You're Just My Ex-Husband,My Lord-Chapter 60- the little mermaid

No, he couldn’t resist. Not in front of this little girl, who carried half of his blood.

There was a time when he thought he had no feelings for her, when he never expected to have a child. And since she wasn’t the product of his love with someone special, he purposely kept his distance, not caring, not paying attention.

But the more time he spent with her, the more he realized he couldn’t control his affection for her.

He didn’t know whether it was the blood bond guiding him or if she was just inherently lovable, but he was hooked.

Her innocence, her naivety, her cuteness, her beauty, her mischievous spirit, and even her little temper when she was stubborn—he adored it all.

In the end, he realized he couldn’t live without her. She had become an irreplaceable part of his life.

So now, facing her expectant gaze, he had no choice but to comply.

"I’ll try my best," he said, and with that, he steeled himself and began to speak.

Thanks to his naturally deep and pleasant voice, when he slowed his pace and softened his tone, it was actually quite effective. The little girl didn’t complain, and he kept up the slower, more melodious cadence, continuing the story as best he could.

Dave paused for a moment, his hand still holding the book, unsure of how to respond. He looked down at the little girl sitting in his lap, her innocent eyes filled with confusion and curiosity.

He thought for a moment, then smiled gently and replied, "Well, the little mermaid loved the prince very much. Sometimes, when we love someone deeply, we’re willing to endure pain for them because we believe that love is worth the sacrifice."

The little girl thought for a moment, still furrowing her little brow, clearly trying to understand.

"But... if it hurts so much, why not just stay as a mermaid and be happy?" she asked again, her voice quiet but full of concern.

Dave felt a tightness in his chest at her words. She was so young, yet so perceptive, and the simplicity of her question made the weight of the story feel even heavier.

He cleared his throat, trying to choose his words carefully. "Sometimes, even though something might hurt, we think the reward will make it worth it. Maybe she thought that if she became human, she could be with the prince and be happy with him."

The little girl, still hugging him tightly, thought about it for a moment before nodding slowly. "I don’t think I would want to hurt myself for someone," she said earnestly.

Dave chuckled softly, his heart swelling with affection for her. "You’re very smart," he said, stroking her hair gently. "You’re right. It’s better to never hurt yourself for anyone. But sometimes, people make difficult choices because they believe in their love, even if it’s hard to understand."

The little girl nodded, as if satisfied with that answer, and settled back into his arms, listening intently again as he continued with the story.

Dave smiled softly at his daughter’s words, a bittersweet feeling tugging at his heart. He was glad that she had a clear, sensible view of love—a view that was free from the pain and complexity he had endured in his own life.

"Yeah," he agreed, his voice quiet, "maybe you’re right. If love hurts too much, sometimes it’s better to let go, rather than hold on and suffer."

His thoughts drifted for a moment, remembering Laurent and the complicated feelings he had for her. Had she ever felt the way the little mermaid did, chasing after him despite the pain? The thought was both painful and poignant, as he wondered whether Laurent’s love for him had ever been as unconditional, as self-sacrificial, as the mermaid’s.

His daughter, nestled against him, didn’t seem to dwell on such heavy thoughts. Instead, she looked up at him with wide, trusting eyes. "Daddy," she said, her voice soft, "do you think the little mermaid will be happy in the end?"

Dave paused, his hand gently stroking her hair. He knew how the story went—sadly, the mermaid didn’t find happiness in the way she hoped. But he didn’t want to burden her with that outcome, not now.

"I think," he began slowly, "the mermaid learned something important. She learned that love is beautiful, but it shouldn’t make us lose who we are. In the end, we need to take care of ourselves too."

The little girl thought about this, then nodded, seemingly content with the answer.

"Yeah, because if you’re not happy, you can’t make others happy," she added, with the simplicity of a child, yet with wisdom far beyond her years.

Dave looked down at her, his heart swelling. His daughter might not yet fully understand love in the way adults did, but in that moment, he realized that she understood far more than most people.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. "You’re a smart girl. I’m proud of you."

And for the first time in a long while, Dave felt like he was getting something right.

Dave lay there, holding his daughter in his arms, as she slept soundly against his chest. The weight of his thoughts seemed heavier now, filled with the weight of what could have been and what was. He had never really thought about how much his life had changed, how different it had become since Emma’s birth, and how his relationship with Laurent had evolved.

Back then, he had been too focused on his career, his business, too consumed by the need to succeed and control everything around him. Family had always been an afterthought, something to come home to after work. He hadn’t realized how much he had missed out on until now.

Now, in this quiet moment with his daughter in his arms, Dave felt something he hadn’t expected—regret, but also a strange sense of peace. The past was something he couldn’t undo, but he had this moment. This little girl, soft and warm, trusting him completely. She had changed him in ways he hadn’t been prepared for, but he knew he was a better man for it.

The thought of his marriage to Laurent brought a mix of guilt and longing. Had he been too focused on the wrong things? Had he not seen what was most important until it was too late? Could he have been a better husband? A better father?

But in the midst of these questions, he also felt an undeniable truth—that despite all the mistakes, despite everything that had gone wrong, he had his daughter. And for the first time, he wasn’t sure he could imagine life without her.

As he gently stroked her hair, the question of what might have been faded. Instead, he felt a surge of gratitude for this moment, for this chance to make things right, even if it was just for tonight.

In the stillness, he whispered softly to his sleeping daughter, "I’ll always be here, Emma. Always."

He wasn’t sure what the future held, but for the first time in a long while, he knew he would do everything in his power to protect her, to give her a life full of love, and to make sure she never had to suffer in the way he had.

For tonight, that was enough.