I stepped down from the porch, my eyes burning the moment I saw Leo standing there with Yuke. My hands clenched on their own.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
I shoved him hard. "Get out. Who gave you the address to this place?"
Leo barely staggered. "Astra, listen to me first—"
"No." I pushed him again, harder this time. "Go back to wherever you crawled from."
His expression hardened. In one sharp movement, he caught both my wrists, stopping me.
"So you won't listen."
"Let go of me, Leo."
Instead of answering, he bent down, lifted me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing, and rushed toward the house. My fists hit his back as I struggled.
"Put me down, you monster!"
He raised one finger to his lips. "Shh."
His eyes flicked toward Yuke—and then past him, toward the porch. I followed his gaze for half a second and my chest tightened. Akira was peeking from under the porch, frozen, his small body pulled in on itself.
"You kids play," Leo said calmly. "I'll apologize to your mother."
Yuke nodded and ran back toward the garden. I twisted again, furious.
"You shameless man!"
The door slammed shut behind us. I heard the lock click.
I was pushed forward, stumbling, my back hitting the floor as I gasped. Before I could react, his weight pressed over me, trapping me beneath him. My breath hitched as I felt his presence far too close — familiar, suffocating, unwanted… yet painfully remembered.
My clothes were disheveled, his shirt already open, the air heavy between us.
"Once you are satisfied, leave," I said coldly, turning my face away.
He stared down at me, eyes dark, jaw tight.
"No," he replied firmly. "I will take you back, Astra."
"I don't want to go anywhere with you." My hands clenched against the floor.
He leaned closer, his breath brushing my cheek.
"Then I will not leave either."
I turned my face away. "There is no need for you. We are happy."
His hand came up, gripping my wrist, pinning it beside my head. His voice softened — dangerously.
"But I can't live without you, Astra."
"I don't care," I snapped. "I can't live with someone who discriminates.
There was a long silence.
Then suddenly—
his lips pressed against mine.
I froze.
It wasn't gentle. It wasn't soft. It was desperate, angry, aching—like he was trying to silence my words with his mouth. I tried to push him away, my hands hitting his chest, but he only held me tighter, one arm around my waist, the other cradling my face.
"Let go of me," I whispered, breath shaking.
He didn't answer. He kissed me again—slower this time, deeper, as if reminding me of everything we used to be.
My heart betrayed me.
I hated it.
I hated how my body remembered him even when my mind screamed no.
When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against mine, his breath uneven.
Then his grip loosened just a little, his voice softer, coaxing.
"Then let me prove it. I'll love Akira the same as Yuke. I'll stay here. I'll change."
I scoffed weakly, breath unsteady. "You changing sounds stupid."
A low chuckle vibrated against me. "That's why I love you. You're too smart to fool."
I struggled again, heat rising to my face. "You monster—let go of me."
"Not until you agree."
His hand moved to my lower back, pulling me up against him, his breath brushing my ear, sending an unwanted shiver through me.
I bit my lip, eyes burning.
"…You're shameless."
He didn't deny it.
By the time he finally pulled away, my heart was racing, my body tense, my thoughts and body a mess—
….
Leo stepped out of the room first.
I followed slowly, one hand on my head, the other pressed against my back, irritation and exhaustion weighing me down.
Yuke immediately ran to him.
"Daddy!"
Leo smiled, lifted him, kissed his cheeks. Yuke giggled, returning it without hesitation.
Akira didn't move.
He stayed where he was, pressed close to the porch, eyes wide with fear.
I noticed instantly.
I crossed the distance in two steps and picked him up. His fingers twisted tightly into my shirt, his small body shaking.
"Get lost," I snapped at Leo. "You're scaring my child."
"You said yes," Leo replied calmly. "I'm staying."
Yuke clapped. "Daddy will stay with us!"
Leo smiled at him.
Akira's grip tightened.
I sighed, rubbing his head gently, pulling him closer.
"It's okay, baby. Don't worry. Mama is here."
He buried his face into my shoulder.
That night, Yuke played with his father in the TV room, laughter filling the house.
Akira sat alone.
I found him by the sliding door, sitting on the porch, the night air brushing his cheeks. The door slid open softly.
He turned. "Mom."
Relief flooded me. I sat beside him slowly.
"You're sitting alone again," I murmured. "Everyone's playing inside."
He smiled faintly and pointed upward.
"Mama… moon."
I looked up. A full moon hung quietly in the sky.
"It's a full moon night," I said, smiling despite myself.
I lifted him into my arms and carried him inside, holding him a little tighter than usual.