The sound of Isaac calling out “Daddy” surprised Jason so much that he spilled the soup he was


    holding. His ears turned a shade of crimson the next second. After all his years, that was the first time


    anyone had ever called him ‘Dad.’


    Staring at Isaac, Jason was at a loss for words for a good long while.


    Estre couldn’t help but chuckle at Jason’s startled look and said to Isaac, “Hey kiddo, don’t go


    throwing that word around. You’ll give him a heart attack.” She then turned to Jason, “Don’t mind him.


    My boy’s like that. If he takes a shine to someone, he’s quick to call them ‘Dad.”


    Jason was bbergasted. Estre’s words reminded him of how just yesterday, Isaac was calling Jesse


    ‘Dad.’


    He gave Estre a look that reeked of judgment and muttered, “He’s starved for affection.” Estre


    sipped her soup nonchntly,. “What can I do? It’s not like I can morph into a dude.”


    At a loss for aeback, Jason just stared at her for a while before continuing to feed Isaac his


    breakfast.


    Isaac watched the banter between them, quietly munching on his food without making a peep, not


    wanting to interrupt their exchange.


    -Mr. Jason, Ms. Estre did have a boyfriend overseas, but sadly he passed away in a car ident not


    long after.


    Remembering what Drew had reported, and the possibility that Isaac might be the child of another


    man, Jason felt a pang in his heart. The man was gone, yet she chose to bring the child into the world.


    That kind of devotion was unmatched.


    Jason fed Isaac a piece of chicken and turned to Estre, asking with a softer tone, “You really liked


    that guy so much that you’d have his kid even after he was gone?”


    Then looking back at Isaac, Jason felt his question might havecked empathy. The kid looked so


    much like Estre.


    Estre smiled, “Yeah, I suppose. Plus, you know I can be a bit superstitious and stubborn when it


    comes to kids.” If it hadn’t been for those fortune-tellers, she might not have


    married him.


    Though she spoke tough, deep down Estre knew it clear as day: she had married Jason because of


    a longstanding affection, their history, and her feelings for him that hadn’tpletely worn off at the


    time.


    It was through the disappointments piled up over the years of their marriage that they had


    08-28


    reached this point.


    After Estre finished speaking, Jason didn’t say anything more, just gently wiped Isaac’s mouth with a


    napkin.


    Estre remarked, surprised by Jason’s attentiveness, “Never thought you’d be good with kids.” If she


    remembered correctly, Jason never really liked kids, and he was never the type to hold someone else’s


    baby.


    She recalled a New Year’s party at his ce where a rtive’s child had taken a liking to him. When


    the kid had lunged for Jason, he had instinctively dodged, and the kid ended up on the floor. And


    Jason? Not a hint of remorse, didn’t even help the kid up-just skedaddled like he was avoiding the


    gue. That year, he was 22.


    To Estre’s words, Jason simply replied, “Because he’s your kid.” And because Isaac looked like her.


    With that, Estre fell silent. ·


    While Jason continued to feed Isaac and wiped his little face, there was no additional chatter. He


    wasn’t like Bryce or Jesse, who had a way with kids. He was more like a robot without feelings, just


    helping Estre out with a chore.


    As the quiet settled in, the hospital room door swung open again, and a nurse popped her head in, “Ms.


    Estre, once you’re done with breakfast,e by for a follow-up.”


    “Got it,” Estre replied.


    Soon after she finished her meal, Estre left for her check-up, instructing Jason, “If you’re not too


    busy, can you keep an eye on Isaac for me? Jesse should be here soon.”


    “Alright, I’m free,” Jason responded.


    With Estre gone for her check-up, Jason and Isaac were left alone in the room. As Jason began to


    clear the table, Isaac, eager to help, tossed out the trash and handed him


    the utensils.


    Jason couldn’t help but smile at Isaac’s helpfulness-the kid was adorable, just like


    Estre as a child.


    Once they had finished tidying up, Isaac cuddled up with his unfinished ss of milk and started


    sipping again with utmost seriousness


    Jason was impressed; the kid had an appetite as big as Estre’s.


    Sitting down beside Isaac, Jason received a pat on the arm from the little guy, “Cool.” Isaac was


    commending Jason on how great he was at helping Estre.


    With augh, Jason said, “You’re just like your mom.””


    After the chuckle, Jason grew a bit mncholic. Picking up a freshly brewed cup of


    08:38


    coffee, he mused, “If not for all the twists of fate, you’d probably be my son.”


    Though young, Isaac seemed to grasp Jason’s somber mood instantly. With a concerned little frown,


    Isaac patted Jason’s back, as if to say, ‘Don’t sweat it, think positive.’


    Jason turned to watch the boy, so young and yet acting beyond his years. Did Isaac really understand


    what was being said?


    Meeting Isaac’s gaze, the boy reassured him, “Uncle cool, Uncle…” He stuttered a bit, then continued,


    “Not sad.”


    After the meal, it was back to ‘Uncle,’ not ‘Dad.’ This little guy was a spitting image of Estre, an


    upgraded version if anything.


    As their eyes met, Jason studied Isaac intently, trying to find a trace of himself, but all he could see was


    Estre.


    After a moment of silence, Jason calmly asked, “Isaac, right?”


    Isaac nodded emphatically.


    Jason proposed, “Let’s make a deal. From now on, you only call me ‘Dad,’ and whatever you want, I’ll


    give you.”


    Isaac’s eyes sparkled at the offer, and he shouted with enthusiasm, “Daddy!”


    Isaac’s loud promation made Jason a bit bashful as he adjusted his shirt cor. He meant to


    respond, but his throat felt like it was sealed with cement, and he couldn’t utter a word. So, he just


    ruffled Isaac’s hair as a sign of acknowledgment.


    Isaac’s grin in response to Jason’s gentleness was infectious. At first, Isaac couldn’t quite understand


    his own feelings. When Isaac had firstid eyes on this man, he’d felt a skittish kind of fear. Yet, despite


    that, he found himself inexplicably drawn to Jason.


    Later on, Jason engaged Isaac in conversation as if he were a grown-up, and that seemed to bridge


    the gap between them even further.


    Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    So when Estre came back from her rounds, she was taken aback to find Isaae-giggling away in her


    hospital room, with Jason coolly andfortably keeping himpany. Estre had half-expected that


    the two wouldn’t mesh well, so the current scene of camaraderie threw her for a loop. She hadn’t


    anticipated that Jason would be able to coax such joyousughter from Isaac.


    “Isaac, what’s got you so tickled?” Estre asked with a blend of curiosity and


    amusement.


    Quick as a sh, Isaac hid whatever he was holding behind his back and shook his head at Estre, a


    mischievous glint shing in his eyes.