Ice cream

Leo woke up with a start, the shrill ringtone of his phone piercing the quiet of the early morning. He groggily turned to glance at the clock. 3:00 a.m.

He rubbed his eyes, dragged himself out of bed, and grabbed the phone.

"Hanna?" he answered, his voice rough with sleep.

From the other end, her voice came in shaky, uneven bursts. "Leo… I… I didn't know who else to call."

"What's wrong?" he asked, his tone instantly alert. "Are you okay?"

There was a pause, followed by a muffled sob. "It's my father… He passed away tonight."

Leo exhaled slowly, his hand gripping the phone tighter. "I'm so sorry, Hanna," he said softly. "Are you alone? I'll come to you."

"No," she said quickly, her voice trembling. "My mother and the family are here… but… I can't introduce you. Not now. They wouldn't understand."

Leo's chest tightened. He leaned against the edge of the bed, silent for a moment as he tried to process her words. "You don't want me there?"

"It's not that I don't want you," she replied hesitantly. "But it's complicated. My family isn't ready… and this isn't the time to explain things."

his tone sharp despite his effort to stay calm. "I see."

she said quickly, panic creeping into her voice. "Leo, please understand me,I just—"

"I understand," he interrupted, his tone now colder. "You're not ready. That's clear. I'll let you handle things your way. Call me when you're ready to talk."

"Leo, I—"

"Take care, Hanna," he said firmly, cutting her off before ending the call.

He sat on the edge of the bed for a long moment, the silence pressing in on him. His mind raced, replaying the conversation. Her refusal to acknowledge him in front of her family felt like a slap in the face, a clear sign that whatever they had wasn't as solid as he'd thought.

It wasn't the first time she'd hidden him, but he'd thought this moment—this test—would be different. Her father's death was a tragedy, but it was also an opportunity for her to show that their relationship mattered. Instead, she'd pushed him away again, as though he wasn't significant enough to stand by her side.

He eventually turned on the TV, flipping through channels mindlessly until a program about the financial and emotional toll of divorce caught his attention. He stared at the screen, a sense of unease settling over him.

"This is ridiculous," he muttered, switching off the TV.

The weight of it all bore down on him as he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Tomorrow, he decided, he'd start making concrete plans. He'd secure Ariana's financial stability after the divorce, ensuring she couldn't claim he'd left her destitute. But he'd also find out who her lover was. I think she is eager to be with him as she wanted to call the lawyer very soon,That was one piece of the puzzle he couldn't let go of to know who is her lover.

Leo's thoughts spiraled as he recalled how she'd been leaving the house earlier than usual, returning home long after the sun had set. At first, he hadn't cared much. He assumed she was going to yoga classes, meeting friends, or shopping. But her change in behavior and the late-night calls had piqued his curiosity.

The realization had hit him like a thunderbolt when he overheard one of the servant talking about Ariana's frequent absences. Now, he couldn't ignore it. He needed answers.

"This ends soon," he said to himself, his voice cold with determination. Whether it was Hanna or Ariana, he was done playing games. It was time to take control.

Leo sat silently on the couch, his thoughts swirling when a faint rustling sound broke through the stillness of the night. He frowned, turning his gaze toward the source. The noise came from the hallway, light yet distinct enough to catch his attention.

Curiosity tugged at him. Rising quietly, he moved toward the staircase, careful not to make a sound. As he approached, he saw a figure descending the stairs.

It was Ariana.

She moved quickly but cautiously, her bare feet light against the wooden steps. She was wearing a loose, silky camisole that stopped just above her waist, leaving her midriff exposed, and a pair of shorts that barely reached her thighs. Her hair was untamed, cascading down her back in soft waves.she was extremely sexy.

Leo froze, his brow furrowing as he watched her from the shadows. Her outfit, while not entirely inappropriate, was far from what he was used to seeing her wear around the house. There was something unusual in her demeanor—hurried, as if she didn't want to be seen.

Instead of calling out to her, he chose to follow silently. His instincts told him there was more to this late-night venture than a simple trip to the kitchen. He kept his distance, careful to remain unseen, his footsteps soft as he trailed behind her.

Ariana reached the kitchen and went straight to the freezer. She opened it, the soft glow of the light spilling over her figure as she rummaged through its contents.

Leo leaned against the doorway, staying just out of sight. He watched as she searched, her movements growing more frustrated with each passing second. She muttered under her breath, too low for him to hear, but he could sense her growing irritation.

Then, suddenly, her face lit up. She pulled out a tub of ice cream, holding it triumphantly as if she'd just found buried treasure.

Leo's lips twitched into an involuntary smirk as he watched her grab a spoon from the drawer and settle herself on one of the kitchen stools. She peeled the lid off the tub and took her first bite, her eyes closing briefly as a contented smile spread across her face.

He couldn't look away. There was something disarmingly innocent about the way she ate, savoring each spoonful like it was the most delicious thing she'd ever tasted. Her legs swung slightly as she perched on the stool, completely absorbed in her little midnight indulgence.

Leo stayed rooted in place, his eyes fixed on her. For a moment, it was as though time slowed. She looked so unguarded, so different from the composed and poised woman he was used to. Here, in the quiet intimacy of the kitchen, she was just Ariana, relishing a stolen moment of joy.

She licked the spoon clean before diving back into the tub, her expression a mix of mischief and delight. She had no idea he was watching, and that only added to the strange pull he felt.

Leo's grip tightened slightly against the doorframe. He wasn't sure what it was—jealousy, amusement, or something else entirely—but seeing her like this stirred something deep inside him.

As she continued eating, completely lost in the moment, Leo finally turned and slipped away, retreating to his room without making a sound. The image of her sitting there, carefree and content, lingered in his mind long after he closed his door behind him.