Chapter 7: Living the Easy Life

Rebecca glared at Alistair’s name on her phone screen, her irritation bubbling over. "Is Alistair really trying to play the pity card to worm his way back into my life?" she muttered, letting out a cold, mocking laugh. "Alistair, don't make me lose what little respect I have left for you. You walked away from the courthouse acting all cool and detached. What's with this pathetic act now?" The memory of his fleeting, infuriatingly attractive smile as he left sparked a fresh wave of annoyance.

Spurred by Anne's prodding, Rebecca dialed his number with deliberate nonchalance. The call connected almost instantly. Before he could speak, she pounced. “Alistair, what’s wrong with you? Who gave you permission to call me?” A brief silence followed, then Alistair’s voice, calm and steady. His voice had a unique quality—low, clear, almost magnetic. Someone once joked that Alistair could charm anyone with his voice alone. Unfortunately, he rarely spoke. Back when they were together, he was so quiet it felt like living with a mute.

“Here’s the thing,” he said evenly. “Danny’s kindergarten teacher called me. She said no one picked him up after school, and he was crying his eyes out. He didn’t want to come with me, and given my situation, it wouldn’t have been right for me to take him. So I called to let you know you need to get him.”

Anne, eavesdropping, chimed in with a snide tone, “Oh, Alistair, that’s the lamest excuse I’ve ever heard. You’re not even good at lying! Don’t you know? Danny’s real dad picked him up today. There’s no way Rick would leave his own son stranded at kindergarten. What kind of father would let his kid go through that?”

Rebecca’s brows knitted together. Her voice, sharp with anger, cut through. “Didn’t I tell you yesterday to stop dragging Danny into your games? Don’t overestimate your importance, Alistair. Pull this again, and you’ll regret it.” With that, she slammed the call to an end.

Oddly, while Rebecca seemed furious at Alistair’s supposed scheming, a strange satisfaction coursed through her. The pent-up frustration she’d been carrying found an outlet, leaving her feeling lighter, almost giddy.

Anne urged her not to let someone like Alistair get under her skin. Vivienne, however, looked thoughtful. “Maybe you should call Richard to double-check.” Anne’s jaw dropped. “Vivienne, are you serious? You’re siding with Alistair over Rick? You’re hopeless!” Vivienne stood her ground. “This isn’t about picking sides. It’s about Danny. A quick call can clear things up. Better to be safe than sorry.”

Whether it was Vivienne’s logic or Rebecca’s desire to expose Alistair’s lies, she dialed Richard’s number. “Hey, babe, miss me already?” Richard’s warm, velvety voice came through, prompting a teasing giggle from Anne at their obvious closeness. Rebecca playfully scolded him, “Behave, my friends are right here. How’s Danny doing? Is he being good?” A strange silence hung on the line. After a beat, Richard asked, “Did you pick up Danny?”

Rebecca’s mind went blank, a buzz ringing in her ears. “Weren’t you supposed to get him?” she said, her voice rising. “Didn’t you say you wanted to bond with him, build that father-son thing? You… you didn’t go?”

Richard’s tone turned sheepish. “I’m so sorry, Rebecca. I got swamped today and completely forgot. Where’s Danny now? He’s not still at the kindergarten, is he? Look, you go grab him, and I’ll make it up to him when I get home, I swear.”

Rebecca was speechless. She’d wanted to prove Vivienne wrong, but instead, she’d proven herself mistaken. As Rebecca rushed toward the kindergarten, Vivienne watched her go, shaking her head with a sigh. Rebecca used to glide through life with effortless poise. Even after having Daniel, she lived like a carefree girl, untouched by mundane worries. Alistair had been gone less than a day, and her world was already unraveling. Vivienne silently hoped Rebecca wouldn’t come to regret her choices.

While Rebecca raced to retrieve her son, Alistair was comfortably lounging on a sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window, playing with the latest, most expensive smartphones on the market. Rebecca had always kept him on a tight leash, claiming gadgets would distract him. She’d given him a clunky old phone that could barely handle calls and texts. In an era of digital payments, she insisted on handing him cash, meticulously tracking every penny. He had to log every expense, and she’d pore over his records. Over the years, Alistair had filled dozens of notebooks just keeping accounts. He’d been cut off from the world for too long, and he needed to catch up. However, Alistair had suddenly stumbled into a life of luxury, coasting on someone else’s dime. The sleek phone in his hand was a gift from Caroline. The presidential suite he was relaxing in was also booked by Caroline.

As Rebecca finally reached Daniel, whose voice was hoarse from crying, Alistair was casually skimming news headlines. Rebecca scooped up her son, soothing him as they headed home. When Richard apologized profusely, she brushed it off with understanding. “Don’t beat yourself up. It’s normal. You’re still adjusting to fatherhood.”

Exhausted from a day of shopping, all she wanted was a good meal and a long soak in a bubble bath to melt away her fatigue. But when she glanced at the dining table, it was bare. The kitchen showed no signs of use. This never would have happened before.

Richard, ever attentive, massaged her shoulders and guided her to the table. “Dinner’s coming right up. Just hang tight for a bit.” Rebecca’s hopes lifted. Richard had always bragged about his cooking. He said he’d picked it up during his six years abroad to take care of himself. She believed his breakfast flop was just overeagerness, nerves perhaps. Maybe he was saving his real skills for tonight. Curious about what he’d whip up for dinner, she wondered if he’d staged the untouched kitchen for a surprise. The doorbell rang. Richard darted to answer it, and soon, the table was laden with an array of dishes. He sat across from her, his smile warm. “Dig in!”

Rebecca stared at the spread, disbelief creeping in. “This is dinner?” She couldn’t believe it. Richard had ordered takeout. Even if it was from a five-star restaurant, it was still takeout. A wave of disappointment washed over her, snuffing out her appetite. Daniel, unusually cooperative, dug in without complaint. His earlier meltdown had left him ravenous. Richard thoughtfully passed the shrimp to Rebecca and Daniel.

Daniel took one bite and spat it out. “Gross! It’s nowhere near as good as Dad’s!” His words plunged the room into an awkward silence. Oblivious to the tension, the five-year-old kept complaining, “This is awful. I want Dad’s shrimp. Mom, I want Dad’s shrimp!”

Rebecca shot a quick glance at Richard, relieved to see he seemed unfazed. Turning to Daniel, she snapped, “What did I tell you? Mr. Morgan is your dad. Your real dad. Got it?” Daniel, spoiled and used to getting his way, had never been scolded like that. He didn’t think he’d said anything wrong. Staring at his mother’s fierce expression, he let out a wail and burst into tears.

Richard tried to calm him, gently chiding Rebecca. “Come on, he’s just a kid. No need to get worked up. He’s young. Give it time, and he’ll know who his real family is.” Rebecca instantly regretted her outburst. Years ago, she and Richard had dated in secret, and she’d gotten pregnant with Daniel. He’d begged her to terminate it, saying it would ruin their future. But she had refused. When they broke up and he left for school abroad, Rebecca faced immense pressure but stubbornly brought Daniel into the world.

Daniel wasn’t just her flesh and blood. He was the unbreakable bond between her and Richard. She cherished him fiercely and, until today, had never raised her voice at him. She pulled out every trick in the book to coax him back into a good mood. Only after he finally calmed down did she allow herself to slip away for her long-awaited bath. She undressed, stood in front of the tub, and froze. It was empty. For six years, Alistair had always drawn her bath in advance. By the time she finally sank into the warm water, ready to savor a moment of peace, Daniel’s cries echoed through the bathroom door.