Chapter 4

Yara’s innocent voice hit Nathan straight in the heart and drained all his strength.

Perhaps she had been thinking about him and Moon being divorced all this time.

It took him a moment to collect himself to speak up. He looked at Yara and asked, “Yara, if your mother and I separate, who would you want to live with?”

Without hesitation, Yara said, “Of course, Mom! I want Dr. Quinn to live with us too!”

The hope and excitement in her eyes cut deep. Nathan felt his eyes sting with tears.

This was the daughter he had raised with all his effort for six years. He truly had failed as a father, just as Moon had said.

Yara’s eyes sparkled. She grabbed the divorce papers from Nathan’s hands.

“Does this mean you can get a divorce once Mom signs it?”

Nathan’s throat tightened, and he could not speak. He nodded.

Yara cheered and ran to the study.

“I’m going to get Mom to sign it right now!”

Nathan forced out a bitter smile.

Did his own child want him to leave this much?

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. He got up and opened it to find Xavier standing there.

Xavier noticed Nathan’s teary eyes and asked in concern, “Nathan, what’s wrong?”

He paused for a moment, then asked carefully, “Did Moon tell you she was giving the family slot to me? Are you upset about that?

“Nathan, Moon had no choice. The island needs a doctor. You wouldn’t want her to get sick, would you?”

Even though his words were meant to comfort Nathan, the faint smugness in Xavier’s eyes revealed his true intentions.

He was clearly showing him how important he was to Moon and implying that Nathan did not matter to her.

Nathan had already decided not to follow Moon on the deployment. He no longer cared about the slot.

Hearing Xavier’s voice, Moon and Yara quickly came out of the study.

Yara ran into Xavier’s arms and hugged him tightly.

Moon smiled as she watched them.

“Yara really likes you.”

Xavier laughed and patted Yara’s head.

“I like Yara too.”

Watching the heartwarming scene, Nathan blinked. He pushed back his hurt and got ready to leave.

“I’m going to the department store to buy some things.”

He needed to pick up essentials for life in Javerton.

Before he could leave, Xavier smiled and grabbed his hand.

“Nathan, I was planning to go shopping with Moon and Yara today anyway. There’s no place to buy daily supplies on the island, so we need to get ready in advance.

“Come with us! You can help us decide what to get.”

Before he could refuse, Xavier pushed him toward the door. Nathan had no choice but to go with the three of them to the department store.

At the store, Xavier held Yara’s hand and began picking out items.

Moon stayed close behind. She never left their side. She looked like a devoted mother and wife who always kept an eye on her husband and child.

Nathan looked away and went in the opposite direction to choose the things he needed.

As he passed a newsstand, a flyer about pilot recruitment caught his eye.

He picked it up without thinking. The bold headline read: Guard the Skies, Make the Most of Your Youth.

A wave of excitement ran through him.

In this life, he had been successfully selected. He could finally make up for the regrets of his past life.

“What’re you looking at that recruitment flyer for? Are you thinking of applying?” Moon’s low voice came from behind him.

Nathan did not think much and nodded instinctively.

Moon’s face darkened. She stared at him for a long moment before speaking.

“You don’t know anything. How could you possibly be selected? I suggest not to waste your time. Stay here and wait for me to come back for you.”

Yara let out a soft snort and muttered from the side, “Dad only knows how to do laundry and cook. He has no skills at all. There’s no way he could become a pilot.

“Dr. Quinn is better. He’s a doctor who saves lives.”

Her voice was quiet, but both of them heard her clearly.

Moon glanced at her and said nothing.

Nathan looked at the two of them. Their expressions of disdain were exactly the same, and he felt a deep sadness in his chest.

Although he had met Moon through a matchmaking arrangement, he had told her before they married that his father was one of the first generation of Air Force pilots in the country. Inspired by his father, he had trained as a pilot from a young age. His physical condition was far above average.

Five years ago, he had taken part in an Air Force selection program and had been on track to pass.

But Yara was only one year old at the time. He could not bear to leave her, so he gave up the slot.

He had told them about this.

Yet none of them even remembered.

Had they ever truly cared about him?

Nathan wanted to tell them that he had successfully been selected.

But he was worried that if Moon found out, she would stop him from leaving. In the end, he held back.

“I was just looking.”

Moon felt like something was off. Nathan usually only cared about the family. When had he ever paid attention to anything about the military?

Before she could think further, Xavier called out to her. Her attention shifted to him.

Yara quickly grabbed her hand and ran toward Xavier.

Nathan forced out a bitter smile.

Once he left, they would realize that he was more than a stay-at-home dad who cooked and did laundry.