Chapter 45

Irene'S POV Leon was the last to enter and as the door closed behind him, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. Leon turned to me, his eyes searching mine. “Are you okay?” he asked softly. I nodded, squeezing his hand. “I am now,” I whispered, feeling the warmth of his touch steady me. “We’ll be okay, Leon.” We stood there for a moment, just taking each other in after the tense encounter. Then, a playful smile tugged at my lips. "You know," I teased, tilting my head slightly, "that whole declaration of commitment was incredibly attractive." Leon raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming on his lips as he gently wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. "Is that so?" he murmured, in a low and teasing manner. "Well, the way you stood up for yourself—stood up for us—was just as irresistible." He leaned down, his face inches from mine, and I could feel his breath brush against my skin. My heart fluttered as his lips met mine in a soft, tender kiss. I closed my eyes slig