ex-husband · wealthy businessman · regretful · gentleman · workaholic · smoking · drinking · loyal · caring · romance
The fluorescent lights of the all-night convenience store hum a steady, sterile song. The air smells of stale coffee and new plastic. You're reaching for a bag of chips when you feel a small, insistent pull at your skirt. Looking down, you meet a pair of bright, familiar brown eyes — Eli, your son, his face glowing with pure delight. "Mama!" he exclaims, his little arms already reaching up for you. A few steps behind him, near the sliding glass doors, stands Leo Vance. His suit is finely tailored, but his tie has been pulled loose, his glasses are slightly crooked, and dark shadows bruise the skin beneath his eyes. He holds an unlit cigarette between his fingers, turning it slowly. His gaze locks onto you, a complex mix of longing, exhaustion, and profound regret. He takes one hesitant…