Restroom

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Luna asked her husband, a hint of sadness in her smile.

"How I wish I could," Rhyns replied, forcing a smile. But inside, a heavy weight settled in his chest at the thought of being separated from his wife and son. He wanted to go, but a massive project for their company, one he was leading, held him back. He could only take a vacation after it was completed.

At the airport, Luna carried their son while Rhyns handled their luggage. He scooped Rocco from Luna's arms, kissing his wife. "Let's go," he said, leading them towards the departure area. Once they reached the point where he couldn't go any further, he hugged Rocco tightly, then Luna.

He kissed Luna deeply, his lips lingering on hers, as if he never wanted to let go. "I'll miss you so much," he whispered against her lips, his voice thick with emotion. "Take care of yourself and Rocco. And don't forget, I'll be counting down the days until you come back."

But then, their son started to complain.

"Dada, I can't breathe..." Rocco mumbled in his tiny voice.

Luna and Rhyns burst into laughter. "Oh, I'm sorry, baby. Dada's going to miss you so much. Aren't you going to miss me too?" Rhyns asked his son, his voice soft and full of love.

Luna stroked Rocco's hair, smiling as she watched the father-son exchange.

"Rocco's... gonna miss... dada... dada come with Rocco and Mommy... 'cause dada alone... Dada sad..." Rocco replied in his adorable, slightly slurred voice.

The innocent words hit Rhyns hard. He wanted to stop them from leaving, to hold them close and defy the three-week separation. He hugged Rocco tightly, kissing his cheek repeatedly.

"You really look like you're about to cry, love," Luna teased, gently stroking his cheek.

"Tss... Just wait 'til you get back," Rhyns teased, leaning closer with a wicked grin. "I'll make sure you can't walk straight for days. You'll regret leaving me unsupervised."

Luna's cheeks flushed instantly, her jaw dropping as she slapped his arm. "Rhyns! What the heck?!"

Rhyns burst out laughing, holding his sides. "What? I meant leg day at the gym! You're the one with the dirty mind!"

Luna glared at him, her lips twitching into a betrayed smile. "You're impossible!"

"And you're blushing," Rhyns countered smugly, dodging her next playful pinch. He pulled her into another embrace, this time holding her a little longer, his kiss lingering, as if trying to erase the ache of the coming days apart.

As they boarded the plane, a different kind of excitement bubbled within Luna. They would be making a cross-country stop in Singapore, where they would have a two-hour layover before catching their connecting flight to the Philippines.

Once they landed in Singapore, Luna decided to grab dinner at a fast-food restaurant with Rocco. Their flight wasn't until nine.

"Mom, I wanna pee-pee," Rocco said, tugging at her hand, his voice a tiny, adorable squeak.

"Okay, you know how to pee-pee properly, right? Use the toilet like a big boy. Mommy won't come inside the public men's toilet, but I'll wait right outside, okay?" Luna said softly, smiling. Rocco nodded and went into the restroom.

While waiting for her son, Luna noticed he was taking a long time. Five minutes passed, and she started to worry. She was about to go in after him when Rocco suddenly ran out, rushing towards her.

"Mommy, mommy! Rocco's pants... pants stuck! Won't open!" Rocco puffed, his tiny hands waving for emphasis. "But... but nice man help me! I say tank you, Mommy! Tank you!"

Luna crouched down, her heart melting at his earnest expression and jumbled words. "Oh no, baby, Mommy forgot your pants were too tight! I'm so sorry, sweetheart. Who helped you?"

Rocco scrunched up his nose in thought, pointing in a vague direction. "Umm... man! Nice man! Him big like Daddy! Him say, 'Okay, buddy!' an' open my pants! I say tank you like a big boy, Mommy!"

Luna chuckled, pulling him into a hug and smoothing his hair. "You're such a polite little guy, my big boy."

A moment later, a man stepped out of the restroom, his presence immediately commanding the air around him. He wore black sunglasses, but they couldn't hide the sharpness of his gaze as it swept over the room. His crisp white shirt clung just enough to his broad shoulders and chest, the slight opening at the collar teasing the strength beneath. The black belt and fitted trousers only added to the striking image—clean, polished, and effortlessly intimidating. His movements were fluid, like he was aware of the attention he drew but entirely indifferent to it.

Rocco's voice broke through the sudden stillness in Luna's mind. "Him… him… I said thank you, sir!" he chirped, pointing eagerly at the man.

Luna's lips parted as she turned, a polite smile ready on her face, but it faltered the moment her eyes locked onto him. Her heart gave an unsettling jolt, her stomach tightening involuntarily. "Thank you so much for helping my son," she said, her voice steady despite the sudden dryness in her throat. She rested a hand on Rocco's small shoulder, grounding herself against the inexplicable unease crawling up her spine.

The man didn't reply immediately. Instead, his head tilted slightly, the sharp edge of his jaw catching the light. He seemed to study her, a faint tension building as the silence stretched. It was almost suffocating, and yet she couldn't look away. There was something about him—his height, the way he carried himself, the air of mystery shrouded by those sunglasses. It was unsettling but strangely familiar, like a storm you could feel but couldn't yet see.

Then, he spoke, his voice deep and rich, the kind that settled in your chest and left your heart racing. "Long time no see… Leil."

Leil.

Her breath hitched. Only one person ever called her by that name—a name that belonged to a life she thought she had left behind.

Luna froze, her gaze locking on the man. Time seemed to stretch as her mind scrambled to process the flood of emotions rushing in. Recognition dawned slowly, her stomach twisting in both surprise and dread.

It was him.

Luna swallowed hard. A wave of emotions crashed over her, shock, a prickle of unease, a flicker of anger. She had buried every memory of him, locked away the hurt and bitterness he had left behind. She told herself she had moved on, that he was just a ghost from her past.

Feigning ignorance, Luna forced a tight smile, her fingers gripping Rocco's shoulder as if he were the only thing keeping her grounded. Her voice wavered, but she pushed through, steadying it as best as she could. "Uh, do I know you?"

The man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he moved with an infuriating slowness, reaching up to remove his sunglasses. The motion was deliberate, almost theatrical, as though he knew the weight of what he was about to reveal.

And then she saw them—his eyes.

Gray. Piercing. Unforgettable.

Luna's breath caught, her chest tightening like a vice. Those eyes, now sharper, more calculating, dragged her back into a storm of memories she had spent years burying. Memories of laughter, whispered promises, and the hollow pain of betrayal. She felt like she was suffocating, her carefully constructed walls cracking under the intensity of his gaze.

It was him.

Kai Rowan Davis.

The name hit her like a thunderclap, echoing in her mind as her stomach churned. He looked different now—his broad shoulders filled out his shirt in a way that demanded attention, his jawline was sharper, more defined, and there was an air of unshakable confidence in the way he stood. But no amount of time could disguise the truth. It was him. The man who had been her everything. The man who had shattered her.