He Chose My Step-sister Over My Dying DaughterCHAPTER 1

"Mommy! I want to see the lanterns!" Stacey squealed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. That was my daughter’s final wish— to witness the Lantern Festival one last time.

I pleaded with Alpha Maximus, her father, to grant her this dying request. Stacey was gravely ill, and our time together was running out.

"Carrie, I have a lot of things to do, but I’ll try to take her to the festival," Alpha Maximus would always say, his familiar excuse echoing in my mind.

I could see the flicker of hope in Stacey's eyes, believing that maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t let her down this time.

"Mom, I want to fly my lantern, and I hope Daddy comes with me," she said, her smile fragile and tender.

"Of course, darling. We’ll just hope for the best," I reassured her, fighting back the tremor in my voice. "But remember, Mommy will always be with you."

Friday evening arrived—the night of the festival. I waited, hoping Maximus would show up. Instead, I received a message: he couldn’t make it; work was keeping him.

"Where's Daddy?" Stacey asked, the shadow of disappointment creeping into her eyes, cutting me deeper than any knife.