean…?"
"Yes," the doctor continued.
"She can be discharged today."
Relief crashed over Daniel so suddenly that he had to steady himself against the bed.
"But," the doctor added gently, "she'll need proper care at home. You'll have to employ a nurse—someone to check on her regularly, clean and change her stitches. Once the wound dries properly, the stitches can be removed."
Daniel nodded quickly. "Doctor… the nurse who has been helping me—bathing her, changing her clothes—can she continue with us?"
The doctor considered for a moment, then smiled.
"That won't be a problem. I'll speak to her and get back to you."
"Thank you," Daniel said, his voice thick with emotion.
"Thank you so much."
The doctor gave Mia a reassuring smile, then turned and left the room.
Outside the ward, he was immediately met by Daniel's ex-wife, who had been pacing the corridor.
The moment she saw his expression, her anxiety eased.
"How is my daughter?" she asked quickly.
The doctor smiled.
"She's fine. Very strong girl. She can be discharged anytime today."
Relief washed over her face.
"Thank God," she said softly.
She didn't wait for anything else. Turning on her heel, she walked back toward the ward, her steps lighter now, her mind already racing ahead.
When she stepped inside, the atmosphere changed instantly.
Mia looked up.
She didn't smile.
She looked from her mother to her father, her lips trembling, her eyes filling rapidly with tears she was trying desperately to hold back.
"If you both don't want to answer my question," Mia said suddenly, her small voice shaking but loud enough to pierce the room, "then you should both leave."
Daniel froze.
"I don't want to see any of you," she continued, tears spilling freely down her cheeks.
"Just go!"
The words hit Daniel like a physical blow.
"Mia—" he started, stepping forward.
"Go!" she cried, turning her face away. "Both of you!"
Seeing his daughter like that—hurt, confused, crying because of secrets he helped keep—broke something inside Daniel.
His chest tightened painfully, and his eyes burned. He had promised himself he would protect her from this, from pain, from the truth that had already destroyed so much.
But now, he had no choice.
He moved closer and knelt beside the bed, his voice trembling despite his effort to stay calm.
"Sweetheart," he said softly. "Please look at me."
Slowly, Mia turned her tear-streaked face toward him.
Daniel swallowed hard.
"Your mom and I… we are divorced."
The word felt heavy as it left his mouth.
"We realized we were no longer good for each other," he continued carefully. "We argued too much, and we were unhappy. So we decided to separate."
Mia's lips quivered. "Mom… is that true?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her mother felt a sharp pain in her chest.
She stepped closer and nodded slowly. "I'm sorry, sweetheart," she said.
"But your dad is right."
Mia stared at both of them, her world shifting beneath her feet.
"But…" her mother continued, quickly sitting on the bed beside her, taking Mia's small hand in hers, squeezing it gently, "that doesn't mean I don't love you."
Mia looked at her, confused, still crying.
"That's why I'm here," her mother said softly. "I want to take you with me. We'll be happy, sweetheart. You, me, and Uncle Richard. He'll buy you anything you want. He'll send you to the best school."
She smiled, though her eyes glistened.
Holding Mia's hand tightly, she leaned closer