The CEO's Amazing Ex-Wife Is Back! by H. Dally

Chapter 219 Chapter 219

Kris's steps felt heavier with each one he took up the stairs to Tessa's room. His heart pounded painfully in his chest.

What was he supposed to feel when he saw her now? What would he say? He didn't even know if he could face her, not after what he had just learned.

Memories started flooding back. Holding Tessa in his arms for the first time-so small, so fragile, and so full of life. He could still remember the sound of her first cry. It had been one of the sweetest sounds he'd ever heard.

Then, there was her first smile, lighting up her face and making his heart soar. Her first steps, wobbly but determined, with him right there to catch her when she fell. And the first time she called him "daddy"—a moment he thought would stay with him forever, but now it felt like a cruel joke.

His chest tightened, the knife twisting deeper with each memory. She wasn't his. None of those milestones were truly his.

When he reached Tessa's door, he stopped. His hand hovered over the doorknob, trembling, before he finally mustered the courage to open the door.

Tessa was on the floor drawing something. Her second favourite thing to do aside playing Lego. He had loved watching her draw, loved how her little fingers gripped the pencil as if the entire world depended on what she was making.

"Kris," Boatemaa said with a smile when she noticed him. "It's good to see you."

Tessa looked up, her face lighting up at the sight of him. She dropped the pencil she was holding and ran straight toward him, her arms open wide.

"Daddy!"

in the gut. His legs almost buckled beneath him as he crouched to let her hug

little chirped, her voice full of innocence. She had no idea. No

struggling to keep his voice steady. "I missed

her on the forehead, the familiar warmth of

grabbed his hand, tugging at it with

sat down beside

the little girl in the middle. Then she looked at him with her bright eyes. "And

He stared at the drawing, unable to speak for a moment. She'd twisted the knife even

like it?" Tessa asked, her

barely holding himself together. If

her do this or that but how

Kris couldn't focus on

only stare at her, at the way her eyes sparkled when

at the

was

she wasn't his. Not really. She

on his sleeve, snapping him out of his

forced a smile. "I'm sorry, sweetheart," he said, ruffling her hair. "I'm listening now." Tessa looked at him with those big, innocent eyes, her brows furrowed in confusion. "Daddy... are

head, forcing his voice to sound light. "No, of course not. I

closer, her little hands on