Just when her knees felt weak beneath her, Leo stopped.
He slowly pulled back, his breathing rough, his eyes searching hers as silence filled the room.
Daisy stood frozen, her face flushed, lips trembling, heart pounding like a drum.
Leo's gaze lingered for a moment longer — then he whispered, "I'll see you soon," and walked away, leaving Daisy standing there, completely breathless.
Leo hadn't driven far before he pulled the car over by the side of the quiet street.
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply as if trying to steady the storm in his chest.
"What the hell did I just do?" he muttered, his voice low, almost guilty.
He could still feel her — her warmth, the faint scent of her shampoo, the way she froze under his touch. It wasn't supposed to happen. He just wanted to see her, to tell her about the trip, maybe tease her a little the way he used to. But the moment he looked into her eyes… something inside him snapped.
It wasn't lust — not really. It was longing.
Years of buried emotions that refused to stay quiet.
He leaned his head back on the seat, his jaw tightening.
"I shouldn't have kissed her like that," he whispered.
He closed his eyes and saw the way she looked at him — surprised, confused, maybe even hurt. The image replayed over and over, making him clench the steering wheel in frustration.
He had always been the calm one. The controlled one. But around Daisy, he lost that control every single time.
After a few minutes, he started the car again and drove home.
But even when he got there, he couldn't sleep.
He walked to the balcony, the city lights stretching endlessly below. The cool breeze hit his face, yet his body still burned with the memory of her.
"She still affects me… even after all these years," he said quietly.
He thought about the way she looked today — her hair slightly messy, her voice soft, her eyes holding that same quiet innocence.
She hadn't changed much. But there was something different too — something deeper in her eyes, like she was carrying a story she didn't want to tell.
Leo frowned.
He didn't know what it was, but he could sense it — she was hiding something.
And as much as he wanted to respect her space, he knew one thing for sure.
He wasn't going to lose her again. Not this time.
He turned toward the night sky, whispering under his breath,
"Daisy, no matter what it is… I'll find a way to make it right."
He left two days later, his flight bound for the very same country where Kulture, Daisy's daughter, lived with her guardian.
They had talked the night before he left — short, sweet, but distant.
Leo had been buried in work and travel plans. Daisy didn't want to bother him, even though her heart ached knowing she wouldn't see him for a week.
She had one month off from her acting schedule, and since Leo would be gone, she decided to take the chance to visit her daughter.
It had been months since she last saw Kulture — her little sunshine.
The moment she landed, Daisy's heart softened at the familiar place. The gentle air, the warmth — everything reminded her of the peace she always found whenever she was with Kulture.
"Mommy!"
Kulture's voice echoed as soon as Daisy stepped into the small garden outside her school. Daisy smiled, kneeling to hug her tightly.
"I missed you so much," Daisy whispered, kissing her forehead.
They spent the entire day together — shopping, cooking, and laughing. Daisy finally felt at ease again, forgetting the heaviness in her chest.
But fate had other plans.