The playground was filled with laughter and the sound of children running around. Daisy stood beneath the shade of a tall maple tree, smiling faintly as she watched Kulture play with the other kids.
It had been so long since she felt peace — since she saw her daughter's face glowing under the afternoon sun.
Kulture's laughter echoed, bright and soft. Daisy crouched to fix her little hat when suddenly, a shadow fell over them.
Her breath caught.
Leo.
He stood a few feet away — tall, dressed in a sharp black suit, holding a phone in one hand, disbelief written all over his face. His eyes darted between Daisy and the little girl.
For a moment, the world went silent.
"Daisy?" His voice was low, stunned. "What are you doing here?"
She froze. Her lips parted, but no words came out.
Leo took a step closer, confusion turning to suspicion. "I thought you said you were on break… back home. What are you doing in this country?"
"I… I… I came for something," she stammered, her voice shaking.
"For something?" His tone deepened. "You mean for someone, right?"
Before Daisy could speak, a small voice interrupted.
"Mommy!"
Kulture ran toward them, her tiny arms wrapping around Daisy's leg. She looked up at Leo curiously, her bright eyes wide.
Leo blinked, frozen. "Mommy?" he repeated, his voice cracking slightly.
Kulture smiled, tilting her head innocently. "Yes! She's my mommy."
Daisy's heart dropped. Her hands trembled. Her lips moved, but no sound came.
Leo's gaze slowly shifted to her — hard, cold, unbelieving. "Mommy?" he said again, as if the word burned his throat. "So that's it, huh?"
"Leo, please," Daisy whispered, her voice almost breaking. "It's not what you think—"
He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Not what I think? You disappeared all those years ago, changed your name, hid from me… and now I find you here with a child?"
Tears welled in her eyes. "I didn't hide from you… I just—"
"Don't!" he snapped. "Don't lie to me again, Daisy. I thought you were different. But you're still the same — still keeping secrets, still running away."
Kulture clung to Daisy's hand, looking up at Leo with confusion. "Mommy, why is he angry?"
That simple question broke Daisy completely. Tears spilled down her cheeks. "Please, Leo," she begged softly. "Don't do this in front of her… let's talk somewhere else."
Is she mine? Leo said
Yes, Leo .I didn't mean to keep from you, please believe me
But Leo wasn't listening anymore.
He turned to Kulture, his voice softer but strained. "Come on, sweetheart. I'll take you home."
Daisy shook her head quickly, stepping in front of them. "No, please! Don't take her. Please, she's my daughter—"
"Oh, now you want to claim her?" His voice was low and pained. "You didn't think I had the right to know? You had my child and never said a word?"
"Leo, stop—" she tried to reach him, but he brushed her hand away.
Tears blurred her vision. "It's not what you think. Please just listen to me for once," she cried, her voice trembling.
Tears slipped down her cheeks uncontrollably. "You still don't believe me… just like before," she whispered brokenly.
With that, he took Kulture's hand gently and turned away.
"Leo!" Daisy cried, falling to her knees. "Please… she's all I have. Don't take her from me."
He paused, his shoulders stiff, but he didn't look back. "You should've thought of that before you lied to me."
Then he walked away, leaving Daisy in tears — the sound of her sobs mixing with the quiet wind of the evening.