When My Dad Filed Emotional Settlement for His Adopted Daughter, I Died on My 20th Birthday

Eight years after my mother died, my father, FBI agent Daniel Cross, finally agreed to spend my birthday with me.

But on my birthday, I couldn’t reach him no matter how many times I tried.

Until I saw a video on social media—

His adopted daughter, Chloe, was standing beside him onstage, holding his arm, receiving the FBI Medal of Valor from the Director himself.

The comments were full of praise from other FBI families:

“Who said Daniel’s daughter was useless? She’s a brilliant agent—smart, beautiful, the pride of the FBI!”

“Chloe is his best daughter. Daniel must love her so much!”

My hands trembled. I was about to type a comment, to tell them I was Daniel’s biological daughter.

Those cases were solved by me.

The next second, I heard a loud bang—

Marcus Vancroft, the crime syndicate boss my father sent to prison five years ago, broke into my house.

I lay in a pool of blood and smashed birthday cake, fighting through the tearing pain across my body as I dialed Daniel for help.

The call connected.

He cut me off immediately, his voice impatient.

“What are you making a fuss about now? I only told you I’d spend your birthday with you so you wouldn’t cause trouble.”

“Chloe’s father died saving my life. I let her stand on that stage as my daughter—what’s wrong with that? If you keep stirring things up, I won’t answer your calls again.”

*****

He hung up without hesitation.

My screams meant nothing.

A month later, Chloe received a death threat.

To keep her safe, Daniel finally remembered I existed.

He decided I would take her place—go to the location the criminals named and buy them time to eliminate the risk.

“You’ve had all this time to calm down. Still don’t know what you did wrong?”

“You have thirty minutes to show up. If anything happens to Chloe, I’ll file for AA Emotional Settlement. I’ll never acknowledge you as my daughter again.”

The Emotional Settlement Bureau was newly established.

They audit the emotional contributions between parents and children—item by item, assigning each a clear value.

If the emotional imbalance is too great, the parent-child relationship is permanently revoked.

No contact.

Ever again.

Daniel raised me.

In his eyes, I never met expectations. I only disappointed him.

He was certain I would show up.

He just didn’t know—

I had already died a month ago, in the revenge meant for him.

When I first died, I thought it was over.

But the ghost next door told me something different.

If your parents never truly cared about you, you can’t leave.

You stay stuck here.

For an entire month, I’ve been trapped in the same nightmare, reliving my death again and again.

Because Daniel Cross never once thought of me.

And now the only reason he’s looking for me is to make sure Chloe survives her threat.

I gave a bitter smile.

Of course.

When I was alive, I was already unnecessary.

He didn’t need me then.

Why would he now?

I’m dead.

Right now, Daniel is sitting in Chloe’s apartment, drinking hot cocoa with her.

She’s curled up on the couch, eyes red, trembling like a frightened deer.

“Dad… do I really have to go? I might die…” she says, voice shaking.

Daniel wraps an arm around her shoulders, his tone softer than I’ve ever heard.

“Don’t be scared. I’m here. Your father died saving my life. I promised him I’d protect you like my own.”

“I won’t let anyone hurt my daughter.”

He says he can’t bear to see Chloe harmed in any way.

He has no idea his real daughter died alone on her twentieth birthday.

When his phone rings, he instinctively thinks it’s me. His brow tightens.

But it’s an emergency call from FBI dispatch.

“Isn’t there anyone else available? I already said Chloe is under threat. I’m staying with her.”

“Operational meeting? You handle it. For Chloe, I can put everything aside.”

The call lasts ten seconds.

He hangs up.

So it wasn’t that he didn’t have time.

He just didn’t want to spend it on me.

Or maybe the only person Daniel ever makes exceptions for is Chloe—the adopted daughter he invested everything in.

Chloe looks up, concern perfectly timed.

“Dad… is Emma refusing to go for me? Is that why she’s hiding and not answering?”

“It’s okay. If she doesn’t want to go, I will. Then… maybe I’ll get to see my real dad again.”

The moment she finishes speaking, Daniel’s expression hardens with urgency and pain.

For the first time, he calls me himself.

No answer.

He calls again.

Still nothing.

Finally, he calls my best friend—Sarah, my coworker at the library.

The second she answers, she breaks down.

“Daniel! You don’t deserve to be Emma’s father! Where were you when she was being murdered?”

“Do you know they tortured her for twelve hours? They cut her open. They crushed her ribs. She took the revenge meant for you!”

Daniel scoffs.

He doesn’t bother listening.

He submits the Emotional Settlement application on his phone.

“You’re all putting on a show?” he says coldly.

“I’ve been in the FBI twenty-five years. You think I don’t understand criminal patterns? Marcus just got out. My team monitored him twenty-four seven. He never touched Emma.”

“Tell her this—if she keeps hiding, I’ll act like I don’t have a daughter.”

Don’t have a daughter.

My heart stopped beating a month ago.

But it still hurts.

I look down at my translucent hands and give a hollow smile.

Daniel.

You don’t need to disown me.

I won’t disappoint you anymore.

Exactly as you wished—

I disappeared from your world a month ago.

You only have Chloe now.

Sarah can’t understand how a father could be this cold. She keeps shouting, accusing him.

Daniel’s voice turns even colder.

“You think I’m heartless? Fine.”

“Tell Emma that if she doesn’t come back and admit her mistake, I’m cutting off Lucas’s medical payments. I’ve covered his hospital bills for over a year. Let’s see how long her precious crippled boyfriend survives without me.”

He hangs up.

On the other end, Sarah is sobbing so hard she can barely breathe.

“Lucas…”

“There are no more hospital bills…”

“He died a month ago. Hit by a car on his way to the FBI to ask you to reopen the case…”