My Coldhearted Husband’s Regret

"Dad." Sabrina spoke up, her voice carrying complete confidence. "Mom doesn't understand basketball, but Dad is amazing at it."

Veronica actually possessed decent basketball skills from her college days. Yet she chose silence over correction.

Sabrina had already decided the matter. Veronica simply nodded toward Cullen. "You handle this."

Cullen accepted with a slight nod. "Fine by me."

The afternoon heat pressed down on them relentlessly. The temperature had climbed to an uncomfortable level.

Cullen peeled off his expensive black blazer and extended it toward her. "Mind holding this?"

Veronica studied the garment for a moment before taking it. Instead of cradling it carefully, she deposited it onto the nearby grass.

His eyebrow lifted at her casual treatment of his clothing, though he remained silent.

Just as the competition was about to begin, he caught her attention with an unexpected instruction. "While you're filming, make sure you move with us. Don't plant yourself in one spot like a statue."

"Understood," Veronica responded curtly.

The Orr Transportation Challenge demanded coordination between parent and child. One person would grip a rope loop and pull forward while their partner dribbled a basketball within the loop's boundaries.

At the halfway mark, roles switched. The child became the guide while the parent handled the ball. The basketball had to remain inside the loop's perimeter throughout the entire course.

Veronica had previously taken Sabrina to basketball and volleyball sessions. During those earlier attempts, Sabrina had shown minimal enthusiasm. Perhaps her age had been a factor, or maybe the experiences had simply faded from memory.

Now something had changed dramatically. Whether through school instruction or Cullen's personal coaching, Sabrina displayed remarkable dribbling technique when the whistle sounded.

Cullen pulled the rope backward with measured precision, his movements synchronized flawlessly with her bouncing rhythm.

The first leg concluded without any complications. Their return journey proved even more seamless.

Sabrina hadn't exaggerated Cullen's basketball abilities. Her assessment had been completely accurate.

The ball danced between his palms with effortless control. His shirtsleeves were pushed up casually, revealing strong forearms as he maintained perfect coordination with Sabrina's smaller steps.

Several onlookers gathered around their course, murmuring appreciative comments. "Look at that technique."

Veronica maintained steady focus through her phone's camera lens.

However, as Cullen continued his skilled dribbling, an unwelcome memory surfaced from the depths of her mind. She recalled watching him dominate their university's basketball court years earlier.

Just months ago, whenever these memories had emerged, his younger face and athletic form had appeared with startling clarity in her thoughts.

Yet now, observing the current version of Cullen—taller, more self-assured, and undeniably more attractive than his college self—those old recollections seemed to lose their sharp edges.

Cullen and Sabrina claimed first place without surprise.

Sabrina bounced on her toes with pure elation, her grin stretching from ear to ear.

Cullen smiled broadly and scooped her up into his strong arms with obvious pride.

Veronica captured their celebration through her phone screen. She recognized that Sabrina was likely experiencing the peak of happiness among all the children at school today.

Simultaneously, another thought crept into her consciousness. If Niall had been standing here beside them instead of herself, Sabrina's joy might have reached even greater heights.

Several other parents approached Cullen to initiate conversations. He exchanged handshakes and engaged in friendly dialogue about the competition.

During this social interaction, Casey positioned herself next to Veronica.

Observing that the games were winding down and Veronica had completed her recording duties, Casey offered her perspective. "Your daughter shares an incredible connection with her father."

"That's true," Veronica agreed simply.

The bond between them was genuinely powerful, and logic suggested it would only strengthen with time.

What Casey kept to herself was her observation that children typically didn't favor one parent so dramatically over the other. Such pronounced preference was quite unusual.

However, she couldn't deny the obvious truth before her eyes. Veronica's husband demonstrated exceptional devotion to their daughter's happiness and development.

Cullen's laughter carried across the playground as he continued engaging with other fathers, Sabrina still perched contentedly in his arms. The scene painted a picture of domestic perfection that seemed almost too polished to be entirely genuine.

Veronica lowered her phone and watched them from her distance, feeling like an observer rather than a participant in this family tableau.