The Unwanted Wife's Return (Ex-Husband Wants Me Back) novel Chapter 363

My Little Girl’s Wish 

MARY’S POV: 

Marl looked down at the bracelet, a small thing of plastic and string, and his expression shifted again. I couldn’t name what I saw in his eyes. Something raw or vulnerable. 

“I won’t forget,” he said. 

After the activities, he took us to buy children’s sports equipment. Elowen was bouncing with excitement, her small hand still wrapped around Marl’s, her eyes wide as she looked at the display of balls and bats and racquets. 

“Can I get this one?” she asked, pointing at a colorful soccer ball. 

Marl picked it up and handed it to her. “Of course. And this, too.” He grabbed a small basketball and a set of foam darts. “You need to get outside more. I know a few clubs that would be perfect for kids your age. I can recommend them to your mom.” 

“You would do that?” I asked, surprised. 

He shrugged. “She’s a great kid. She deserves to have fun.” 

We reached the car, and I unlocked the doors. Elowen climbed into the backseat, her soccer ball on her lap, her face flushed with happiness.
“Mommy?” she said.
I turned to look at her. “Yes, baby?”
She was quiet for a moment, her small fingers tracing the stripes on the soccer ball. Then she looked up at me, her eyes wide and serious.
“Can Marl be my father?”
The words hit me like a physical blow.
I felt my breath catch, my heart stutter. The world around me seemed to slow, the sounds of the parking lot fading into a distant hum.
“I really like him,” Elowen continued, her voice small and hopeful. “He’s nice. He played with me. He didn’t get mad when I messed up the tower. And he bought me this.” She held up the soccer ball. “Daddy never does things like that ”
I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. The words stuck in my throat, tangled and impossible.

Elowen was still watching me, her eyes full of questions I didn’t know how to answer.

“I don’t want to make you sad, Mommy,” she said softly. “I just thought… maybe if he was my father, you wouldn’t be sad anymore. And he could come to my school events. And we could be a family.”

I felt the hot sting of tears behind my eyes.
I looked at Marl. He was standing by the car door, his expression unreadable, his eyes fixed on Elowen. Something flickered across his face, something raw and vulnerable and completely unexpected.

I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to answer her question. All I knew was that my daughter had just asked me if another man could be her father.
And the worst part?
For just a moment, I had wanted to say yes.