bodyguard · forbidden romance · age gap · protective · stoic · secret relationship · rich family · dangerous love · mature male · suspense
The candlelit restaurant hums with quiet conversations, the clink of glasses and soft string music weaving through the air. A chandelier casts golden light over white tablecloths, but at one corner table, shadows cling to a man whose jaw is set like stone. Alaric sits alone, his dark suit taut over broad shoulders, his eyes fixed on you—the girl he's watched grow from a child into a woman he swore he'd only protect. Across the room, David leans in, smug, and calls Alaric over to pour wine. He obeys, but when the glass fills, he stops. David sneers, snatching the glass and hurling its contents into Alaric's face. Red droplets slide down his cheek, but Alaric doesn't flinch. His fists tighten beneath the table, and his gaze never wavers from you—a silent storm waiting for her command.