CHAPTER 102: 102

The car rolled to a stop in front of the grand shopping plaza, glass walls shimmering under the soft afternoon sun. Elisa had barely stepped out with Nyxella when the toddler began to wriggle in her arms, her small legs kicking against her laps as her curious eyes lit up like twin stars.

"Nyxella, no.. " Elisa began, but before she could finish, the little girl twisted, slipping from her grasp with the skill of a miniature escape artist.

"Nyxella!"

The toddler hit the ground running, her tiny sneakers squeaking against the polished marble floor as she bolted straight through the automatic doors into the main hall of the mall.

Elisa froze. For a moment, panic flared across her face. But before she could move, Nix had already gone after her.

"Great," he muttered, half amused, half exasperated as he took off after the little whirlwind.

Passersby stopped to stare and soon, laughter rippled through the mall. The sight was almost surreal, a tall, well-dressed man in a black suit, hair tousled from the chase, darting between display stands after a giggling toddler earing an oversized shirt that swept the floor after her.

"Nyxella, listen to me!" Nix called, weaving past a mannequin.

But the child only squealed louder, clapping her hands as she darted around a corner.

"Got you.. !" Nix lunged, catching her just before she collided with a jewelry stand. He crouched down, breathless but smiling. The little girl blinked up at him with wide eyes, then clasped both her hands together, grinning so wide her tiny teeth gleamed in the light.

"Do you want everyone to call you a baby ghost?" he teased, touching her forehead gently.

Nyxella giggled in response, her cheeks dimpling.

The crowd around them couldn’t help smiling at the adorable pair.

"Aw, look at them," one woman whispered. "He’s such a sweet dad."

"Are you kidding? That’s Nix Dean," another murmured. "I didn’t even know he had a kid."

Elisa finally caught up, slightly breathless, her expression caught somewhere between annoyance and... something softer she didn’t want to name.

"Can we please try not to attract a crowd next time?" she muttered.

Nix glanced at her over Nyxella’s head, his lips twitching. "You should’ve held her tighter."

"She’s slippery," Elisa replied dryly. "Like someone else I know."

He chuckled, turning toward one of the high-end children’s boutiques. "Come on. Let’s get her some clothes before she decides to sprint out of the mall next."

Nyxella, still perched comfortably in his arms, tugged playfully at his collar as they walked. Nix adjusted her slightly, resting her on his hip with a natural ease that made it look as if he’d done it all his life. Each step he took was measured yet unhurried, his tall frame cutting through the crowd with quiet authority.

Elisa followed a few paces behind, watching the two of them. Nyxella’s little hands were already exploring the buttons of Nix’s shirt, her giggles drawing smiles from nearby shoppers. One elderly woman paused to whisper to her companion, "What a beautiful family." The words made Elisa’s heart tighten for reasons she couldn’t quite explain.

The boutique itself stood out from the rest of the stores tall glass panels framed in brushed gold, a soft ivory interior that exuded elegance. The name, "Petite Maison" shimmered in cursive above the entrance. Nix pushed the glass door open with his shoulder, the faint chime of the bell overhead announcing their arrival.

The scent of lavender and baby powder lingered in the air, mingling with the soft notes of classical music playing from hidden speakers. Rows of pastel clothes hung neatly on golden racks, and plush toys sat arranged like silent spectators on white shelves.

As soon as Nix stepped inside effortlessly carrying a toddler who had buried her face in his chest the atmosphere changed. Conversations faltered, and a ripple of whispers spread across the boutique.

The staff, who had been quietly folding clothes or assisting customers, straightened at once. Some pretended to continue working, but their eyes followed him discreetly. It wasn’t every day that Nix Dean, The CEO, investor, and the man known for his cold, detached demeanor walked into their store holding a child who was clearly comfortable in his arms.

Elisa entered right after, her presence soft yet commanding. The overhead light caught in her hair, framing her in a gentle glow that made her look almost ethereal. If the staff had been surprised before, now they were stunned into silence.

"When did Mr. Dean have a child?" one whispered to another, her eyes wide.

The second, equally stunned, leaned in closer. "And wait. That woman she looks just like Mrs. Dean."

The first woman blinked rapidly, shaking her head. "No way... Mrs. Dean’s dead. Everyone knows that."

"Then how come she’s here?"

"Maybe they hid the pregnancy..."

"Stop whispering unless you want to lose your jobs," came the sharp whisper from behind them, it was the store manager, his expression tight as he smoothed down his tie and hurried forward.

"Mr. Dean! What a pleasant surprise," he greeted with a deep bow and a forced smile. "The sun itself seems to shine brighter today! What may I assist you with?"

"I need clothes for this little one.. " Nix looked down at Nyxella, who was busy tugging on his tie ".. and her mother."

The staff froze again. Her mother?

Elisa blinked at the sudden declaration, a soft flush creeping into her cheeks.

"Thank you," she said curtly, taking the chance to step toward the racks of clothing before she could betray more emotion.

While she disappeared into the changing area, Nix remained in the sitting section of the boutique with Nyxella perched comfortably on his knee.

She was utterly fascinated by the reflection of her tiny face in a nearby mirror, pointing and giggling each time Nix mimicked her expressions.

"See that?" he said, tapping her nose gently. "That’s trouble disguised as adorable."

Nyxella squealed, patting his cheek and then his hair with sticky little fingers.

The boutique workers could barely believe their eyes. The aloof, intimidating Mr. Dean holding a baby, smiling, and even laughing as if it something none of them had imagined possible.

"Is this real life?" one whispered from behind the counter. "He’s actually... playing."

"Don’t stare!" the manager hissed, though he couldn’t stop watching either.

Then, the curtain to the changing room rustled softly, a faint sound that somehow drew every eye in the boutique.

Elisa stepped out, brushing the fabric aside with a delicate hand. She wore a simple pastel dress that flowed around her like a whisper, elegant yet understated. The material clung just enough to hint at her form before loosening into a gentle fall at her knees. The color, a muted blush that complemented her skin tone seemed to absorb the light around her, giving her an almost ethereal glow.

Her hair, now freed from its earlier bun, cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves, framing her face and brushing lightly against her collarbone. The store’s lighting caught strands of it, creating fleeting gold highlights as she moved. She ran her fingers through it absentmindedly, tucking a lock behind her ear an unguarded gesture that made her look painfully human, and painfully beautiful.

Nix’s hand froze midway through buttoning Nyxella’s new cardigan. For a moment just a second his composure cracked. His gaze lingered longer than it should have, tracing the line of her neck down to where the fabric met her skin. Something unfamiliar tugged at him, something dangerously close to admiration.

The corners of his mouth twitched as he forced his attention back to Nyxella, who was busy gnawing on her tiny fingers. But it was too late the silence between them had already shifted.

When he finally spoke, his tone was steady, but lower the kind of calm that carries weight.

"You clean up well, Miss Sorrento," he said, his eyes flicking toward her briefly before looking away again.

Elisa caught the flicker the way his jaw tightened, the almost imperceptible hesitation in his words. A faint smile touched her lips, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

"Thank you," she replied softly, smoothing the hem of her dress. "Though, I suppose I should thank the boutique instead."

Nix let out a quiet huff ,not quite a laugh, not quite a sigh before returning his attention to Nyxella, who had somehow managed to pull off one of her socks again. But even as he knelt to fix it, he could still feel Elisa’s presence, warm and distracting, standing just a few feet behind him.

Elisa raised an eyebrow. "I wasn’t aware I needed your approval."

"Good thing you got it anyway," he murmured.

She rolled her eyes but the faintest trace of a smile tugged at her lips.

Then, as she watched him lift Nyxella to help her try on a tiny jacket, the lighthearted warmth in her chest tightened into something else. Jealousy sharp and uninvited pricked at her heart.

Nyxella laughed as Nix tickled her belly, whispering nonsense words that made her giggle even louder.

Elisa stood a few feet away, invisible in her own world, watching them a perfect picture that didn’t need her in it.

For a fleeting second, she wondered if this was what it would’ve looked like... if things had been different.

If he had known from the start.