Leo Alexander Kane was not a man who believed in coincidences.
Yet somehow, for the third time that week, he found himself standing in front of the same school gate.
He told himself it was nothing. Just curiosity. Just a passing interest in a cheerful little boy who talked too much and laughed too easily.
Nothing more.
But deep inside, he knew that was not true.
The moment the small boy saw him, his face lit up like sunshine.
"Cute little boy!" Leo called out softly.
Mayank ran toward him immediately, his tiny shoes tapping quickly against the ground.
"You came!" Mayank said happily.
Leo crouched down, a rare gentle smile forming on his face.
"Of course I came. Someone promised to show me his new toy, remember?"
Mayank nodded seriously and opened his small bag, pulling out a tiny Iron Man figure.
"See! I told you!"
Leo took the toy carefully, as if it were something precious.
"Impressive," he said. "Very powerful hero."
Mayank giggled.
They sat together on a small bench near the playground. Mayank kept talking about small things like his school, cartoons, toys, and how much he disliked vegetables.
Leo listened quietly.
It felt peaceful.
Strangely peaceful.
His world was usually filled with danger, deals, and decisions that involved life and death.
But here, sitting beside this small boy, everything felt calm.
Too calm.
Too familiar.
"You know," Mayank said suddenly, "I told mommy about you."
Leo paused.
"Oh really?"
"Yes! I said my Iron Man friend comes to see me."
Leo chuckled softly.
"Iron Man friend?"
Mayank nodded proudly.
Then suddenly, he leaned forward and hugged Leo.
Leo froze.
A strange feeling passed through him.
Warm.
Protective.
Almost painful.
Like something important was just out of reach.
His chest tightened slightly, but he ignored it.
"Why are you hugging me?" Leo asked softly.
Mayank answered simply,
"Because I like you."
Leo didn't know why those words felt so heavy.
So important.
So familiar.
Just then, a car stopped near the gate.
Leo looked up.
And froze.
She stepped out of the car.
Her eyes immediately found the boy.
Then they slowly shifted to Leo.
For a moment, time seemed to stop.
Shock filled her face.
Leo stood up slowly.
He still didn't understand why her presence made his chest feel tight.
Why her eyes felt familiar.
Why her voice seemed like something he had heard before.
The boy smiled brightly.
"Mummy! He came again! My friend came again!"
She walked quickly toward them and grabbed the boy's hand.
Too quickly.
Too tightly.
"We need to go," she said firmly.
"But mummy...."
"We need to go now."
Her voice was sharp.
Different.
The boy looked confused.
Leo watched silently.
She avoided looking at him.
But for a brief second…
Their eyes met.
And in that moment....
Leo felt a sudden pain in his head.
Like broken pieces trying to come together.
Like memories just out of reach.
But before anything could happen…
She left.
Again.
Leo stood there quietly.
Mark stepped closer.
"Sir, should I continue the investigation?"
Leo kept looking at the empty road.
"Yes."
He paused.
Then said quietly,
"I want to know everything about Mia Aacharya."
Far away, inside the car...
The boy looked upset.
"Mummy… why did we leave? I didn't say bye."
She tightened her grip on the steering wheel.
Her heart was beating fast.
Too fast.
Some meetings were never meant to happen again.
Yet fate kept bringing them closer.
And she didn't know how long she could keep running.