Samantha's heart ached when she saw this.

"What happened, Nova? Was it something I did?"

Samantha reached out to wipe Nova's tears, but Nova slapped her hand away.

"You're a student now. You shouldn't be lashing out like this. Now, how about you tell me what happened?"

These words seemed to strike a chord with Nova, who strove to be a good girl in her mother's heart.

Nova sat up and tearfully said, "They’re saying Dad's a liar, Mom. Where is he? Is he never coming back? Does he not want me anymore?"

Samantha froze.

Disaster still loomed over the world, and Nova had not seen her father since she learned to talk. Samantha seldom spoke to her about him and had never even shown her a picture of her father. She did not want Adrian to be a burden on their daughter as she grew up.

"Do you miss him?" Samantha gently asked.

Nova nodded and cried, "I do, but he doesn't want me anymore. He lied to everyone. He lied to them, so they're now calling him a big liar. I hate Dad!"

Samantha