Scene 1: Tristan's Hidden Agendas
Tristan leaned against the kitchen counter, his gaze distant as he watched Leon bustling around the house. The boy was playing in the corner with a set of wooden toys, his laughter filling the room with warmth. But Tristan's expression was far from content.
He's happy right now, Tristan thought to himself, his chest tightening. But what happens if Atlas pulls him back? What happens to us?
The memory of Atlas's piercing gaze from the marketplace flashed in his mind, reigniting the simmering resentment that had been building over the past year. Atlas had left Leon vulnerable, broken, and pregnant. Tristan had been the one to pick up the pieces, to hold Leon together when he was falling apart.
And now Atlas had returned, stirring chaos in their lives once more.
"I can't let him ruin this," Tristan muttered under his breath. "Leon deserves better."
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Scene 2: The Subtle Manipulation Begins
Later that afternoon, as they sat in the garden, Tristan casually brought up the letter Leon had received from Atlas.
"Have you decided what to do about him?" Tristan asked, keeping his tone light.
Leon sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I told him it's over. I don't think there's anything left to say."
Tristan nodded slowly, his fingers tightening around the edge of the table. "You're right. He left you, Leon. And after all this time, what could he possibly say that would make up for what he did?"
Leon hesitated, his gaze dropping to the ground. "He said he doesn't remember. That he didn't choose to forget."
Tristan scoffed, shaking his head. "Convenient, isn't it? He disappears without a trace, and now he wants you to believe it's because of some convenient bout of amnesia? Sounds like an excuse to me."
Leon frowned, his heart twisting as doubt began to creep in. "You think he's lying?"
Tristan hesitated, feigning reluctance before replying, "I don't know. But I do know that someone who truly loved you wouldn't have left in the first place. And even if he is telling the truth, does it change what he did? What he put you through?"
Leon didn't respond, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions. Tristan watched him carefully, satisfaction flickering in his chest as he saw the doubt settling into Leon's features.
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Scene 3: Atlas Pushes for Answers
Across the city, Atlas sat in his quarters, his eyes locked on the latest reports from Darian. Each piece of information about Leon and Tristan only deepened the turmoil within him. The reports confirmed Tristan's close relationship with Leon, painting him as a devoted friend and protector.
But Atlas couldn't shake the image of Tristan hovering over Leon, touching him with an ease that made Atlas's blood boil. He slammed his fist onto the desk, the wood groaning under the force.
"Tristan," he growled, the name leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. "What's your hold on him?"
He needed answers, and he needed them now. Rising to his feet, Atlas strode toward the door, his mind racing with plans to confront Tristan directly.
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Scene 4: Tristan Plants a Seed
That evening, as Leon prepared dinner, Tristan sat at the table, his gaze focused on the boy playing nearby.
"He's amazing," Tristan said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Leon glanced at him, a soft smile on his lips. "He is. He's my whole world."
Tristan hesitated before saying, "Have you thought about what might happen if Atlas tries to take him?"
Leon froze, his heart skipping a beat. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm just saying," Tristan said carefully, "Atlas is a powerful man. If he decides he wants to be part of your son's life, do you think he'll ask? Or will he just take?"
Leon's stomach churned at the thought, his grip tightening on the knife in his hand. "He wouldn't. He doesn't even know about—"
"But what if he finds out?" Tristan pressed gently. "Do you really think someone like Atlas would just walk away? He's used to getting what he wants, Leon. And if he decides he wants your son..."
Leon's mind reeled as the fear Tristan's words had planted began to take root. The thought of losing his child was unbearable, and for the first time, he felt a flicker of anger not just at Atlas, but at the possibility of him interfering in their lives.
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Scene 5: Atlas Watches from the Shadows
That night, Atlas once again found himself outside the Mondell estate, hidden among the trees as he watched the warm light spilling from the windows. Inside, he could see Leon and Tristan sitting together, their son nestled between them.
The sight was like a dagger to his chest, twisting painfully with every passing second. They looked like a family—like a life he had been cut out of without explanation.
But as he watched, his sharp eyes caught the way Tristan leaned closer to Leon, the way he placed a hand on Leon's shoulder. The jealousy that surged within Atlas was uncontrollable, burning hotter with every moment.
"I'll find out who you really are," Atlas whispered, his voice trembling with anger. "And I'll make sure you never come between us again."