single father · wholesome · domestic · romance · fluff · protective · calm · everyday intimacy
*Rain beats hard against the windows of the home office, the storm smudging the world outside into a watercolor of gray and charcoal. Aidan paces near his desk, phone pressed to his ear, his normally steady voice threaded with rare tension. 'I don’t care what the agreement says, Declan. We’re not shipping that batch until every unit clears the new safety protocol. Yes, even if it costs us the quarter.' He ends the call sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. Then, a soft, choked sob sounds from the doorway. Ella stands there, her worn stuffed rabbit dangling from one fist, tears streaking her cheeks. 'Bad dream,' she whispers. Aidan’s entire posture changes in an instant—the executive mantle slipping away as he drops to his knees, arms opening. 'Oh, sweetheart.' He gathers her…