Surprise...

 "That's not how to look at Daddy!!!", Isabel yelled once Jessica glared at Jake and her glare immediately disappeared.

 "But I didn't do anything wrong sweetheart," Jessica countered.

 "You need to look at Daddy with love, Mommy, not like you want to beat him, look at him the way you look at me," Isabel commanded. "And smile too", she added and Jake couldn't help but burst into laughter.

 "You think this is funny huh?" Jessica asked and he immediately sucked in his laughter.

 "You're disobeying your daughter by talking to me that way", Jake joked and Jessica glared at him unable to stop it this time.

 "Shut up", she grunted.

 "Mommy!", Isabel yelled now about to cry again.

 "Let's just go okay? Let's go have fun Honey", Jessica responded and started dragging Isabel out.

 "Won't you help Daddy with the bags?"

 "It's fine, sweetheart", Jake waived and they began heading out.

 Soon, they arrived at the beach where Jake had already ordered a party arena to be set for them and Isabel screamed in ecstasy on seeing the lights.

 “Daddy!!! Wow, it’s so colorful and beautiful, and shiny," Isabel squealed and Jake smiled.

 “Do you like it?” Jake asked and hugged her before looking at Jessica who was staring at the balloons seeming to be lost in thoughts.

 “Yes, of course! I love it so much and would like to take some home with me! Right, Mommy?”

 “Umm... ye... yes, my angel, I... I guess we can," Jessica stammered and threw her face away.

 "Yay!!!," Isabel yelled and ran to play with the balloons leaving the adults alone.

 Jake watched Jessica as she stood dumbfounded watching the decorations and Isabel. Soon he decided to tickle her and began coming closer. Immediately he tickled Jessica from behind, she jumped away in terror and he burst into laughter-provoking Jessica to join him in laughing.

 “Wow, it had been long since I saw our Miss Strong looking so scared, this was quite serious," he taunted and she immediately frowned her face.

 "Stop it! My heart only almost stopped beating because I wasn’t expecting it so don't be so full of yourself," she growled and he burst into laughter again.

 “What do you expect when you were so busy thinking about me and my beautiful decorations?", he replied and she glared at him.

 "Like I would ever think of someone as insignificant as you", she retorted and rolled her eyes.

 "Always trying to act cold", he pointed out and she rolled her eyes again. "Just so you know, I'm not insignificant", he countered and she laughed mockingly.

 "I meant you are insignificant to me, Mr. Jake. This is something you would have understood if you had any atom of sense in you," she replied.

 "Ooh, that was a mean insult", he cheered and chuckled. "The only problem with that insult is that... I'm very significant to you, I know you won't ever admit it but the truth is that I’m now a father to our beautiful princess," he smiled and turned to look at Isabel where she was busy playing. 

 Jessica followed his line of sight and smiled on seeing how excited Isabel was but her eyes soon turned back to Jake and her smile immediately morphed into a frown.

 "Thanks for making my daughter happy and being the father she never had. I'm very grateful but... Know your limits, Mr. Jake because as we both know; I didn’t give birth to Isabel with you," she whispered and Jake laughed out so hard then dragged her back carefully to whisper into her ears.

 “Soon, my beautiful daughter will move in with me and stay with her dad, and not even your overprotection can stop it," he whispered with a smirk on his face then rubbed her hair and smelled it. "It smells so good", he muttered huskily and she immediately jumped away from him.

 "You would do well to maintain your distance from me, Mr. Jake", she growled and he chuckled. "And before you daydream about taking my daughter away, just remind yourself that I will report you to the police if you dare try that nonsense", she threatened and he burst into laughter again.

 "You won't be able to do that, you would never be successful", he bluffed and Jessica's eyes were immediately filled with fear.

 "Are you going to turn the police and my own daughter against me, Mr .Jake? Remember she's not yours”, Jessica asked in a scared tone.

 “I won't if you co-operate with us. Meanwhile, I remember your promise when we were about to come here, Isabel would definitely cry so hard if you fail her," he muttered and curled her hair on one of his fingers. "So if I were you, I wouldn't do anything selfish because you will lose," he added and winked at her. "I was just bluffing, I can't take your daughter away, can I?", he laughed seeing how terrified she was and her eyes flare open in rage.

 "Mr. Jake Smith!!!", she yelled but Isabel was too occupied to hear.

 "Loosen up, Mrs. Jessica", he laughed. "And I'm really surprised that you still remember my full name."

 "Shut up, it doesn't mean anything, I'm just good with names", she fired back and he chuckled.

 "Who said it meant anything?", he replied and walked away to go play with Isabel.

 Jessica sighed as he walked away and watched as he began playing with Isabel. He was very careful with the child which pleased Jessica a lot.

 "This young man means so well for me and my daughter, why am I being so stupid and too hard on him? I must be scarred by my past experience," she tells herself.

 'You aren't being too much Jessica. What if you end up falling for him or even get pregnant for him when he's gonna wake up one morning and disappear like that jerk of an ex that you have? Men are scum so don’t give in, you will be fine dear. Just work harder to take care of your daughter by yourself and never give up, her mind told her.

 'But what if you end up being too difficult for him to fully understand and he gives up on you? Take a good look at your daughter playing with him, it’s a clear indication that you all will make a great family. He already loves your daughter and even if he doesn’t already like you but he certainly loves your daughter. Be wise Jessica, Be wise!', another part of her mind argued and she groaned.

 “I must be going crazy because of this guy," she sighed. 

 'I don’t know what to really do again but let’s see how things go,' she concluded in her mind.

 “Mommy! Come over to this side, today is so fun and I want to come here again on my next birthday," Isabel shouted at the top of her tiny voice and Jessica giggled. "Can I come again?", Isabel asked once Jessica was close.

 “uh.. ye... Yes....Of course, if your dad wants to we will come to visit again," she replied and shot an awkward look at Jake. 

 "Daddy, will we?", Isabel asked and Jake lifted her into his arms.

 "If my princess wants it, then I will gladly do it for her in a bigger way," he replied with a broad smile and turned to Jessica who had actually focused on him to know his reply. 

 'Wow, am I finally getting her attention? I doubt that. I wonder what she’s up to because I know she doesn't like me at all, he thought and continued playing with Isabel. 

 Hours after, they had finished swimming, eating picnics, and taking selfies and they had headed straight to Jake’s house since it was late already.

 “Wow! Daddy, is this your mansion?”, Isabel squealed excitedly on seeing Jake's beautiful house.

 “Yes, my princess," he replied and bent down to hold her hands while staring into her eyes. "It can even be yours if you want it to be", he offered.

 “Of course I want it, My mommy’s house is very old and I don’t like it. The food is even...", Isabel replied but was interrupted halfway by Jessica.

 “Isabel!"

 “Don’t worry, my Angel. From now onwards, you won’t eat any bad food again. I will get you a nanny that will take care of you and cook fresh vegetables and chicken for you," he promised and kissed her softly then led her inside leaving Jessica all alone at the entrance without looking back.

 “He’s so rude and greedy. How dare he take away all the love from my daughter and make me the third party instead of him? I can’t believe my eyes", she growled and stomped in angrily.

 After they finished eating, Jake made Isabel sleep off then decided to take his bath and sleep on the couch since he only had two rooms and Isabel and Jessica would take one room each.

 He began heading to the only bathroom in the house unaware that Jessica was there as he felt she was still in the sitting room watching television.

 Jessica was already naked in the bathtub which was covered with the veil just intending to bathe when Jake entered the bathroom. He began taking off his clothes and was already naked when he paused remembering their activities at the beach.

 Jessica had also been thinking about their time on the beach and upon realizing that she hadn't started bathing, she quickly turned on the tap not realizing she had mistakenly pressed hot water. She immediately ran out of the bathtub as the water hit her and they saw each other naked.

 "You!!!"