Chapter 1125

Tavon only came home after finally settling Salma down.

He had barely stepped through the door when Sandy almost jumped out of her skin. Sean spun around, his face pale as a sheet. “Dad... Dad... It's your seventh day... If you've got unfinished business, just tell me—I'll do it for you, I promise."

Tavon had just wanted to clear things up, but seeing his kids so spooked- especially Sean, who usually put on a tough act but was now trembling and stammering-he lost his patience.

An idea sparked. Tavon decided to lean into their fears. He fixed his gaze on them, wide-eyed and unblinking, staring like a vengeful spirit.

"Sandy, Sean, I have so many regrets left behind. If you don't help me, I'll never rest in peace..."

He raised his arms, hopping toward them in jerky, exaggerated steps. Sean and Sandy clung to each other, shaking like leaves.

Right on cue, the hallway lights started flickering, throwing long, creepy shadows on the walls. It felt like a scene straight out of a horror movie.

With the atmosphere dialed all the way up, Tavon's act became even more believable. Sandy threw her arms over her head, refusing to look at him. "Dad, please, don't come any closer! I'm sorry-I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I just... I was desperate. I owed so much money, and they wouldn't leave me alone..."

Terrified, Sandy blurted out everything, leaving Tavon genuinely stunned-he'd only meant to mess with them a little.

Sean was frozen, mouth open in shock.

Sandy, curled up in a blanket in the corner, finally confessed: she'd hired someone to fake an "accident" for Tavon.

Sean's fear snapped into fury. He stared at Sandy, voice shaking with rage. "What did you just say? You got Dad killed? How could you do that? Are you even human?"

Tavon's heart shattered. Now he understood why Sandy had been so scared of him from the start-her own guilt made her see a ghost.

Sandy's eyes were glassy, her voice barely a whisper. "I didn't have a choice. They forced me..."

"Who forced you?" Tavon lunged at her, emotions boiling over. "Look at me, Sandy! I'm your father! How

you do this to me? What did

ever do to deserve this from you?"

When Sandy had poisoned him before, Tavon had convinced himself she was just a confused kid. He hadn't reported her-felt it was his own failing as a parent.

Later, after he recovered, he let it go. How could he really send his own daughter to jail?

Then he'd found out Sandy pushed Ashley down the stairs. That had left him completely devastated; his daughter was colder than he'd ever imagined.

Now, realizing she'd actually tried to have him killed, Tavon felt all hope for her slip away.

Overcome Tavon grabbed Sandy by

the shoulders, shaking her. "How could you be so heartless? We're your family. We raised you, we faved you Sandy, do you even have a heart?"

He was crying now, his anger spilling over. He slapped Sandy-hard—across the face.

It was the first time Tavon had ever hit her.

The slap snapped Sandy out of her daze. Her cheek stung, hot and real. She stared at Tavon. “Dad, you're... alive?"

The lights showed Tavon's shadow clearly on the wall. He wasn't a ghost.

"I'm alive. Are you disappointed?" Tavon's voice was hoarse with rage. “Sandy, I'm

your father. How could you even think of doing something like this?"

Sean jumped in, pulling Tavon back, his instinct to protect his sister kicking in even

now.

"Dad, she was desperate... she didn't have any other way," Sean pleaded, trying to shield Sandy.

Tavon, still shaking with anger, turned and slapped Sean, knocking him to the floor.

"What did I do to

deserve such cold, ungrateful kids?" Tavon shouted, voice cracking. "What could possibly make you turn on your own parents

like this? Sandy, you're coming with

the We're going to

me

the police

now."

Right