For eighteen years, Ella had been our daughter, mine and Simon’s. Although we hadn’t spoiled her with everything she could ever want, she had certainly lived a life of luxury.
However now, with Cassie back, the difference between the two rooms was stark. Suddenly, Simon’s attention toward Cassie felt overwhelming, almost too excessive.
Especially when I looked at Cassie's lavish setup and then at Ella's simple room, it made the favoritism glaringly obvious.
Simon had never been this doting on his daughter before. Now, he seemed like the ultimate girl dad, entirely wrapped around Cassie's finger.
I pushed down my uneasiness and convinced myself that the reason Simon loved her so much stemmed from the guilt that he had lost Cassie for sixteen years.
Actually, Simon had always been a wonderful father to Ella. While her room looked simple and ordinary, it contained many valuable items and several were handcrafted by him. His love for her was genuine and irreplaceable. It made sense that Ella had always been especially attached to her dad since she was a kid.