Chapter 2 The Real Dad Rebecca could hardly believe her eyes . 1/8 The moment Alistair had been divorced , he looked … relieved . Almost weightless , as if a burden had been lifted . He didn't seem the least bit nostalgic about their marriage . Rebecca bristled . She'd let him stay by her side for six years , and she believed he should've been grateful for it . Honored , even . Seeing him act so indifferent , so unbothered , sparked an unexpected irritation deep within her . However , she couldn't quite put her finger on why it bothered her so much . It was over now . The years of tug - of - war with Richard , the man she truly loved , had finally come to an end . The placeholder , Alistair , the man she used to provoke Richard , had played his part and was now out of the picture . He was even sensible enough to leave without a fuss , and she should've been over the moon , awaiting Richard's proposal , ready to start their blissful life together . Last night had been perfect . Richard and Daniel got along like father and son , and Richard had been unusually gentle with her . This should've been her happy ending , but something felt … off . Now , with her , Richard , and Daniel , finally poised to live as a Chapter 2 The Real Dad happy family , everything was falling into place , just as she'd scripted it . Yet a nagging restlessness gnawed at her . 2/8 When Alistair turned to leave without a word , that restlessness . boiled over . " Hey , Alistair ! " Rebecca snapped , yanking off her sunglasses and fixing him with a cold stare . She'd once been the dream girl of countless guys , stunningly beautiful , with a figure that turned heads and a meticulous . skincare routine that kept her looking like a college student . No one would've guessed she was the mother of a five - year - old . Alistair glanced back , his face blank , not a flicker of emotion in his eyes . This man didn't feel like the Alistair she once knew . The old Alistair was always at her beck and call , eager to please , bending over backward for her . But now , he looked at her with a cool detachment that unsettled her . " Something up ? " His voice was flat , almost bored . Rebecca wanted to lash out , to use him as her punching bag like she always had . But when her eyes met his calm , steady gaze , the words caught in her throat . He was different . Not the pushover she'd known . She scrambled for an excuse to vent her anger , her eyes flicking LOJES JOJ Jou Didweg Chapter 2 The Real Dad 3/8 to his cheap clothes . With a scornful huff , she sneered , " Alistair , you were with me for years , and your taste is still this awful ? Let me make one thing clear . Don't you dare tell anyone you were my husband . I have a reputation to protect . " The insult , sharp as it was , didn't even graze him . Six years of her sharp tongue had made him immune . Her insults were nothing new . He gave her a faint , almost amused smile , then turned to leave . Rebecca stared , momentarily dazed , as he walked away . That fleeting smile lingered in her mind . It was cold , devoid of warmth , yet strangely captivating . In her memory , Alistair had never smiled . It wasn't until this moment that she realized how striking he looked when he did . Only when his figure vanished from view did it hit her that he had completely ignored her and just walked off . Alistair wandered the streets aimlessly , his mind turning over what his " opportunity " might be and where it might show up . He figured even if he sat still , as long as the system was reliable , the opportunity would find him . But with nothing else on his plate , he decided to roam . Chapter 2 The Real Dad 4/8 First , he wanted to rent a place . Something small , even a bit run - down , would do just fine . After all , he was on his own now . Going back to his father wasn't an option . He'd lost his mother in an accident when he was young . Not long after , his father remarried , starting a new family with a stepson the same age as Alistair . That boy , brought by his stepmother , got along so well with Alistair's father that they seemed like a real family . To outsiders , they were the picture of father and son . Alistair , who took after his mother and looked nothing like his father , felt like the odd one out . He'd grown used to being alone and had no desire to disrupt his father's peaceful life . By five in the afternoon , his opportunity still hadn't appeared . He wasn't discouraged , though . The system had said it would activate within forty - eight hours , and there was still plenty of time . " Mr. Harlow , why didn't you pick Daniel up from school on time today ? He's throwing a fit , crying to go home . Can you please come get him ? " The call from Maggie Payne , Daniel's kindergarten teacher , caught Alistair off guard . He sighed , feeling a pang of Chapter 2 The Real Dad frustration . 5/8 Daniel's school let out at four - thirty . It was now an hour past that . Alistair had always handled drop - offs and pick - ups , and he knew Rebecca probably forgot him or assumed someone else would take care of it . And Maggie , like many others , instinctively turned to him instead of Rebecca when something came up . " I'm sorry , " Alistair said , keeping his tone even . " I'm divorced from Daniel's mom now . ". Daniel's wails came through the phone , loud and piercing . Maggie , clearly frazzled , was trying to soothe him while pleading with Alistair to come . She hadn't even registered what he'd said . Alistair raised his voice , firm but calm . " Ms. Payne , I'm divorced from Daniel's mother . She has custody . Daniel's no longer my responsibility . Please contact her . " He was , coincidentally , near the kindergarten . While looking at rental listings and waiting for his opportunity , he'd wandered into the area . He could've picked Daniel up one last time , dropped him off , and reminded Rebecca to be more attentive . But he didn't want to do that . Daniel wasn't his son , and if Rebecca didn't care enough , it wasn't his place to step in . Chapter 2 The Real Dad Maggie was stunned . 6/8 She'd seen plenty of divorced parents before but rarely had one completely cut ties with their child so soon after the split . After all , the blood ties usually held strong . She and the other teachers had always admired Daniel's father . He was one of the most hands - on , patient , and responsible dads in the whole school . She used to joke with her coworkers that if she ever got married , she'd want a husband just like him . Now , on the verge of tears , she pleaded , " Mr. Harlow , can't you just swing by ? Please ? " Daniel was a handful when he cried . And today , he had clearly been hurt . Alistair tried calling Rebecca , but her phone went unanswered . He called twice more , but still no answer . " I'm sorry , Ms. Payne , " he said , resigned . " I can't reach Daniel's mom . You'll have to call her yourself . " Through the phone , Daniel's voice shrieked , " I don't want him ! My real dad said he'd pick me up ! I want my real dad ! " The words didn't faze Alistair . Maggie , however , froze . Je tu gaweg Chapter 2 The Real Dad Real dad ? Hasn't Mr. Harlow been the one caring for Daniel since he started here ? The realization dawned slowly , awkwardly . And finally , she understood why Alistair had refused to come . 7/8 She tried Rebecca's number , but just like Alistair's calls , it went unanswered . But by then , none of this was Alistair's problem anymore . He didn't feel a shred of attachment toward Daniel . Back when he had still been Daniel's " dad , " he'd done his part . He had been responsible , loving , and patient . But Daniel , spoiled rotten , had picked up Rebecca's disdain for Alistair . He'd yell and order him around , showing no respect . Alistair didn't mind . In a way , it made leaving easier . With them , he had no ties and no regrets . Later that evening , Alistair stopped by a nearby supermarket to pick up some necessities . As he browsed the aisles , he suddenly heard the sound of soft sobbing . Following the sound , he spotted a little girl , about Daniel's age , crying quietly . She was strikingly pretty , her big eyes brimming with tears . Chapter 2 The Real Dad 8/8 " Hey , sweetheart , " he said gently , crouching down . " Where are your parents ? " The girl looked up at him warily , her big eyes brimming with tears . She sniffled , unsure whether to trust him . After a moment , she seemed to decide he wasn't a threat . Shuffling closer , she sniffled , " I can't find my nanny … " Alistair stayed low , keeping his voice soft . " Do you know her phone number ? " She pursed her lips and shook her head , then brightened slightly . " I know my mom's ! " He dialed the number she recited . The call connected , and a cool , crisp voice answered , " Hello ? " The girl leaned toward the phone , her voice trembling but loud . " Mommy , I'm lost ! Please come get me ! "