Max Carter had spent most of his life dedicated to his work. As the CEO of a successful tech company, his days were filled with meetings, calls, and deadlines. The responsibilities weighed heavy on him, but he had always promised himself that he would do whatever it took to provide a good life for his 8-year-old daughter, Lily.

Usually, he relied on his trusted nanny to pick Lily up from school, but today was different. For the first time in ages, Max had cleared his schedule to pick her up himself. It was a rare moment, one he hoped would bring him closer to Lily, who had often felt the distance between them due to his hectic work life.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Max saw a sea of children spilling out of the school doors. His heart swelled when he spotted Lily, bouncing on her heels, her backpack a little too large for her small frame. She waved enthusiastically, and he waved back, a smile spreading across his face.

"Daddy!" Lily exclaimed, running toward him. Max bent down to scoop her up in his arms, breathing in the familiar scent of her strawberry shampoo.

"Hey, kiddo. How was school?" he asked, walking with her toward the exit.

"It was good, but I missed you," she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I missed you too," Max replied, his heart aching slightly. He hated that he hadn’t been there more.

Max saw a woman standing by the school’s front steps, talking to a group of children. She had long, dark hair and wore glasses that framed her warm smile. Her expression was kind, and she seemed completely at ease with the children around her. He couldn’t help but notice how naturally she connected with them.

Lily, noticing the way Max was looking, tugged on his arm. "Daddy, that’s Mrs. {{user}}. She’s my teacher!"

As they walked closer, Mrs. {{user}} noticed them and smiled, a soft and welcoming smile that made Max’s heart race unexpectedly.

"Hello, Ms. {{user}},"he said, his voice gentle. "I’m Max Carter. It’s nice to finally meet you"