The Dad He Didn't Have To Be

Just before the new school term started, my daughter's parent group chat, which had been quiet for ages, suddenly announced that the first parent-teacher meeting of the semester would be held that night. The rule was: both parents had to attend. A long string of "Got it" followed. I was about to reply when I noticed someone had beaten me to it. A guy with a family photo as his profile picture sent a voice message. "I'm Emma Sullivan's dad. We'll be there!" I froze. I clicked into the member list and checked repeatedly. My daughter's name was Emma Sullivan. He said he was Emma's dad. Then who the hell was I? I immediately called my wife. Before I could say a word, I heard her cheerful voice. "Honey, my best friend just asked me to dinner tonight. I'm bringing our daughter. Just make something at home yourself, and get some sleep early." My heart skipped a beat. Her best friend's husband was my good friend. He had just posted a family vacation photo from the Maldives on his social media. There was no way she was meeting her for dinner that night. I paused for a second, then smiled and said, "Sounds good." I hung up, called a car, and headed straight to my daughter's school. Let's find out exactly who my daughter's other father was.

My name is Chase Murphy. I've been married to Jessica Stanton for three years. After she tells me that she's infertile, she brings home two children from an orphanage. I raise them as my own, investing everything I have into their lives. But in return, they push me down the stairs without a second thought. "Now our real dad can finally be with Mom." In that split second, the truth crashes down on me. These aren't just any children—they belong to Jessica and her first love, Troy McPoland. When I open my eyes again, I find myself transported back to the day Jessica first introduces the children into our lives. This time, I'm done being the fool raising someone else's family.

I stood between both of them masking my son from his gorgeous daddy but my stubborn son cocked his head and gave his dad a very beautiful sunburnt smile. I couldn't help but chuckle my baby is too cute. "Mommy, is this Daddy?" Oh my God! I looked behind us at Jale who was only a few steps away from us. I bet he clearly heard what my son had just asked me. The was he was looking at me with curiousty, I knew he wanted an answer to that question too. Who am I even kidding from his viking gold hair, brown chocolate eyes, his fair skin, to proud attitude. Everything he was was the same thing my boy was. Chase was a true young version of his daddy but I would never let him know that. I crouched down in front of my angel and kissed his forehead before answering his question. My eyes shot up at Jale again who pretended like he was looking at something on his phone yet his phone's screen was blank then. After making sure he had his attention to us, I cupped my baby's cheeks and made him look into my eyes. "No honey, this man is not your daddy but uncle. He is uncle Jale." I could see Jale's face fall from the sides of my face. Suck a jerk! What did he expect that I was going to say Chase is his son. That is something I would never do in my life. I would never let Jale into my son's life. I will never let him know he is my baby's daddy because he doesn't deserve my little boy at all. He doesn't deserve us after all the horrible things he did to me five years ago.

My boyfriend's childhood friend got knocked up. To save her rep, Quentin Palmer married her. When I asked what that meant for me—and our baby—he stayed ice-calm. "Rainee's not like you. I'm all she's got. She wouldn't survive the gossip." Like I had anyone else? Like I wasn't carrying his baby too? Later, while people laughed behind my back about the "fatherless" kid I was having, Quentin just stood there—next to Rainee, silent. That's when it hit me—love comes with a pecking order. So I ended the pregnancy. Gave up my baby... all so he could play the hero for her.

My husband has azoospermia. After trying all the options available, I finally conceived. However, my husband is worried my child will hurt his first love's feelings—she had a miscarriage. He tricks me into going for a prenatal checkup. In truth, he conspires with a doctor to induce labor when I'm only five months along. He says, "You must be the one with the problem. Why else is it so hard for us to have children? The baby won't be healthy even if it's born! We can have more children when you're healthier. Julie has just had a miscarriage; I don't want to aggravate her." He doesn't know he has azoospermia. I only managed to conceive this child after trying out IVF countless times and taking countless folk remedies. He will never have a child of his own in this lifetime, and I discover his true colors. I ask for a divorce, and that's when he loses his mind.

Ito ay isang perpektong plano. Hanggang sa ang pekeng narararamdaman niya ay nagsisimula ng maging totoo... The last thing on Tyler's mind is romance. Sa pagitan ng pagiging isang solong ama at pamamahala sa kanyang matagumpay na karera sa pagsusulat, mayroon siyang higit sa sapat sa kanyang plano. Ngunit nang magpasya ang kanyang ex na labanan siya para sa kustodiya ng kanilang anak, alam niyang kailangan niyang ipakita sa hukom na siya ay isang solidong tao sa pamilya. Ang kakailanganin niya ay isang pekeng kasintahan, Ngunit hindi niya alam kung saan siya makakahanap ng isang babaeng handang magpanggap bilang kanyang asawa sa lalong madaling panahon. Ang pagkumbinsi sa kanya na tumulong ay hindi isang problema. Hindi na niya pinapansin kung paano niya papakinggang ang napakabilis na tibok ng puso niya para rito. Ngayon ito na ay isang problema. Ang gusto lang ni Ellie Diaz ay isang trabaho sa pagtuturo sa prestihiyosong paaralan ng Lincoln Academy, ngunit ang pagkuha sa kanila na isaalang-alang ang kanyang aplikasyon ay isang hamon. Ang magtrabaho dito bilang isang guro ay matagal niya ng minimithi. Pagkatapos ay nalaman niyang may mga koneksyon si Tyler doon—at handa siyang gamitin ang mga ito kapalit ng isang maliit na maliit na pabor. Ang kailangan lang niyang gawin ay mula sa pagiging yaya ng kanyang anak hanggang sa pekeng kasintahan ni Tyler ...at kahit papaano ay magpanggap na hindi siya naaakit sa kanya. Kung magiging maayos ang lahat, mapapatunayan ni Tyler sa hukom na magdedesisyon sa kaso ng kustodiya ng kanyang anak na siya ay isang solidong tao sa isang pamilya, at makukuha naman ni Ellie ang kaniyang tiket sa pangarap niyang trabaho. Ano ang posibleng maging mali? Ano ang gagawin mo kapag ang linya sa pagitan ng reyalidad at pantasya ay lumabo?