Cute jealousy

Dylan froze. His smile faltered as his daughter giggled and ran right past him—straight into Nicholas's waiting arms.

His jaw clenched as he watched Nicholas, who, with a beaming grin, effortlessly scooped her up as if she were his own. The room around them blurred for Dylan, his earlier triumph now feeling slightly tainted. His daughter practically ignored him for Nicholas.

Nicholas chuckled, brushing the little girl's cheek gently. "You've missed me, huh, princess?"

Aliyah nodded eagerly, wrapping her tiny arms around Nicholas's neck. "Yes! You didn't visit Aliyah for so long."

Dylan's eye twitched. Nicholas had been away on a business trip for two weeks—meanwhile, Dylan had been home, playing with her, tucking her in, telling her bedtime stories.

And yet, here she was, acting like Nicholas was the greatest man alive.