She’s With Me — Single Dad Spoke Calmly, The Billionaire Heiress Stood Frozen at the Table
Chapter 11
Emma kept her distance after the trial began.
Daniel noticed.
Lily noticed too.
“Did Emma leave because of Victoria?”
Daniel nearly dropped the spoon in his hand.
“No.”
“Then why doesn’t she come anymore?”
“Things are complicated.”
Lily frowned.
“Adults say that when they don’t want to answer.”
Daniel laughed.
His daughter had inherited Rebecca’s honesty.
The next morning, he went to the bakery.
Emma was arranging bread.
“You disappeared.”
“You’ve been busy.”
“With Victoria?”
Daniel sighed.
“There it is.”
Emma looked away.
Daniel came around the counter.
“You think I’m going back to her.”
“I think she loved you.”
“She did.”
Emma nodded.
“And?”
“And I loved her.”
Emma’s eyes filled.
Daniel continued.
“But that was before ten years of life happened to both of us.”
She looked at him.
“You don’t still love her?”
Daniel was quiet.
Then he answered honestly.
“Not in the way I once did.”
Emma swallowed.
“And me?”
Daniel smiled faintly.
“With you, I don’t feel like I’m fighting the past.”
He reached for her hand.
“With you, Lily and I feel like we’re allowed to have a future.”
Emma looked down.
“Daniel…”
He squeezed her fingers.
“I am not asking you to save us.”
“Good.”
“I am asking if you’ll stay.”
Emma smiled.
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“Are you still going to make terrible decisions without telling me?”
Daniel thought for a moment.
“Yes.”
Emma pulled her hand away.
“Daniel.”
He laughed.
Then he became serious.
“I’ll try.”
“That is not a very romantic promise.”
“It is the best one I can make.”
She kissed him.
Behind them, Lily pressed her face against the bakery window.
“I KNEW IT!”
Emma and Daniel jumped apart.
Daniel groaned.
His daughter waved.
Victoria, standing beside her, burst into laughter.
