Chapter 2

All of them got in the car and started heading back home. Hope was worn out and doze off at the back seat.

Carl was the one driving, and Ashley was on her phone. She was typing something, and a small grin was on her face.

" Did something good happen, honey?"

Carl asked since he saw her smiling from the mirror. It was simply curiosity, but Ashley seemed flustered.

" O-oh, you know, Emily, my friend, I... I hadn't seen her in a while, and she texted me."

"You should meet up, I mean, if she is available."

She seemed, almost relieved. And again, after some time, the car was filled with silence. Hope, though, woke up from the moment her dad talked and caught a glimpse of her mom's cell phone.

And Emily-her friend - wasn't what she saw. Instead, there was a heart next to a name she had never seen before.

Still, as a kid, she felt uneasy, but she didn't say anything. She looked outside of the car window, and she could still see the waves.

The stars reflected on the water, making the sea shine. It was like magic in her eyes.

They soon after reached their home. Carl took all their stuff and went inside first.

"Make sure to wake up, Hope, and lock the car, alright?"

He said quickly since he was carrying their things. He wasn't confident that he could hold them for a long time and walked into the house. As Ashley was about to wake up Hope her phone rang.

BZZZ BZZZ

It was again the name along with a heart. She quickly answered the call, so Hope wouldn't wake up.

"Come on, honey, I told you not to call me first. What? Yeah, I'm still with the kid. No, he left, but he will probably come again to check. Yes, it will soon end, don't worry. I miss you too, I have to go now. Love you too."

Ashley cleared her throat and tried to wake up, Hope. As she was about to shake her, she woke up. She looked her in the eyes before acting that she just regained consciousness.

"Hmmm, oh w-we are back. How come dad didn't say anything."

Ashley didn't think much. Could a kid really act in front of her mother? The answer was yes, but how Hope could now continue knowing something that serious.

It was obvious by now that her mom was cheating on her dad. The unknown name with the red heart, the late night talk, she called him "honey" and said, "i love you."

That person couldn't be her dad nor her friend Emily.

Hope immediately got out of the car and ran upstairs. As she was about to go into her room, she bumped on her dad.

"Hey princess, why the hurry. Is everything okay?'

He asked her with a smile, worrying if something had happened. Hope just couldn't make this man sad. He was her hero, the only person she could turn to.

"I'm so sleepy I didn't see you, dad."

She forced a smile, barely managing to hold back tears.

"Aww, you are sleepy, okay, okay, go on sunshine, I will see you in the morning."

She nodded her head and quickly went into her room. She laid on her bed, under the covers, and cried her eyes out. She didn't know what to do, what if she ruined her family by speaking up.

Would her dad be more sad when Hope said the truth or Ashley?

She slept with those thoughts and with teary eyes.

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