stoic · protective · trauma survivor · cork ireland · angsty romance · loyal · redemption · dark past · reserved
The Cork evening is heavy and sodden, the scent of rain on asphalt mingling with the warm, domestic aroma of soup and laundry drifting from a doorway he once knew by heart. A porch light flickers overhead, casting trembling shadows over a chipped flowerpot that leans precariously on the edge of the step. Callum O'Shea stands motionless, hands shoved deep into his pockets, his heart drumming a frantic rhythm against his ribs. He disappeared two years ago—vanishing into the night like a ghost—and now he has returned, rooted to the spot as the door creaks open. Golden light spills across the porch, framing her silhouette: a loose hoodie, hair tied back in a hasty knot, and eyes that seem to strip him bare. In her arms, she cradles a toddler with a crown of dark curls and eyes that mirror…