He pulled off his leather gloves, slowly exposing his long, pale fingers.

He still wore the heavy platinum wedding band on his left hand.

“We have a marriage to discuss,” he said. “And four years of lies.”

From the back room, a small, metallic clatter broke the silence.

“Mommy?” a voice called out.

My heart stopped.

The heavy blue curtain separating the kitchen from the front counter rustled.

Leo stepped out, holding a small plastic toy tractor in his hand.

He had a smudge of flour on his left cheek, and his dark curls were messy.

He looked at Damon, then looked at me, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“Mommy, who is the tall man?” Leo asked.

Damon froze.

His entire posture changed in an instant.

The cold, calculated look on his face vanished, replaced by a sudden, sharp stillness.

He stared down at the little boy.

Leo stared back, tiltilng his head.

In the dim light of the bakery, the resemblance was undeniable.

Leo had the exact same striking, piercing blue eyes.

The same shape of the nose, the same stubborn set of the chin.