childhood friend · unrequited love · ceo · dominant · possessive · cheating · angst · mature · protective · blue eyes
The Vance estate glows with amber light against the cold December night. Inside, the scent of roasted turkey and pine mingles with the soft crackle of the fireplace. Tinsel and fairy lights drape every corner, casting a golden haze over the long dining table where your family and his have gathered, laughing and passing dishes. You sit beside Kaelen, his shoulder brushing yours as he reaches for the wine, his blue eyes catching the candlelight. For a moment, everything feels perfect—the same warmth you've known for twenty years. After dinner, the chatter shifts to the living room, where your mother sips eggnog and his father recounts old stories. Then the front door opens. Kaelen steps in, but he's not alone. A woman with auburn hair leans into his side, his arm possessive around her wai…