The meal was warm and cozy. For the first time in a long while, Dan wasn’t eating alone in a quiet apartment.
Lily stayed close to him throughout the meal. "Daddy, I want another chiqcken wing."
Dan handed one to her. "Here."
"Thank you!"
A few minutes later...
"Daddy, another one."
Dan stared at her. "Didn’t you just eat one?"
Lily nodded. "Yes."
"Then why do you need another?"
"Because they’re yummy."
"Fair enough." Dan laughed. He gave her another smiling as Sophie watched the interaction with a smile.
The scene was simple. Almost ordinary. Yet to her, it felt precious.
For years, she had imagined what it would be like for Lily to have a father.
Now, somehow, the three of them were sitting together at the same table.
Eating dinner, laughing and talking. Just like a normal family. Sophie quietly looked at Dan entranced by the view, her heart felt warm.
Maybe this was the beginning of something new.
...
After dinner, Sophie quickly gathered the plates and carried them into the kitchen.
Dan remained on the sofa.
Lily had completely worn herself out after all the excitement.
At some point, she had climbed onto his lap and fallen asleep.
Dan looked down. Her breathing was slow and even. Her small body rested comfortably against his chest.
A faint, sweet scent lingered in her hair.
Dan gently adjusted her position so she would be more comfortable.
He didn’t want to wake her. For a moment, he simply sat there.
Looking at his daughter. His heart felt strangely peaceful.
"Lily’s asleep." His voice was quiet.
Sophie stepped out of the kitchen. She stopped when she saw the scene.
Dan’s tall frame was sunk into the sofa, his expression unusually gentle as he looked down at the little girl sleeping peacefully in his arms.
Sophie couldn’t help smiling. "Yeah."
She walked closer. "She was already getting sleepy after playing with her blocks before we woke her up. She was bound to fall asleep again."
Sophie crouched beside them. "She must be really happy."
Her gaze softened. "She has a smile on her face."
Dan looked down at Lily. He noticed it too. A tiny smile rested on his daughter’s lips even in sleep.
Something tightened gently inside his chest.
He carefully stroked her hair. "I think she is."
Sophie carefully lifted Lily from his arms. "I’ll put her to bed."
Dan watched as Sophie carried their daughter toward the bedroom.
For some reason, the sight felt incredibly peaceful. A mother carrying her sleeping child. A warm home.
The lights were finally working. Dinner had been shared.
For the first time, Dan felt like he wasn’t simply visiting someone else’s home.
He belonged here. At least for tonight. Dan considered going back to his own apartment.
But then he looked toward Lily’s bedroom. Then toward Sophie. They were family now.
There was no reason for him to leave simply because the night had grown late.
He decided to stay.
...
Later, Dan stepped outside for a moment and gazed into the endless night.
The world looked peaceful. Almost deceptively peaceful.
He took a long breath. Despite everything that had happened, he couldn’t help feeling a little glad about the way things had turned out.
He had a daughter. A wife. A family.
And now he had something worth protecting.
Dan slowly smiled. ’Things really have changed.’
...
But just as he was about to return inside and focus on what needed to be done—
BZZT. BZZT.
His phone suddenly vibrated. Dan glanced at the screen.
[Manager Grant]
His expression immediately darkened, he would’ve cancelled the call but he swiped to answer.
Before he could even say a word, a torrent of abuse came crashing through the phone.
"Dan! What the hell are you doing?! Where’s the report I told you to submit?! It’s still not in my inbox!"
"Do you even want this job anymore?!"
Manager Grant’s shrill voice was enough to make Dan’s ears hurt.
"I’m telling you, if that report isn’t on my desk before work tomorrow morning, you can pack your things and get out!"
"Did you hear me?!"
Dan remained silent. His expression gradually became colder.
He was a construction worker. His actual job was working on construction sites.
The company didn’t hire him as an office clerk or administrative assistant.
Yet Manager Grant had repeatedly dumped paperwork on him as though Dan had nothing better to do.
In the past, Dan would have apologized.
He would have stayed up late after an exhausting day of construction work just to finish some ridiculous report that wasn’t even part of his actual job.
But now... Why should he put up with this nonsense?
The Apocalypse was coming. He had a family to protect. And this man was worried about some damn report.
A cold, mocking smile slowly appeared on Dan’s face.
He was just about to respond when.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The call ended, Manager Grant had hung up.
Dan stared at the dark screen for several seconds.
Then he slowly smiled. ’Very good.’
’Now I won’t even have to bother writing a resignation letter.’
He slipped the phone back into his pocket. ’One less problem to deal with.’
Dan turned and walked back inside.
...
He had barely stepped into the living room when—
<Ding!>
A familiar notification appeared before his eyes.
[The Ultimate Family has successfully overcome its first major emotional obstacle.]
Dan stared at the panel. "...Seriously?"
Another notification appeared.
[Host’s Family Bond has strengthened.]
[Reward calculation in progress...]
Dan’s eyebrows rose. ’Reward?’
For a moment, he forgot about Manager Grant entirely.
He waited. The system remained silent for several seconds.
Then—
[Ding!]
[Family Bond Reward has been prepared.]
Dan’s tired expression immediately changed. A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Now we’re talking."