Chapter 307 Opportunity
Edward suddenly shouted out to me, his voice urgent. "Diana, wait up!"
I stopped but didn't turn around right away. Memories from the past hit me hard, tugging at my heart.
He quickly caught up, looking cautious. "Diana, I know today was tough for you both. I didn't mean any harm; I just miss Skylar so much. Can we have dinner together, you, me, and Skylar? I want to make up for today."
I slowly turned around, meeting Edward's weathered face, feeling a mix of emotions. Time had etched deep lines on his face, but he could never fully grasp the struggles I faced raising Skylar alone.
Reason took over, and I shook my head, trying to keep my voice steady. "Edward, the past is the past. Your sudden appearance might not be good for Skylar. She's still young and needs stability, not a dad who just shows up out of nowhere. Let's skip dinner, and please don't come around again."
Edward's eyes dimmed instantly, his face full of disappointment. He took a step forward, speaking urgently, "Diana, I've regretted it all these years. Now that Anne is abroad, you and Skylar are all the family I have left!"
His voice trembled slightly, as if he was pleading for me to give him a chance. I looked at him, feeling a slight stir in my heart, but quickly suppressed it with reason.
I paused, then steeled myself. "The past can't be changed, and we have our own pace now. Your sudden intrusion will only throw everything off. Please respect our decision and don't show up again." With that, I turned and took Skylar's hand, walking away quickly, leaving Edward standing there alone.
Skylar was a bit confused by my actions. As I pulled her along, she looked back at Edward, mumbling, "Mom, why didn't you say yes? I want to have dinner with him."
Saying this, Skylar ran back to Edward and gently tugged on his sleeve.
Seeing Skylar's expectant eyes and Edward's earnest gaze, I hesitated for a long time. My defenses finally softened, and I nodded slightly, saying, "Alright, we'll have dinner with him tonight."
Edward's face lit up with joy, and he quickly said, "This dinner is on me. I've already picked a place."
Hearing my words, Skylar happily bounced around me.
Edward chose a cozy family restaurant. The colorful decorations and soft music eased the awkward atmosphere.
As soon as Skylar entered, she was drawn to the play area, clamoring to go play.
Edward pulled out a chair for me, and after I sat down, he enthusiastically recommended dishes from the menu.
Seeing the pricey items on the menu, I hesitated and couldn't help but say, "Let me pay for this meal."
Edward, his eyes full of affection for Skylar, didn't even turn his head as he said, "Even though I don't earn as much as you, I can still afford to treat my daughter to a meal. Skylar, what do you want to eat?"
However, Skylar only chose snacks and desserts, so I had to order two main dishes for her.
Skylar eagerly tasted the delicious food, her cheeks stuffed like a chipmunk."Mom, I'm a little hamster. The food here is so good," she mumbled, with cream still on the corner of her mouth.
Edward couldn't help but smile at Skylar's cuteness. He gently picked up a napkin and wiped the cream from her mouth, saying, "Sweetie, eat slowly, no rush."
Just then, a cheerful song started playing in the restaurant, and Skylar's little head bobbed to the music, looking particularly content.
Skylar blinked her big eyes and held out her spoon to Edward, saying in a sweet, childlike voice, "Mr. Howard, you should try some too."
Edward was momentarily stunned, and I saw a flash of emotion in his eyes before a bright smile spread across his face. Maybe he was reminded of his childhood, lacking such warm moments of sharing.
He gently patted Skylar's head, giving her a thumbs-up. "Skylar is such a good girl, always willing to share."
Skylar said, "My teacher taught us to share good things with friends."
In this back-and-forth interaction, the initial awkwardness gradually faded, and the restaurant was filled with laughter.
Skylar suddenly stopped what she was doing and tilted her head, asking Edward, "Mr. Howard, did you share with your friends when you were in kindergarten?"
Edward's smile faltered slightly, his eyes dimming. He took a sip of water and paused before saying, "When I was little, I didn't have friends to play with. I was always alone."
Skylar looked puzzled and asked, "Why? Playing with friends is so much fun!"
Edward, a bit embarrassed, said, "I was a little scared to talk to others when I was young, always worried about being laughed at."
I looked at Edward, feeling a pang of sympathy, and couldn't help but say, "From now on, Skylar will always think of you when she has something good."
Hearing this, Edward shot me a grateful look and was about to say something when a waiter accidentally knocked over some dishes at a nearby table, causing a loud crash that startled Skylar.
She immediately jumped into Edward's arms, and he quickly held her, soothing her softly. "Don't be scared, Skylar. It's just a little accident."
Then he started talking about his experiences over the years.
"I've been working hard all these years, trying to earn more money to give you both a better life, but I didn't realize how much I was missing," he said, his eyes full of regret.
"One time, I saw a little girl about Skylar's age in the park, holding her dad's hand and laughing so happily. That's when I realized I wasn't just missing time, but also the moments of Skylar's growth."
I listened quietly to Edward's words.
All those days he missed, I spent alone with Skylar, and only I knew the hardships.
I couldn't help but say, "All these years, I raised Skylar by myself."
My voice choked up a bit. "You really missed out on so much."
Edward lowered his head, silent for a moment, then softly said, "I know. Now I just hope I can make up for it in the future."
He looked up, his eyes full of earnestness.
"Diana, can you give me a chance?" he asked.
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