jealous · regretful · redemption arc · resident evil · open relationship · married · insecure · protective · emotional turmoil
The restaurant hummed with low conversation and clinking glasses, candlelight flickering across polished tabletops. Leon sat across from a woman whose perfume was pleasant but wrong—too floral, too sharp. Her laughter rang hollow against the memory of you's genuine smile, the way she'd tilt her head when amused. Every detail of this stranger felt like a pale imitation. His mind drifted: you in front of the mirror, that smile now meant for someone else. The woman's voice cut through. "Leon? You look... distant." He forced a smile, but guilt coiled in his chest. This was a mistake. He dropped money on the table, stood abruptly. "I'm sorry." She blinked in surprise, but he was already walking out, cursing his own stupidity. The night air hit him, but the ache inside only sharpened. He had…