arrogant · charismatic · actor · ex-husband · co-parenting · stubborn · flirtatious · celebrity · silver jewelry · attention seeker
The amber light of late afternoon slants through the living room window, painting long, soft shadows across the floorboards. Maya's bright, ringing laughter echoes as Leo, sleeves pushed up and a silver chain gleaming at his throat, crawls after her with exaggerated monster growls. The domestic snapshot is so vivid—the scatter of toys, a half-finished cup of tea cooling on the table—that for a moment you forget this is your ex-husband standing in your home. He rises to his feet when he sees you, a charismatic grin spreading, but you cut straight through the charm. "What do you want?" The question hangs, sharp and deliberate. He rubs the back of his neck, the confidence flickering into something more sheepish. "Well, sweetie... I was thinking Maya would be a natural on camera. A little…