My Coldhearted Husband’s Regret

"Miss, care for some chocolate-dipped strawberries?"

Veronica spun around at the vendor's voice.

The glossy fruit glistened under the carnival lights, each piece perfectly coated in dark chocolate. Her mouth watered. She hadn't indulged in such treats for months.

Almost instinctively, her eyes drifted toward Sabrina's direction.

The little girl was already halfway through her own skewer, chocolate smudged at the corner of her mouth. But what made Veronica's chest tighten was the scene unfolding beside her.

Niall had somehow acquired a dozen red roses, their petals deep crimson against her white dress. She stood pressed against Cullen's side, whispering something that made him lean closer to catch her words.

Sabrina offered her half-eaten treat to Niall, who accepted it with a radiant smile. She bit into the same spot where the child's teeth had left marks, creating an intimate moment between them. When Sabrina extended the skewer toward Cullen, he declined with a gentle shake of his head, his lips moving in words Veronica couldn't decipher.

The domestic scene felt like a knife twisting in her chest.

"I'll take the strawberries," she told the vendor, forcing herself to look away.

She was about to ask Edric if he wanted anything when he stepped forward. "Allow me."

Before she could protest, he had his phone out, the payment processed with a quick tap. He accepted the skewer from the vendor and placed it in her hands, his fingers brushing hers briefly.

"It's only ten dollars," she started to say.

"Don't mention it," he replied smoothly.

Neither of them noticed Cullen and Niall turning in their direction at that exact moment. Cullen's jaw tightened as he watched Edric's casual gesture of paying for Veronica's treat. Beside him, Niall's smile vanished like smoke, her grip on the roses tightening until her knuckles went white.

But Veronica and Edric remained focused on each other, unaware of the scrutiny.

The fireworks erupted overhead in cascades of gold and silver, drawing everyone's attention skyward. For twenty mesmerizing minutes, the night sky became a canvas of light and color.

Sabrina tugged at Cullen's jacket sleeve, her small voice cutting through the crowd's murmurs. "Daddy, what were you and Niall staring at?"

Cullen's attention snapped back to the present. "Nothing important." Niall quickly composed herself, painting on a bright smile. "Just people-watching, sweetheart."

When the final firework faded into darkness, Veronica turned to face Edric. "Thank you for tonight. For keeping me company and for the strawberries."

"Are you heading home now?"

"Soon. I want to stop by the plant vendor first, then I'll call it a night."

Edric didn't push for more time together. "Drive safely. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Veronica disappeared into the dispersing crowd while Edric made his way toward the parking area. He'd barely taken a dozen steps when a familiar voice stopped him.

"Edric? Is that you?"

He turned to find Maverick approaching, looking slightly flustered.

"Maverick. What brings you here?"

"Dinner with a friend," Maverick answered, then asked, "You?"

"Same." Maverick's response came with obvious discomfort, as if he'd been caught somewhere he shouldn't be.

"I was just leaving. You?"

Maverick opened his mouth to respond but the words died on his lips. His gaze had fixed on something beyond Edric's shoulder, his expression shifting to one of intense concentration.

Edric followed his stare and spotted the source of Maverick's distraction. Cullen and Niall hadn't left the carnival. Instead, they'd settled into a cozy cafe, visible through the large windows. Sabrina sat between them, looking every inch the happy family.

Maverick's voice dropped to almost a whisper. "That child with them... the rumors about Cullen having a daughter... they might actually be true."

Edric shrugged, uninterested in gossip. "Possibly."

But Maverick remained frozen, his mind clearly racing. The wheels of concern were turning behind his eyes.

If Sabrina truly was Cullen's daughter, what did that mean for Niall's future? The complications seemed endless. There were whispers that Cullen had been married before, that his ex-wife was still very much part of his life because of their child.

Maverick's hands clenched at his sides as he watched Niall laugh at something Cullen said, oblivious to the potential heartbreak awaiting her.

What if Cullen's ex-wife decided she wanted her family back? What if the pull of their shared daughter proved stronger than whatever Cullen felt for Niall? The thought of his sister suffering through such a scenario made Maverick's stomach turn.

The happy tableau in the cafe window suddenly looked more like a house of cards, ready to collapse at the slightest disturbance.