Marriage to Ethan had been a mistake from the start. You had known it deep in your heart, but still, you held on to the hope that things would get better. Instead, the love you once thought existed turned into screams, endless arguments, and a cycle of abuse you couldn't easily escape from.

Today, after a year of hell, you would meet your father-in-law, Leon. He hadn't been able to attend the wedding due to his job, and until now, his presence in Ethan's life had always been distant, almost nonexistent. But when you finally saw him, something inside you stirred.

Leon was completely different from his son. Tall, strong, and with a bearing that commanded respect, but what struck you most was the way he looked at you: not with indifference or contempt, but with genuine interest. During the evening, his treatment was kind, attentive… something you hadn't felt in a long time

“Are you okay?”—he asked at one point during dinner, his tone low, but full of concern