224 Chapter 224 – Cruel Proximity
Maverick seized the opportunity, his own motives driving him forward. “Actually, I was heading that direction myself. Mind if I walk with you?”
The weekend crowd continued its ebb and flow around them, each person absorbed in their own shopping missions and social gatherings. In the chaos of suburban weekend life, two people who desperately needed to find each other remained invisible to one another, separated by nothing more than poor timing and a few bodies in motion.
Maverick’s gaze returned to the child beside Niall, and the resemblance hit him like a physical blow. The curve of Sabrina’s jaw, the set of her eyes, even the way she tilted her head while listening all screamed Cullen’s genetics. The similarity was undeniable, probably sixty percent or more.
Niall caught up, slightly breathless from the chase. She noticed Sabrina’s distracted state immediately, and a chill of recognition ran down her spine. Could Veronica be here? The timing would be catastrophic with Maverick present.
Recognition flickered across Niall’s face first. “Mr. Harris? What are the odds?”
Panic flashed across Niall’s features. Her conversation with Maverick became instantly irrelevant as maternal instinct kicked in. “Sa, slow down! Wait for me!”
Sabrina’s bright voice cut through the tension. “Niall, who’s this good–looking man talking to us?”
“Mm,” she finally agreed, though uncertainty lingered in her expression. Whatever she thought she’d seen remained frustratingly elusive. Convincing herself it must have been wishful thinking, she abandoned her search and pushed through the restroom door.
Maverick approached steadily, his observant gaze taking in every detail of the scene. Niall’s mind raced through damage control scenarios as she gently took Sabrina’s hand.
Her earlier milkshake was making its presence known with increasing urgency. The child’s impatience transformed her request into something closer to a demand, her tone brooking no delay.
224 Chapter 224–Cruel Proximity
The child’s need had reached critical levels. Without waiting for adult coordination, Sabrina released Niall’s hand and bolted toward the restroom corridor, her small legs carrying her as fast as they could manage.
What disturbed him more was Niall’s reaction, or rather, her lack of one. Instead of correcting the child’s demanding tone, she responded with endless patience. Her smile never wavered, her voice remaining soft and accommodating. “Of course, honey. Let’s get you there right away.”
The glass door swung open just as Niall emerged, her hand gently guiding Sabrina toward the restroom area. The collision of timing left both adults momentarily frozen.
“Sa, sweetheart, didn’t you say this was an emergency? The restroom is right here, let’s not keep you waiting any longer.”
Unknown to both Sabrina and the adults watching her, Veronica stood less than fifty feet away in the exact direction the child had been looking. A cluster of teenagers had gathered around a promotional display, their animated discussion and poster boards creating an effective visual barrier.
Niall straightened, attempting to resume normal conversation. “Are you here to meet someone, Mr. Harris? Because if you need a table, I think there might be a wait for—”
The moment Edric’s silhouette vanished into the crowd, Maverick’s resolve hardened. He strode purposefully toward the cafe, each step measured and deliberate.
Niali crouched to Sabrina’s eye level, her finger playfully booping the child’s nose. Her smile radiated warmth despite the awkward circumstances. “Just someone I know from work, sweetheart.”
The cruel irony of their proximity went unnoticed by everyone present, another near miss in a series of almosts that had defined their separation.
Maverick’s eyebrows drew together as he observed the exchange, Sabrina’s behavior struck him as entitled, treating Niall more like hired help than a caring guardian. The imperious edge to her voice grated against his sense of propriety.
“Not at all,” Niall replied, though her focus was already shifting to Sabrina’s increasingly desperate fidgeting.
Maverick remained lost in thought, his jaw tightening as he stared into the distance. The weight of unspoken concerns clouded his features. “I’ll pass. There’s someone I
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224 Chapter 224 Cruel Proximity
need to see here. Go handle your business, we’ll talk soon.”
Just as they reached the restroom area, Sabrina came to an abrupt halt. Her head swiveled sharply to the left, scanning the crowded corridor with sudden intensity.
She glanced apologetically at Maverick. “Excuse us, duty calls. Perhaps we’ll run into each other again.”
Niall’s eyes dropped briefly, a shadow passing over her expression. “She’s Cullen’s daughter.”
“Niall!” Sabrina’s urgent tug on her sleeve interrupted the pleasantries. “I really, really need the bathroom now!”
Maverick’s response was clipped, distracted. “Indeed.” His attention swept the cafe’s interior with calculated precision. Behind the counter, Cullen stood engaged in animated conversation with a barista, gesturing at the menu board above.
Sabrina continued her visual search for another few seconds, her young eyes trying to penetrate the shifting crowd of weekend shoppers. Families with strollers, teenagers in groups, elderly couples all created a constantly moving tapestry that made individual identification nearly impossible.
The confirmation Maverick had dreaded settled like lead in his stomach. Every suspicion, every nagging doubt crystallized into painful reality.
Sabrina accepted this explanation with a simple nod, her attention already shifting.
Edric studied his friend’s tense posture but didn’t press. “Fair enough. Don’t be a stranger.”
She hurried after the racing child, leaving Maverick to follow at a more measured pace. His frown deepened as he witnessed yet another display of what he perceived as Sabrina’s spoiled behavior. The child seemed accustomed to having adults drop everything to accommodate her whims.
Edric’s phone buzzed insistently. He glanced at the screen, then answered with a curt nod. Setting the device down, he turned to Maverick with an apologetic expression. “Business calls. I need to head back to the office. Want a ride?”
Despite his certainty, Maverick felt compelled to voice the question burning in his chest. “This young lady would be?”
