As Charles spoke and met her eyes, Charlie''s heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst.

She wanted to say yes.

But...

In the end, Charlie couldn''t meet the hope in Charles''s gaze. Her hand tightened around Evelyn''s, seekingfort.

If she ever had to choose between her parents, she''d always pick her mom first.

Evelyn noticed every flicker in her daughter''s expression.

She felt Charlie''s grip tighten a silent protest against a longing she was too scared to admit.

Evelyn''s heart softened.

She could see how much Charles had changed.

She knew he was genuinely sorry.fna04d ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? f?ndnovel/fna04d

But the old wounds still ached.

Charlie, though, was just a kid.

She yearned for her dad''s love in a way that was impossible to hide.

If Charles could really be the father Charlie needed, if he could make up for the

love she''d missed out on, Evelyn wouldn''t stand in the way.

Evelyn crouched down, gently cupping Charlie''s cheek, her voice as gentle as a whisper. "Charlie."

Charlie looked up at her, nervous.

"Mom, I..."

"Sweetheart, do what your heart wants. Don''t worry about me. All I want is for you to be happy."

Charlie stared into her mother''s warm, loving eyes.

"Mom, I love you. I love you the most."

She wrapped her arms around Evelyn''s neck, snuggling into her shoulder like she''d done a thousand times before.

Evelyn couldn''t help kissing her daughter''s soft cheek.

Charles overheard, and the look in his eyes burned even brighter.

Was Evelyn really trying to forgive him? Is that why she was letting Charlie reach out?

Evelyn caught his gaze but pretended she didn''t, offering no response.

She just smiled at Charlie, her voice soft. "Go on."

Charlie''s eyes sparkled as she turned to Charles.

This time, Charles didn''t hesitate. He moved gently, carefully-one hand under her back, the other cradling, her legs ignoring his own aches as he lifted her up high.  s

And with all the care in the world, he set her on his shoulders.

"Whoa!"

The sudden height made Charlie

gasp. Her little handstched ontoet

Charles''s hair and ears to keep her bnce. Content beton

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"Don''t be scared, kiddo. I''ve got you. Hold on tight!"

Charles''s voice floated up, solid and reassuring.

His broad, warm hands gripped her ankles, anchoring her in ce.

Charlie finally sat securely on her dad''s shoulders.

The night breeze kissed her cheeks, tossing her neatly braided pigtails.

She had never seen the world from so high up before!

All around her, fireworks

silver, red, and

met

exploded-go the sky filling her

Purple lighting

bright eyes with wonder.  s

For once, she wasn''t the girl left on the sidelines, watching others with envy.

Tonight, she was her daddy''s little princess, lifted up high, loved and adored. Happiness bloomed in her chest, bursting open like the fireworks above. All the hurt and distance faded away.

She forgot the pain Charles''s absence had caused.

All that was left was this breathtaking moment and the joy of a dreame true.

"Wow! It''s so pretty! Mom! Look, I''m so high up! The fireworks are huge and so close!"

Charlie waved excitedly to Evelyn, who was looking up at her from a little distance away.

Her smile outshone every firework in the sky.

Charles held his daughter steady, soaking in her pure, heartfelt happiness.

Looking up at her radiant face, his eyes stung with emotion, but he couldn''t stop smiling.

He knew that tonight, Charlie had finally given him a chance.

And he was determined to spend the rest of his life cherishing and protecting this second chance.