Chapter 141 IgnoredThe moment Eloise's feet touched the ground, she clutched two of Alistair'sfingers with her chubby little hands, not because she didn't want to hold more, but because her tiny hands could onlymanage two.Her grip was firm and urgent as she whispered, "Daddy, we need to hide! I'm not scared of him, I just don't want him to come over and steal you again! Hurry, Daddy, find a hiding spot!"Alistair couldn't help smiling. The urgency in her eyes, the sweat on her brow... it was both funny and heartbreaking.Is she really that scared of losing me?Eloise was tugging him toward the crowd, whispering fiercely,"Mommy's not here, so I have to watch you. If some other kidtakes you, I won't have a daddy anymore, and Mommy won't have a husband either. That's a huge problem. A really, really hugeproblem!"Alistair's chest tightened.God, I love this kid.How could he make her understand that he wasn't going anywhere? That she never had to worry about being replaced?21:55Chapter 141 IgnoredHe must not have made her feel as safe as he thought.14 min leftSeeing her scanning the crowd frantically for a hiding place, Alistair gently stopped her and crouched down to her level. "Don't be scared, Eloise," he said softly. "As long as I don't want to leave, no one can take me away."Just as he finished speaking, a voice called out behind them, "Alistair?"Richard had just bought Daniel a robotic puppy from a toy store. When he noticed the boy staring fixedly in a certain direction, he followed his gaze and saw someone he never expected to run into. A familiar figure, one that made his stomach twist.Turning to Rebecca, who still looked completely out of it, heasked, "Danny, do you miss your old dad?"Daniel clutched the toy in his arms, his expression tense. After a long pause, something like hatred crossed his face. "I don't misshim. He didn't want me. Now he's someone else's daddy. I hatehim."Richard grinned.Good boy. Seems he has taken my lessons to heart.21:55Chapter 141 Ignored14 min leftThen, for reasons even he couldn't explain, Richard raised his voice and called out, "Alistair!"Rebecca flinched like she'd been shocked. The second she heardthat name, her body jerked upright. She immediately scanned thestreet and locked eyes on him.There were plenty of people around, and Alistair wasn't the tallest man in thecrowd. But something about him made him stand outlike a beacon. Rebecca's eyes found him with ease.There he was, Alistair, holding a little girl in his arms, looking backin her direction.The moment their eyes met, Rebecca was filled with a panicked sense of shame. She looked down at herself. No makeup, casual clothes, a complete mess. She looked awful.He can't see me like this.Even though she knew Alistair despised her so much that he wouldn't look twiceat her even if she were radiant, her pride still screamed in protest. She didn't want to be seen like this. Not byhim.Alistair spotted the trio across the way and felt a twinge of surprise. The city wasn't exactly small, but running into familiar faces in a crowd was more common than people liked to think.21:55Chapter 141 IgnoredWhat surprised him more wasn't that he saw Rebecca.It was that she was walking with Richard.noveldramaRebecca realized it too, and panic flashed across her face. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, explain something... but nothing came out.Who is he to me anymore?14 min leftShe had no right to explain herself. Alistair didn't care. He wasn't trapped in the past like she was. He wasn't haunted by six years of marriage, wasn't desperate for even a shred of what they oncehad.He had a wife, a daughter, and a life. And she? She'd only just realized that the future she'd dreamed of, one with redemption, hope, and second chances, was just a fantasy. A cruel illusion. She was still shackled by the past, drowning in regret and sleepless nights.Rebecca stood frozen as Richard led Daniel toward Alistair. Her brain was spinning. She knew she looked like a wreck, but her feet moved forward anyway. Maybe... maybe I just wanted to see him. Just once.21:55Chapter 141 Ignored14 min leftAlistair watched the three of them approach. He felt the little girl inhis arms tense up like a cornered animal.Eloise clung to him, face set in a serious frown, like a tiny pink-eared warrior guarding her territory. Her eyes scanned Richard, Rebecca, and finally landed on Daniel.Daniel scowled at her. The two children locked eyes, silent but clearly engaged in some invisible contest of wills. It didn't lastlong. Daniel's expression cracked first.His scowl faded. His eyes dropped. He looked up at Alistair, lips pressed together,and for a moment, there was no hatred in hisface, only confusion and longing. The quiet, aching gaze of a childstill searching for warmth.He didn't understand what had happened. Why Alistair, his dad,had suddenly become someone else's dad. Why he didn't comehome anymore. Why he didn't walk him to preschool or pick him up like he usedto.After Alistair was gone, Richard started hitting him. Nathaniel wasmean. Cordelia barely looked at him. Even Rebecca had changed,yelling and hitting, always angry.Only Alistair had ever been kind. He didn't want Rebeccaanymore. He didn't want Richard either. He just wanted Alistairback.Chapter 141 IgnoredBut Alistair had a new family now.14 min leftDaniel's eyes welled up, but he held it in. If he cried, Richard wouldhit him. Rebecca might, too.Beside him, Rebecca fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, hernerves fraying.There was a part of her that was relieved Alistair hadn't looked ather. But another part, the foolish, broken part, felt crushed that hehadn't even spared her a glance.I ruined his life! Why can't he just scream at me? Demandanswers? Curse me for what I did? Anything would hurt less than this silent indifference... anything.Richard watched Alistair with a complicated expression. He looked too good... too put together.Just a dog bought for two million. That's what you were. A slave for six years. So why the hell do you get to walk around with aperfect little family now? That's not fair.With a thin smile, Richard sneered. "Who's the kid? You really like raising other people's children, huh?"Before Alistair could respond, Eloise's voice rang out, loud and clear. "I'm not other people's kid! I'm Daddy's little bunny!"