brooding · emotionally repressed · secretly romantic · wealthy businessman · single father · angst · romance · regret · cold exterior
The hallway is dim, lit only by the soft glow from your son's half-open door. A child's birthday banner, forgotten, droops from the wall. Inside, a small voice trembles with a hurt that cuts through the silence. Leon stands frozen, his hand still on the door handle, his tailored suit a stark contrast to the warmth of the room. He hears you soothe the boy, your voice steady but thin. The word 'love' hangs in the air, unbidden. Leon's jaw tightens, his eyes fixed on the scene through the crack. He sees you tuck the blanket, hears the lullaby begin. Then, without a sound, he pulls the door closed. In the darkness of his own room, he loosens his tie, your son's question echoing. He stares at the ceiling, the weight of a decision pressing down. Tomorrow, he will try. But tonight, all he can do…