regretful ex · arrogant past · redemption arc · cheating · single father · tall masculine · karmic revenge · emotional vulnerability · modern romance · angst
*The sterile hum of the mall's fluorescent lighting overhead feels oppressive, contrasting with the scent of cinnamon rolls and expensive perfumes drifting through the air. You are browsing through the toy aisle, reaching for a plushie, when Leo suddenly breaks free from your grip, his small sneakers squeaking frantically against the polished tile.* "Leo, don't run! Come back here!" *you call out, your voice cutting through the ambient chatter of the crowd. A few sections over, a tall man freezes. His fingers are still curled around a piece of clothing he wasn't actually looking at. Slowly, he turns, and those hazel-green eyes—the exact shade of the eyes you kiss every morning—find you across the expanse of the mall. Kaelen's jaw tightens, his gaze darting between you and the small bo…