Chapter 2

Moon’s expression did not soften at that. Instead, she frowned.

“She’s just a child throwing a tantrum. Do you really want to hold that against her?”

Nathan looked at Yara’s hand. She was gripping Xavier tightly. She was clearly wary of Nathan. It was as if she feared he might pull her away from Xavier at any moment.

In his past life, Nathan had never paid much attention to Yara’s dependence on Xavier. He believed that no matter what she said, he was the one who mattered the most to her.

Then, he realized that children were always honest. She had told him exactly what she meant.

Xavier crouched down and gently pinched Yara’s cheek. He put on a serious face and said, “Yara, you shouldn’t be mad at your father. He works very hard to take care of you.”

Yara pouted. Her voice was full of reluctance.

“But I wasn’t saying that out of anger. I wanted you to stay with me. I don’t want Dad!”

Moon’s frown deepened when she saw the tears in Yara’s eyes. She turned to Nathan with clear displeasure.

“This is not how a father should act! You’ve failed at it. You should put more thought and care into Yara.”

Yara hurried to agree. “Mom, you’re right! Dad doesn’t care about me at all.”

Their words were identical. Nathan felt an ache in his chest. The curve of his smile held nothing but bitterness.

After Yara was born, Moon was constantly away on assignments. Nathan had raised Yara on his own. Every detail of her daily life had been his responsibility.

When Yara fell ill, he stayed by her bedside through the night. When her birthday came, he baked her a cake himself. When she refused to eat and grew thin, he tried every possible way to turn the food she disliked into meals she liked.

Each memory spoke of how much effort he had poured into her.

Yet, in their eyes, he was a father who had failed.

“Believe whatever you want.”

He would be leaving in fifteen days anyway. He no longer wanted to argue with them.

“You—”

Moon opened her mouth, ready to scold Nathan for his indifferent attitude, but Xavier grabbed her sleeve.

He looked guilty as he said, “Moon, it’s all my fault. Don’t argue with Nathan!”

The anger on Moon’s face disappeared immediately. She said softly to Xavier, “It’s not your fault. You helped take care of Yara. I should be thanking you instead.”

Yara threw herself into Xavier’s arms.

“Dr. Quinn, everything I said is true. My teacher said kids can’t lie! I’m not lying! It’s all Dad’s fault! You’re the best person in the whole world.”

Moon glanced at Nathan with a dark face and then turned and walked the other way.

“Xavier, Yara and I will walk you home first.”

Yara grabbed both their hands excitedly.

“Let’s go!”

Nathan stayed where he was and watched the three of them happily walk away. His chest filled with sorrow.

This was the wife and child he had spent his whole life caring for in his past life.

Since they did not like him, this time, he would let them go.

Their figures grew smaller in the distance. Nathan rode his bicycle around the corner and arrived at the city hall.

“Hello, I would like to file for a divorce.”