"Give me your address."
His tone was flat, like a man holding himself together by a thread.
Daisy hesitated.
Why should she trust him again? After everything?
But… she still loved him.
She finally murmured the address.
The drive was cold. Tense. Only their breathing filled the car.
When they arrived, he opened the door for her, almost too gently—like he was afraid she might shatter. They walked inside. The door shut behind them, sealing in all the unspoken pain.
Leo turned to face her.
"Why did you come here, Daisy?" he asked quietly.
She scoffed. "Is that really what you should be asking?"
He swallowed hard, taking a step closer.
Her eyes brimmed with tears. "You were the one who said those horrible words, Leo. You tore me apart."
He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated at himself more than her.
"I know. And I'm sorry. I was angry… j
His voice cracked. "I didn't want to lose you again."
She shook her head, tears falling. "Then why does it feel like you already threw me away?"
Leo reached for her chin, gently lifting her face, what I'm I to you daisy asked?" he repeated her earlier question. "You really want to know?"
She stared up at him, breath shaking.
He leaned closer, voice deep and raw:
"You're my innocent actress… and my baby mama."
For a second, the world stopped.
Then Daisy's expression snapped.
She slapped his hand away. "Baby mama? That's all I am to you?"
Her voice exploded through the room.
"Do I look like I'm just here to produce babies for you? Is that what you think of me? Some factory that pops out children for you to claim whenever you feel like?!"
Her anger trembled with heartbreak.
Leo took a step forward, trying to calm her, but she backed away.
"No, Daisy—"
"Don't!" she yelled, eyes blazing. "You hurt me once. And now you want to claim ownership? Over me? Over our daughter?"
He reached for her again—desperate.
"Daisy, please…"
But she shook her head furiously, tears streaming.
"I won't let you break me again, Leo."
Daisy wiped her tears furiously and turned her back to him, arms wrapped tightly around herself like she was trying to hold her heart together.
"I can't do this anymore…" she whispered.
She moved toward the door, steps slow but determined—like each one was ripping a piece of her soul out of her chest.
When her hand touched the doorknob—
SLAM.
Leo's hand pressed against the door, shutting it firmly before she could pull it open.
"Don't leave me," he breathed, voice shaking.
She refused to look at him. "Move, Leo."
"No."
His reply was immediate. Desperate.
She tried again to pull the door, but his grip didn't budge. Her frustration exploded.
"Why do you always hold me only when I decide to walk away?!" she yelled, pain shaking through her entire body.
Leo slowly turned her around, his eyes glossy with tears he had been too proud to shed.
Then—
He dropped to his knees.
Right in front of her.
Daisy froze, shocked.
He cupped her legs gently, forehead pressed against her thigh—holding on like she was the only thing in his world.
"Daisy… I'm sorry," he whispered, voice cracking.
"You're not just the mother of my child. You're the woman I've loved since I was too stupid to understand what love meant."
Her breath caught.
"You left because I failed you once," he continued. "And when I got you back, I still failed again. But I swear, I won't lose you this time. Not again. Not ever."
He looked up at her then — eyes breaking apart, heart on full display.
"You're my first love… my only love," he confessed.
"My innocent actress… the woman who ruined me beautifully."
Her knees weakened, tears falling uncontrollably.
Leo stood and—slow, careful—wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his head on her shoulder.
"I'm not begging because I'm weak," he whispered into her ear.
"I'm begging because life without you is impossible."
Daisy's hands trembled as they slowly rose… and grabbed his arms that held her.
Her voice came out tiny, shattered:
"Then show me, Leo…
that I'm more than just a baby mama to you."
He tightened his hold, breathing in her scent like it was the air he had been dying for.
"I'll spend the rest of my life proving it," he vowed.
"One heartbeat at a time.