195 Chapter 195 – Victorious Champions.
Cullen withdrew his hand without argument, slipping the device back into his pocket. Then he bent down and scooped Sabrina into his arms with practiced ease. She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck as he moved to join the other parents clustered around the chairs.
His eyes found Veronica’s again, and this time his smile held something different. Not the practiced charm he used in business, but something warmer. More real.
The melody stopped without warning.
Honestly, when she’d first seen the activity schedule, she’d expected both Cullen and Sabrina to be bored senseless by these kinds of organized games. Cullen especially seemed too sophisticated, too serious for elementary schoolpetitions.
Cullen’s gaze found Veronica’s face. “What do you think?”
Sabrina bounded back to them, her cheeks flushed with excitement. The parent–child activities were about to begin, and the air buzzed with anticipation from families gathering around.
Without Sabrina within earshot, Veronica allowed herself a small, weary smile. “We’re getting divorced soon.”
Casey nodded politely in return. “Nice to meet you too.”
Once they were alone, Cullen’s voice dropped to that familiar low tone. “Your neighbor seems nice. You’ve settled in well.”
Veronica’s fingers tightened around her phone until her knuckles went white.
By the third round, Cullen was fully invested. His movements became more strategic, his focus sharper. He wasn’t just participating anymore, he was ying to win.
Casey had sensed something was off for months now. Living across the hall, she’d watched Veronicae and go alone with her daughter, never seeing a husband. The final clue had been thest parent conference when a stunning brte had shown up instead of Veronica.
Veronica recoiled slightly, as if his phone might burn her fingers. “I’ll use my own
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195 Chapter 195 – Victorious Champions
phone. I can send you the video afterward.”
The question hung in the air. Though he addressed Casey, his dark eyes fixed on Veronica with an intensity that made her skin prickle.
The teacher’s voice cut through the chatter. “Our first game is Musical Chairs!”
Champions.
But watching them now told a different story entirely. Sabrina was practically vibrating with joy, her whole face lit up with excitement. And Cullen, despite his initial
reluctance, was grinning as he held her close.
Cullen studied her profile for a long moment. When she didn’t respond, he didn’t push. That restraint was new for him.
The rules were simple butpetitive. Chairs formed a circle in the center of the room, with two fewer seats than participating families. Parents would carry their children and circle the chairs while music yed. When the music cut out, everyone would scramble for seats. No chair meant elimination. Last family standing won.
Cullen turned to her, his expression carefully neutral. “Your call. Do you want to y,
or should I?”
The music started with a bouncy rhythm that filled the room. Cullen turned away, breaking their eye contact as he began moving with the group. His long strides kept pace easily with the other parents as they circled the chairs like predators stalking
prey.
Veronica kept her mouth firmly shut, refusing to be drawn into conversation. Casey filled the silence quickly. “Veronica and I live in the same building. We’re neighbors.”
“Fair enough.” He extended his phone toward her. “Mind recording it for me?”
Veronica remained on the sidelines, pulling up her camera app and pointing it toward the action. Through the lens, she watched Cullen adjust his grip on Sabrina, making sure she wasfortable and secure.
The weight of his attention made her throat tight. “You y.”
Round after round, his quick thinking and athletic build gave him the edge. Other parents fell by the wayside, but Cullen and Sabrina kept iming their seat until they were thest family standing.
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Chaos erupted as parents lunged for chairs. Cullen moved like a man half his age, sliding smoothly into a seat while keeping Sabrina perfectly bnced in hisp. His reflexes were sharp, decisive.
Cullen’s attention shifted between the two women. “So you two are friends?”
This wasn’t Veronica’s first rodeo. She’d participated in these events when Sabrina had just started kindergarten, back when their family had still been intact. But after Cullen had whisked Sabrina away to Londonst year, Veronica had missed an entire year of these moments.
Then their eyes met across the room. Even through the phone screen, the connection hit her like a physical force. Cullen’s mouth curved into a smile meant only for her, the kind that used to make her knees weak.
The tension crackling between the estranged couple was impossible to miss. Casey could practically feel the electricity in the air, and Veronica’s bodynguage screamed that she wanted nothing to do with this man.
Veronica opened her mouth to volunteer, but Sabrina’s excited voice cut her off. “Daddy should do it! Daddy’s really fast!”
“I see that, baby,” Veronica called back, surprised by how genuine her smile felt.
Cullen stepped forward with practiced charm. “Good to meet you.”
Veronica pulled out her phone and stared at the screen, anything to avoid looking at him. The casual way he spoke, as if they were making polite small talk instead of navigating the wreckage of their marriage, made her jaw clench.
Sabrina bounced in his arms,pletely delighted by the whole experience. She pointed at other children and waved, herughter carrying over the music.
Safe in her perch, Sabrina threw both hands in the air triumphantly. “Mom! Mom, look! We got one!”
At first, Veronica could tell Cullen was just going through the motions, ying along for Sabrina’s sake. But as the rounds continued and the energy in the room built, something shifted. Thepetitive atmosphere, the music, the pure fun of it all seemed to break through his usual reserve.
“Well, I should get going,” Casey said, backing away with an apologetic smile. “Enjoy the EVENT .
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