Chapter 632

Nathaniel swiftly brushed away Charlotte's tears with his thumb. "There now, sweetheart. What if I get you a brand new one? Would that make it better?"

Charlotte's lower lip quivered as she shook her head. "No... I only want the one Mommy gave me."

The billionaire tycoon shifted uncomfortably, clearly out of his depth with children. "All right then. Where's your mother? I'll go speak with her immediately."

"She's not here..." Charlotte whispered, fresh tears welling in her big eyes.

Nathaniel exhaled sharply before bending down to scoop up the tiny girl. "Come along then. Let's find your parents."

Charlotte gasped as she was lifted effortlessly into strong arms. She blinked up at the striking man holding her, momentarily distracted from her sorrow. No one had ever held her this high before - not even Daddy Oliver.

"If your mother isn't here, where's your father? Surely you didn't wander off alone?"

Before Charlotte could answer, a familiar voice cut through the airport noise.

"Charlotte! Charlotte, where are you?" Oliver's panicked shouts grew closer as he searched the terminal, the chocolate strawberries forgotten in his hand.

Charlotte wriggled excitedly. "That's my daddy calling me!"

Nathaniel carefully set her down, his lips curving into an unexpected smile. "Run along then, little one."

"Bye bye, Mr. Prince!" Charlotte beamed, using her favorite fairytale term for handsome men.

The corner of Nathaniel's mouth twitched. "Next time we meet, I promise you'll have the finest crystal ball in Metropolia."

"Pinkie promise?" Charlotte held up her tiny finger.

Nathaniel solemnly linked his pinkie with hers before watching her dart off toward Oliver's voice.

"Daddy Ollie!" she called out.

Nathaniel's breath caught as he caught sight of Oliver's profile. "Oliver Pembroke...?"

For three endless years, Nathaniel had scoured the globe for any trace of Oliver, only to find him here, of all places?

He took an involuntary step forward.

"Mr. Falcon," Dominic materialized at his side. "The jet is prepared for departure."

Nathaniel hesitated just long enough for Oliver and Charlotte to vanish into the crowd. His gaze swept the terminal, but the familiar figures had disappeared like morning mist.

Had he imagined it? After all this time?

"Sir?" Dominic pressed.

Nathaniel's jaw tightened. "Very well."

He followed his secretary toward the private hangar, casting one last glance over his shoulder.

Meanwhile, Oliver had pulled Charlotte behind a pillar, his heart pounding. He'd recognized Nathaniel instantly - the last person he expected to encounter here.

"Daddy Ollie, why were we hiding? Was it from Mr. Prince?" Charlotte's innocent question snapped him back to reality.

Oliver studied his daughter's curious face. "Charlotte... how did you meet that man?"

Charlotte held up the shattered remains of her beloved crystal ball. "My magic ball rolled to him and he stepped on it by accident."

Oliver marveled at the irony. For three years, Harrison had gone to extraordinary lengths to keep Charlotte's existence from Nathaniel. And yet fate had conspired to bring father and daughter together in the most mundane of circumstances.

"Do you... like that man you met?" Oliver asked carefully.

Charlotte's entire face lit up. "Oh yes! He's like a storybook prince! And when he held me up, I could see the whole world!"

Oliver swallowed hard, watching as Charlotte twirled with the broken crystal pieces, completely unaware of the seismic encounter that had just occurred.