The late afternoon sun painted golden streaks across the horizon, casting long shadows through the tall windows of the café where Ava sat, nervously stirring her cappuccino. The rhythmic clink of the spoon against porcelain was the only sound she made, while her mind replayed Leo's words from the night before.
"I have something to tell you, but I need you to trust me."
That had been all he said—cryptic, intense, and maddening. Ever since their relationship began to blossom past flirtatious banter and quiet touches, Ava had known Leo carried something heavier beneath his playful grin. Now, she could feel the weight pressing down between them.
Her phone buzzed.
Leo: I'm on my way. Don't leave.
We need to talk.
She exhaled shakily, heart fluttering between hope and fear. The café door opened moments later, the bell chiming gently as Leo stepped in. His eyes found hers instantly, and he walked toward her with the kind of purpose that made her spine straighten.
"Ava," he said, sliding into the seat across from her.
She studied him—his jaw tighter than usual, his eyes shadowed. Not the light-hearted Leo she'd fallen for in the studio that day, not the man who'd spun her in laughter on rainy sidewalks.
"What's going on?" she asked gently.
Leo ran a hand through his hair and looked around before answering. "I should've told you sooner. About everything. But I didn't know how. I didn't want to ruin what we have."
Ava's throat dried. "Ruin what?"
He leaned in, elbows on the table, eyes imploring. "My life before I met you… it wasn't simple. It still isn't. My past has a way of showing up when I least expect it."
Ava narrowed her eyes. "You're scaring me, Leo."
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded photograph. Carefully, he placed it on the table between them. In the picture, a younger Leo stood beside a woman with striking green eyes and a soft smile. Between them was a little girl, no older than five, with pigtails and Leo's exact mischievous expression.
Ava blinked.
"Her name is Emma," Leo said quietly. "She's my daughter."
The air in the café shifted. A waitress passed by, asking if they needed anything else, and Ava shook her head numbly. Her gaze remained locked on the photo.
"You have a child?" she whispered, voice barely audible.
"Yes." Leo looked ashamed. "And I should've told you the day we met, but I didn't know if we'd ever be more than acquaintances. Then we became… everything. You became everything. And I was terrified of losing you."
Ava's thoughts spun. Emma. A daughter. Hidden from her all this time. "Why didn't you tell me when we started dating? Or when things got serious?"
Leo winced. "Because her mother—Isabelle—she and I were in a very complicated situation. She didn't want Emma involved in my life at first. And I agreed, thinking it was best. But over time, I fought for shared custody. It's still a mess in court."
Ava stared down at the photo, her fingers trembling as she traced the girl's smile. "She's beautiful," she murmured. "She looks just like you."
"I've only recently started seeing her regularly. Weekends. Short visits." His voice cracked. "And I didn't want to throw all of this at you while you were finding your rhythm in your own life. Your gallery. Your future."
Ava's mind flashed to their recent art showcase, the way Leo had stood beside her, proudly introducing her to collectors, bragging about her talent. Had he been carrying this secret even then?
She met his gaze. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes," he said without hesitation.
"Then you should've trusted me with this too."
"I know," he said, shame coloring his voice. "And I'm sorry."
Ava pushed back from the table slowly. "I need time, Leo. I need to think."
He rose too, voice desperate. "Ava—please—this doesn't change how I feel about you. I love you."
She froze. Those words had never passed between them before. Not officially. Not like this.
Her lips parted slightly, but nothing came out. Instead, she turned, walking out into the amber glow of sunset.
Ava sat in her studio later that night, staring at a blank canvas. The paints lay scattered across the desk, brushes untouched. Normally, painting gave her peace, but now her thoughts were too jumbled to form anything coherent.
She hadn't responded to Leo's texts. Not yet. She didn't know what to say.
How did one process something so monumental?
She scrolled through her phone until she reached the photo Leo had sent after they parted. Emma, smiling up at the camera, missing a front tooth. Ava smiled in spite of herself.
"Why didn't you just tell me?" she whispered.
Her heart warred with her mind. Could she handle this part of Leo's life? A child. A co-parent. A family that would always be in the picture, even if she wasn't.
A knock on her door startled her.
She wasn't expecting anyone.
Wiping her hands on her apron, she made her way to the front of the house and peered through the window. Her breath caught.
It was Isabelle.
The woman from the photo.
Ava opened the door cautiously. "Isabelle?"
"I hope I'm not intruding," the woman said calmly. She looked poised, beautiful, and composed.
"I—um—no. Just surprised," Ava said.
"I just wanted to talk to you. Woman to woman. About Leo… and Emma."
Ava's chest tightened. "Does he know you're here?"
Isabelle shook her head. "No. This is my decision."
She stepped forward, lowering her voice. "You need to know everything before you decide whether to stay in his life. There's more going on than he's told you."
Ava stepped aside slowly, ushering her in.
The two women sat across from each other in the living room, a cup of tea untouched on the table between them. Isabelle took a deep breath.
"I'm not here to fight or sabotage. But Leo doesn't just come with a daughter—he comes with secrets."
Ava frowned. "What kind of secrets?"
Isabelle looked down at her hands. "Leo's past isn't as clean as he wants you to believe. Before Emma was born, he was involved in something… risky. Dangerous, even. The reason I kept Emma from him for so long wasn't just emotional—it was protective."
Ava sat still, trying to read between the lines.
"What exactly are you saying?"
Isabelle met her eyes. "I'm saying there's a part of Leo's past you haven't uncovered yet. And it could still catch up with him."
Ava's skin prickled. "Why tell me now?"
"Because you matter to him. And if you're going to be part of Emma's life, you need to know the truth. All of it. I thought he'd tell you by now. But if he hasn't, maybe he's still hiding something."
A heavy silence fell between them.
Ava's thoughts reeled. Leo hadn't seemed dangerous—tormented maybe, but not reckless. And yet, Isabelle's sincerity was hard to ignore.
"I need to hear this from him," Ava finally said.
Isabelle nodded. "Then ask him the right questions. Before it's too late."
Later that night, Ava stood outside Leo's apartment, her heart thudding in her chest. She knocked three times.
Leo opened the door, surprise flashing in his eyes. "Ava?"
"We need to talk," she said firmly.
He stepped aside, letting her in.
She turned to face him. "Isabelle came to see me."
His expression fell. "She what?"
"She told me there are things you're still hiding. Things I deserve to know if we're going to move forward."
Leo looked away, jaw tightening.
Ava crossed her arms. "I'm not asking for perfection. I'm asking for truth."
He looked back at her—and the torment in his eyes was real.
"I didn't tell you everything," he admitted slowly. "Because I was afraid if I did… I'd lose you."
She took a step forward. "Then start now. Tell me the whole story. No more secrets."
Leo opened his mouth to speak—then stopped.
Someone pounded on the door.
Three sharp knocks.
Ava jumped.
Leo's face went pale. "Stay behind me," he whispered.
The knocking came again—louder.
Ava's breath caught as Leo moved toward the door.
And from the other side, a man's voice rang out, low and dangerous:
"Time's up, Leo. You thought we'd never find you?"
To be continued…