Leon glanced sideways, catching the sound of Claire's laugh like a song that pulled every string in his chest. She wasn't holding back this time—no polite chuckle, no reserved half-smile. It was real. Bright. Beautiful.
The car's soft interior lighting gilded her face, and he couldn't stop staring.
He reached over without a word and gently took her hand, his thumb stroking slow circles against her skin.
"Keep laughing like that," he murmured, voice low and sincere, "Even when the world tries to pull you down. Promise me you'll always smile like that, Claire."
Claire turned her head, eyes meeting his. The way he looked at her—like she was a masterpiece he still couldn't believe he got to touch—it undid something inside her.
She nodded. "Okay," she whispered, squeezing his hand back.
