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But the instant I grabbed the supplies and turned around, the shop door slammed violently open.

"Leon!!"

Rapid, chaotic footsteps tore through the quiet interior. Ruby burst in wearing that charcoal suit, hair a mess, chest heaving from sprinting, her whole body like a cornered lioness ready to tear apart any intruder, running toward the back booth like she'd lost her mind.

"Mamma!"

Ruby dropped hard onto her knees on the carpeted floor, crushing Leon against her chest.

Her hands shook violently, frantically touching the back of his neck, his forehead, his limbs. Tears broke like cut strings, falling in fat drops onto Leon's hoodie. "Thank God... thank God... you scared Mamma to death... do you know that? You scared me to death!"

Isabella rushed in behind her, gasping, holding Ruby's abandoned coat, about to step forward and comfort her.

But when she got a clear look at the child's face on the sofa, Isabella froze like she'd been struck by lightning, rooted in place.

Her eyes went wide as saucers. Her gaze swept across Leon's face with its deep brown curls, pupils shaking violently, breath completely stopped. She didn't even notice when her purse slipped from her hand and hit the carpet.

"Mamma, I didn't run away! The nice man brought me in here!" Leon lifted his pudgy little hand to wipe Ruby's tears, looking over Ruby's shoulder and pointing at me standing two steps away holding children's utensils. "See, the nice man went to get me a little fork!"

Ruby sucked in a deep breath, frantically wiping the tears from her cheeks, pulling Leon behind her protectively while forcing herself to stand and prepare to thank me. "Sir, thank you so much for saving my s—"

The grateful words froze in her throat.

She looked up. Her gaze crashed straight into my face without any guard up.

All the air got sucked out of the lobby in that second.

The color drained from Ruby's face in visible time. Those amber eyes contracted violently. Even her lips trembled beyond control.

She saw the children's fork in my hand. Saw the bloodshot rage and pain in my eyes. Saw Isabella standing in the doorway looking horrified.

All the disguises, all the hope, all the secrets—torn completely to shreds in this cramped corner.

I looked at her pale, desperate face. Every suspicion settled into certainty.

"Oh my God..."

Isabella pressed both hands over her mouth, voice shaking to pieces. She looked at Leon, then at me, finally landing on Ruby's bloodless face, nearly dizzy. "This kid... those eyes... Ruby, is he—is he Daddy's son?"

Ruby didn't answer.

Her body shook violently. But she recovered fast. No hesitation—she scooped Leon up from the sofa, pressed his whole face against her chest with her suit jacket, didn't even grab her briefcase, kept her head down and bolted for the side door!

"Ruby!"

I dropped the utensils and cut off her path in long strides.

"Move, Mr. Moretti."

She bit each syllable out like grinding them through her teeth, arms locked tight around the child, tears pooling in her eyes.

"We need to talk." I kept my voice low, fighting to control the wild trembling in my chest.

"I have nothing to talk about with you!" Her expression stretched to breaking. She tried to force her way past me. "Let us go! Leon is my son. He has nothing to do with you! You hear me? Nothing!"

"Look at his face, Ruby!"

I threw my arms out to block her, staring at the confused little boy in her arms, eyes burning red, heart breaking. "Look me in the eye and tell me he's got nothing to do with me!"