I pushed the door open and walked in, spotting him slouched on the couch in the room, looking dispirited.


    Quietly, I approached him. "Dad."


    He lifted his head, and tears welled up in his eyes. "Chloe..."


    Seeing him like this tugged at my heartstrings. I understood the pain my adoptive parents had carried and the hardships they had gone through. I believed in their love for me.


    My nose tingled. I went over and bent down to him. "Don''t be like this, Dad. You and Mom are my parents. If you hadn''t risked your lives to bring me out, I wouldn''t be here today. Without you, I might not have found As. I might not even be alive." He grasped my hand and said, "Chloe, bringing you out into this world was the best decision I ever made."


    "I know how much you both love me. Throughout these twenty years, you''ve showered me with warmth and care, giving me a home," I said sincerely.


    "Maybe forgetting those past memories is a form of happiness for me," I reassured him.


    "I might have lost the memories from the past, but I know that throughout these twenty years, you''ve taken care of me with all your heart and raised me well. I didn''t manage to spend much time with my biological parents, and I don''t even remember their faces. "In reality, you are my true parents. I cherish every moment with you. Let''s forget all this, okay? It doesn''t matter whether my biological father returns or not. You''re still my parents."


    Before I could finish, my dad hugged me, sobbing loudly. "I''m sorry, Chloe. It''s my fault for making you lose your memories. It''s all my fault."


    Moved, I leaned into his embrace, remembering how warm it always felt.


    He continued, choking on his words. "This was all my idea. I was afraid of losing you. I already lost a daughter. I can''t lose another one! We were selfish for bringing you out, since we only did it so you would be our daughter." "I understand, Dad."


    "I''ve made too many mistakes in this life. I''ve wronged many people. I''ve let so many people down...


    "I owe everything to your mom. I haven''t given her a great life, where she can live infort. She''s been living in fear and running away with me all her life."


    At that moment, I fully understood Dad''s regret.


    "What I feared most was that one day, you would find your family and leave us. Our affection for you has grown since the day we took you away, making it harder to let go. We were afraid you''d leave us one day, and now that day hase. I..."


    He was emotional, and I saw him break down in front of me for the first time. He looked like a helpless child as he let go of his dignity as a man.


    He clung to me tightly, fearing that if he let go, I''d disappear.


    I understood his anxiety. After all, he had already lost one daughter. Losing me again would drive those two to despair, possibly even to the point of taking their own lives.


    "I won''t leave you, Dad. I never will. Please don''t do this. Your heart''s not well. I''ve said it before, wherever I am, you and mom will be there."


    Those words echoed my true


    feelings. I had a daughter myself, and I fully understood their fear of losing me. They had no idea what happened to their own daughter i had lived with them almost half their lives, and if I left them now, they wouldn''t be able to ept it.


    "Dad, As and I will definitely search for Gemma. Believe us. If we find her, we''ll bring her back, no matter what."


    When he heard my words, he wiped his face and looked at me. "Do you think you can find her, Chloe?"


    "Just trust As, Dad. As long as Gemma''s alive, we''ll find her. He''s already nned what to do with the leaders in Bermuda. I believe we''ll be able tobring Navi to justice soon. When that happens, we''ll find out what happened to Gemma. N?velDrama.Org ? content.