He Lost Me to His Best Friend novel Chapter 671

"You—"

Before Scarlett could finish her sentence, Yardley tilted his chin up and brushed right past her.

He walked straight toward the crib where Dawn was sitting, happily shaking two rattles. His gaze instantly softened into pure adoration.

His daughter's features were filling out beautifully. She could sit up on her own now, and the way she waved her chubby little hands was impossibly cute.

Yardley's heart melted on the spot.

He reached down, ready to scoop her up, but Scarlett's hand suddenly blocked his path.

"Wash your hands. Sanitize first."

Yardley stared at the bottle of hand sanitizer she held out. He took it, pumped a generous amount into his palms, and quickly rubbed them together.

Then, with eager but slightly clumsy movements, he leaned over and lifted Dawn from the crib.

"Hey there, sweetie. It's Daddy. Daddy's here to see you."

His voice was incredibly soft, laced with a tenderness that was rarely heard from him.

Unable to resist, he reached out a long, elegant finger and gently brushed his daughter's soft cheek.

Dawn broke into a wide, gummy smile, revealing two tiny new teeth. She giggled, her chubby little hands instinctively wrapping around Yardley's finger.

It felt as if something had forcefully slammed into his chest.

An indescribable ache mixed with overwhelming affection surged through him.

"Look at how much she likes me," he murmured. "One visit a month isn't enough. Can I come over more often?"

His Adam's apple bobbed, his eyes darkening with intense emotion. He stared at his daughter without blinking, his breathing so careful it was as if he feared startling the little angel in his arms.

She stood before him, looking at him with a gaze so calm it was as if she were looking at a familiar stranger.

He held her gaze for a few seconds, desperate to find even the slightest hint of longing in her eyes. But to his profound disappointment, there was absolutely nothing.

It had been a month since the divorce. She felt no regret, no remorse, and no longing. She looked entirely at peace.

All the things Yardley had prepared to say—about the Flynn Group's upcoming thirtieth anniversary, the massive foreign capital they had just secured, his ambitious plans to return to the pinnacle of the business world—suddenly caught in his throat.

"Right now, I only want to focus on my career. I haven't thought about any of the things you mentioned," she said.

"And regardless of what happens to me in the future, Dawn will always be our daughter, and you will always be..."

Before Yardley could finish, Scarlett cut him off coldly.

"Putting your energy and mind into your career is a good thing."