Chapter 2

Toby was still crying.

My mom wrapped her arms around his shoulders, trying to comfort him.

"Your mother is gone. She abandoned you!"

"But even if she doesn't want you, your grandparents do."

"Come on, sweetie, Grandma will take you to get some snacks."

I grabbed my mom's hand, stopping her.

"Mom, Toby isn't my son."

My mom's hand froze mid-air.

My dad, who had been sitting in the corner silently smoking, froze too.

Both of them turned to look at me, their eyes filled with utter disbelief.

My mom's lips trembled. "W-what did you say?"

I repeated, "I said Toby isn't my son."

"He's not mine."

"The only reason I divorced Chloe was because she cuckolded me."

Toby froze too.

A ten-year-old kid

is old enough to understand what "not my biological son" means.

He looked up at me,

his eyes a mix of confusion and disbelief.

My mom immediately let go of Toby.

"This..."

"How... how could this happen?" my mom stammered.

"You raised him for ten years. How could he not be yours?"

"Is there some kind of mistake?"

"What mistake could there be? I did a paternity test, and Chloe admitted it."

My mom's eyes instantly welled with tears.

"How could she be so shameless? How could she do this to us!"

Muttering to herself, my mom walked back into her room.

My dad's face was as dark as thunder.

He gave Toby one long, deep look.

Without saying a single word, he went into his room too.

Toby stood in front of me, looking incredibly awkward and lost.

He softly called out, "Dad."

I cut him off. "I'm not your dad."

His lip trembled as he tried to cry, but I didn't give him the chance.

"Do you have your mom's number?" I asked.

Toby didn't understand what I was trying to do.

I asked again, "Do you have her number? I'm calling her to pick you up."

Toby lowered his head, his tears splashing onto the floor.

He shook his head.

I said, "Fine, then I'll call the cops."

I pulled out my phone, dialed the police, and explained the situation.

I expected the police to help me find Chloe.

But after the officer heard the story,

and looked at Toby's red, teary eyes,

he suddenly said, "Well, since his mother abandoned him, why don't you just keep raising him?"

"Even if he isn't yours biologically, you've raised him for ten years. There must be some bond there."

I was flabbergasted. "Officer, I'm not his father."

The officer replied, "He's called you 'Dad' for ten years. He can keep calling you that."

"If you pay to raise him, there's no way he won't take care of you when you're older."

Oh, he absolutely would.

I asked, "Can I drop him off at an orphanage?"

The officer fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

I said, "Fine. I'm taking him to the orphanage."