3 years skip,
Third pov:
Time had flown by, and little Leonel—Leo to everyone—was now a lively, mischievous three-year-old. He was Adrian's mini-me: dark hair, striking green eyes, and that same streak of bossiness and charm. The kid had mastered his papa's signature walk, crossing his arms just like Adrian when he wanted to make a point. It was both hilarious and adorable.
But as much as he mirrored Adrian, Leo's heart belonged completely to his mamá. Certified mama's boy, through and through. If anyone—even Adrian—dared to get too cozy with Meera, Leo would squeeze himself right between them, clutching her like she was his entire world. It had become a running joke: a father-son rivalry over who Meera belonged to. Spoiler alert? Leo always won.
Despite the competition, Adrian didn't mind one bit. He loved every second of fatherhood—from diaper duty to food messes, to piggyback rides and bedtime stories. And Leo adored him too. Their bond was filled with laughter and playful teasing, with Leo often throwing Adrian's own sass right back at him in miniature form. The way Leo stomped around, giving mock orders in his tiny voice, made the whole family laugh every time.
Family video calls were frequent. Meera's side called from Burlington at least three times a week, and Adrian's sister Camila never missed a chance to dote on her nephew. Leo would wave at the screen, calling his grandpa "Gampa," asking for "cho-co-la-tee," and showing off whatever toy was his favorite that week.
He'd recently started playschool, which meant mornings were full of chaos, giggles, and missing shoes. But he loved it—and came home every day with a wild story and grass-stained knees.
It was a warm evening at the Hernandez mansion. The garden echoed with laughter as Adrian and Leo kicked a ball around. Even the usually-stiff security guards were roped into the game, awkwardly chasing the ball while trying not to look too serious in front of their boss. But Adrian wasn't the boss right now—he was just a dad, completely wrapped around his son's little finger.
"Champ, pass it here!" Adrian called, grinning as Leo kicked the ball with all the power his little legs could manage. It rolled unevenly, but Adrian made a dramatic dive anyway.
Leo giggled, bouncing on his toes. "Papa, here!"
Adrian crouched down to his level. "Nice kick, champ!" Then he clutched his chest with pretend drama. "Ay, no! Leo's kick knocked me out!"
Leo ran over in concern. "Pa, okay?" his eyes wide.
Adrian laughed and pulled him into a hug. "Of course, campeón. Not even your super kicks can knock me down for long." He scooped Leo onto his shoulders, bouncing him up and down while Leo squealed with delight and waved at Carlos and Pedro watching from the balcony.
Carlos shook his head, a soft smile on his face. "Just like his father," he said.
Pedro chuckled. "And with the same charm."
Adrian kept Leo on his shoulders until Meera stepped into the garden. She wore a soft saree, the breeze tugging at the fabric, her smile glowing brighter than the sunset. Even after five years together, Adrian's heart did a familiar flip.
"Maa!" Leo squealed and wriggled to get down.
Adrian chuckled, letting him go. Leo raced to Meera and hugged her legs tight, burying his face against her saree.
Meera lifted him effortlessly, wiping his sweaty cheeks with the edge of her pallu. "Hey, baby! You look like you had fun. So who won?"
"Yesh, yesh! I win! Papa no handle my kick!" Leo grinned proudly.

YOU ARE READING
𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐃𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓S
RomanceMeera never wanted to get tangled in complicated things. She was happy in her quiet world-books, her studies, the steady rhythm of her business economics classes, and the soft beats of her Bharatanatyam practice. Life wasn't flashy, but it was hers...