SHATTERED

END

The man happily hopped off his old motorcycle, clutching the teddy bear stuffed toy tightly in his arms. With a grin, he made his way through the back gate of the grand estate, where an older woman greeted him warmly.

“You're early, Nadech,” the old woman remarked.

“Our boss dismissed us early, so I had to come straight here to give this to my daughter,” Nadech replied, his dimpled smile evident. The woman nodded in understanding, a smile mirroring Nadech's own.

As Nadech ventured further into the back of the house, he paused momentarily upon hearing voices.

Sensing his curiosity, the old woman explained, “Miss Urassaya has a visitor at the moment.” Nadech simply nodded in response.

Choosing for a different staircase to avoid disturbing the homeowner, Nadech made his way quietly towards his daughter's room.

Every day after work, without fail, Nadech followed the same routine. As soon as he clocked out, he mounted his trusty old motorcycle and made his way to the grand estate where his daughter resided with her mother. Their separation weighed heavily on him, but he found solace in these daily visits.

Despite their separation, Nadech cherished every moment he spent with his daughter. Their bond was unbreakable, even if physical distance kept them apart. He longed to have her live with him, but he knew that fighting back against her wealthy family would only jeopardize their relationship further.

So, he swallowed his pride and continued his routine, visiting his daughter whenever he could steal a moment away. Each visit was a precious gift, a fleeting glimpse into the life he wished they could share together.

As Nadech was about to ascend the stairs, a glimpse of three people happily chatting caught his eye. Among them stood Urassaya, the woman he had once loved deeply, only to have his heart shattered when he realized it was all just a game to her. Beside her stood a man and a little girl, both unfamiliar to Nadech, appearing to be around the same age as his own daughter.

Watching Urassaya and the man interact with the little girl, a pang of pain surged through Nadech. They seemed to form a picture-perfect family, a sight that twisted the knife of longing in his heart. Quickly averting his gaze, he continued up the stairs, his sole focus on reaching his daughter's room. It was clear to him that Urassaya had a knack for inflicting emotional pain, a realization that only fueled his determination to shield his daughter from similar hurt.

As he approached his daughter's room, he gently knocked on her door before opening it.

“Hi, Baby, Daddy's here,” Nadech said softly, his smile warm and comforting as he greeted her. He noticed his daughter lying on her bed, her back turned towards him.

“Baby?” Nadech repeated, realizing she wasn't asleep when she turned to look at him, her eyes glistening with tears.

Without hesitation, Nadech approached his daughter and tenderly cradled her in his arms. She hugged him tightly, her cries echoing in the room, causing a sharp pang in his heart. He held her close, allowing her to release her emotions until she calmed down enough to speak.

“Baby, what's wrong?” Nadech asked gently, his hand softly caressing her little back.

“D-Daddy, Mommy doesn't love me, right?” his daughter asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty. The question caught Nadech off guard, causing him to pause.

“What makes you think that, baby?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.

"It's because Mommy doesn't play with me. She always ignores me. But I saw Mommy playing with another kid outside, and she looked so happy. Mommy doesn't love me. Maybe I'm not her daughter," his daughter sobbed, her words laced with pain.