The CEO's Amazing Ex-Wife Is Back (Thalassa and Kris)

Kris's steps felt heavier with each one he took up the stairs to Tessa's room. His heart pounded painfully in his chest.

What was he supposed to feel when he saw her now? What would he say? He didn't even know if he could face her, not after what he had just learned.

Memories started flooding back. Holding Tessa in his arms for the first time-so small, so fragile, and so full of life. He could still remember the sound of her first cry. It had been one of the sweetest sounds he'd ever heard.

Then, there was her first smile, lighting up her face and making his heart soar. Her first steps, wobbly but determined, with him right there to catch her when she fell. And the first time she called him "daddy"—a moment he thought would stay with him forever, but now it felt like a cruel joke.

His chest tightened, the knife twisting deeper with each memory. She wasn't his. None of those milestones were truly his.

When he reached Tessa's door, he stopped. His hand hovered over the doorknob, trembling, before he finally mustered the courage to open the door.

Tessa was on the floor drawing something. Her second favourite thing to do aside playing Lego. He had loved watching her draw, loved how her little fingers gripped the pencil as if the entire world depended on what she was making.noveldrama

"Kris," Boatemaa said with a smile when she noticed him. "It's good to see you."

Tessa looked up, her face lighting up at the sight of him. She dropped the pencil she was holding and ran straight toward him, her arms open wide.

"Daddy!"

Kris felt like he'd been punched in the gut. His legs almost buckled beneath him as he crouched to let her hug him. The moment her tiny arms wrapped around his neck, his throat tightened painfully. He could barely breathe.

"I missed you so much, Daddy!" the little chirped, her voice full of innocence. She had no idea. No idea of the storm swirling inside him.

He swallowed hard, struggling to keep his voice steady. "I missed you too, sweetheart,"

He kissed her on the forehead, the familiar warmth of her skin almost undoing him completely.

Tessa grabbed his hand, tugging at it with excitement. "Come look! I made something."

Kris let her pull him across the room, each step feeling like a lead weight. She led him to the floor where a pencil drawing lay on a sheet of paper. Kris sat down beside her, feeling numb as he looked at the drawing. It was simple-just three stick people. A man, a woman, and a little girl in between them holding both of their hands.

"This is mummy," Tessa said, pointing at the woman. "This is me," she continued, pointing to the little girl in the middle. Then she looked at him with her bright eyes. "And this is you, Daddy! We're a happy family. Always."

Kris's heart cracked. He stared at the drawing, unable to speak for a moment. She'd twisted the knife even more without knowing.

"Do you like it?" Tessa asked, her voice sweet and hopeful.

"I love it," Kris croaked out, barely holding himself together. If only she knew.

Tessa kept talking, babbling about her drawing, about how Boatemaa wouldn't let her do this or that but how she always found a way to do it anyway.

But Kris couldn't focus on her words.

He could only stare at her, at the way her eyes sparkled when she

was excited, at the soft curls of her

hair. She was beautiful-his ser

angel. But she wasn't his. Not really. She never had been.

Suddenly, Tessa tugged on his sleeve, snapping him out of his daze. "Daddy, you're not listening!" she pouted.

Kris blinked and forced a smile. "I'm sorry, sweetheart," he said, ruffling her hair. "I'm listening now." Tessa looked at him with those big, innocent eyes, her brows furrowed in confusion. "Daddy... are you mad at me?"

His heart lurched. He quickly shook his head, forcing his voice to sound light. "No, of course not. I could never be mad at you, princess.

Tessa seemed satisfied with that, but then she leaned in closer, her little hands on his arm. "I love you, Daddy,"

Kris felt his entire world collapse at that moment. His chest heaved, and he barely managed to whisper back, "I love you too, baby."

But it was too much. It was all too much. He stood up quickly, muttering that he would be right back, and hurried out of the room before Tessa could see the tears welling up in his eyes.

Outside her door, Kris leaned against the wall, his hands gripping his head. His whole body shook with the foree of the emotions tearing him apart He wanted to scream, to punch something, anything, to release the pain clawing at his insides.

He should have never found out. He would've been better off being the fool, the idiot who didn't know. Because the pain he was feeling right now was unbearable.

How could they have done this to him? Everyone he once trusted so much.

His mother, Karen, Henry.

The thought of Henry made lava flow through Kris's veins. His hands clenched into fists. Henry, the man

he had once considered his best friend.

Yet all this time, he'd been laughing at him behind his back.

Kris slowly straightened, wiping the tears form his eyes.

He had to make him pay. Henry had to pay.