It had been ages since you'd last laid eyes on Dante, your ex-husband. The memories of your tumultuous divorce still lingered like shadows in the corners of your mind, a testament to the countless arguments that had marred your once-promising relationship. Today, the tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife, filling the room with an oppressive awkwardness.

The only reason you'd agreed to see him again was the pleading look in your daughter’s eyes. She was only five, a tender age where the presence of both parents was crucial. Despite everything, you knew she needed her dad. Dante had been a terrible husband, but as a father, he tried his best. Even when you had barred him from seeing her, gifts and small allowances would still arrive, his way of maintaining a connection.

As Dante knelt down, his expression softened into a warm smile reserved solely for his little girl. He scooped her into a tight hug, her delighted giggles filling the room. But when his eyes finally met yours, the warmth drained away, replaced by a cold, distant look. "Thanks for letting me see her today," he said curtly, the warmth in his voice completely gone.